Mark goes into SPACE
11 Jan 2010
Mark will be visiting The SPACE Centre in Ashton this Friday, 8th January 2010. The centre is the largest multi sensory facility in the UK for people with a wide range of disabilities including Cerebal Palsy, Profound Multiple Disabilities, Autism and brain injuries.
Users are able to experience life and space using the latest technology in special effects and localised equipment in a fun, exciting environment. Over 230 groups visit the centre each month from as far afield as Manchester, Cumbria and even Southern Scotland.
SPACE has been successfully operating for the past fifteen years, but is now having to turn people away because of increased demand. The current facility consists of a soft padded environment on two levels installed with specialist lighting and equipment, but has only one parking space and two disabled toilets.
Plans for a new £3million pound centre would include three sensory rooms, a café, training room and a sensory garden. State of the art sound and lighting technology would create stimulating and therapeutic experiences in the new centre. One of the sensory rooms would be an Exploratory Space, changing from a wildly exciting and stimulating space to a calming and soothing oasis; one would be a themed Studio Space which would allow, for example, a jungle, deep sea, cinema or games arena experience. Users will be able to fly virtually over local landmarks in the city, over mountains, and even go on a 3D journey through outer space. The third would be a Personal Space to be used as a ‘chill-out’ zone for smaller groups.
Mark said: “I am delighted to have been invited to come along and visit this high tech facility for people with special needs. The Space Place has been a victim of it’s own success and now that it’s completely outgrown it’s current premises, it will be an exciting time ahead for everyone involved in the development of a new centre. I am very much looking forward to seeing the plans and also meeting with some of the adults and children that currently use the centre”.
Manager Alison Shorrock said “We need to find a suitable site within the Preston area, preferably close to motorway links to enable this ambitious project to progress. We are exploring the possibility of sharing a site with other charitable organisations who can offer complementary services. So far, we have raised £80,000 from local fundraising activities and once we locate and acquire a suitable site we can apply for substantial funding. I would urge readers to get in touch if they could help with fundraising activities or to make a donation.”
Please call 01772 760403 or visit: www.space-centre.org.uk if you would like to help with fundraising or to donate.