Sensory room open at Bawnacre Centre 

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has installed a Sensory Room at the Bawnacre Centre, Irvinestown.  This is part of the Council’s commitment to making services and facilities as accessible and inclusive as possible.  

An investment of approximately £15,500 has enabled the conversion of a little used meeting room into a fully operational sensory room.  Funding for this project was provided by the Department for Communities through its Access and Inclusion Programme. 

The Department’s Access and Inclusion Programme provides grants through Councils and the NI Museums Council to improve accessibility and inclusion for disabled people at arts, cultural and active recreation venues and promote participation for everyone. 

Speaking about the work undertaken at the Bawnacre Centre, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Barry McElduff said: 

“Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to accessibility and inclusivity.  This is very important.  The new Sensory Room is a brilliant asset for families. 

The Council has worked in partnership with Department for Communities in developing this sensory room and we are grateful for the financial support provided. 

I had the opportunity to visit the sensory room and meet the users and their families.  It is such a calming space offering support to individuals with learning disabilities. 

I would encourage anyone who would benefit from this space to make full use of it.” 

The benefits derived from a sensory room, particularly for children with learning disabilities or special needs, and indeed for adults who need an escape from stress are significant. The sensory room, for them, is a place of experience and interaction; it is a place of calm.  

The Bawnacre Centre is committed to making leisure accessible to everyone and the sensory room is a shared experience that everyone can enjoy.

Sessions will last 45 minutes, and bookings must be made in advance. The space can be booked individually or as a room.  The availability of the room will be subject to prevailing social distancing regulations with the need to continue to follow public health guidance remaining a priority.

For further information and bookings, please contact the Bawnacre Centre by telephone on 028 686 21177 or email; bawnacre@fermanaghomagh.com.