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Facilities
The Activity Centre caters for all ages of disability with a stimulating mix of indoor and outdoor fun-based, sensory and creative activities. Membership is FREE and you must show your membership card every time you use the Centre.
On joining, you will have access to the Centre’s full range of facilities, many of which are also FREE!
All FREE sessions are half-hourly and are limited to a maximum of five uses per week. Access is through advance booking only or admission may be refused.
Join now and book your FREE sessions today!
Enjoy the therapeutic feeling of being supported by water or feel invigorated by switching on the water power jets to create a bubble whirlpool. Moving light effects, music and sounds and shimmering fibre optic curtains add to the tactile bathing experience.
Up to six people per session can have exclusive use of the hydrotherapy pool room and, with overhead tracking hoists from the changing room to the water and an adjustable height changing bed, the suite is suitable for all.
Sensory Activities and Giant Ball Pool
Sensory Cave Book your free half hour session
The Sensory Cave is a firm favourite with toddlers and young children with disabilities. Slip through the shimmering fibre optic curtain and step into a world of soothing interactive sensory experiences. As you journey through the Centre’s cave, lit by an ethereal light, soak up the soothing atmosphere as you discover tactile objects, mirrors, coloured lights, optic panels, bubble tubes and much more. Continue your journey round the corner and you will discover our Giant Ball Pool!
Giant Ball Pool Book your free half hour session
Lit from below, our Giant Ball Pool is filled with soft, clear spheres which take on different hues as the lights change colour. Float on this sea of bubbles or jump and play around the large foam blocks in the safety of this buoyant pool.
The Giant Ball Pool is used by all ages and with a little help from an amazing choice of music, tempo can be upbeat or tranquil depending upon people’s moods. Overhead tracking and hoists are available to assist those with restricted mobility.
White Room Book your free half hour session
This compact white room, furnished with a white mattress flooring, offers all the usual soothing elements of a sublime sensory experience. Set the mood with a choice of projected scenes and lie back and relax in this therapeutic environment listening to your choice of background music.
The White Room is popular for those seeking a tranquil and sensory experience. Overhead tracking and hoists are available to assist those with restricted mobility.
Blue Room Book your free half hour session
This is the Centre’s largest sensory room and is ideal for people with several carers or for those wishing to have additional members of the family or friends to share in the experience.
With interactive lighting effects, fibre optics, bubble tube, milky-way carpeting and mood setting options, this room is a favourite for people of all ages who would benefit from sensory interaction. Overhead tracking and hoists are available to assist those with restricted mobility.
Music Room with Wii Book your free half hour session
Calling all Jonas Brothers wannabes! If you want to strut your stuff, and get on down at the Activity Centre then our brand new Music Room is the place to be!
With a stack of musical gadgets, including African drums, bongos, guitars, specially adapted percussion instruments, an electronic keyboard and even a stylophone, this room is definitely for those who like centre stage and want to be heard. Make sound activated visual effects appear on the large screen or set the disco lights and bop away whilst blasting out your own karaoke favourites. No room for inhibitions here and what’s more, it’s FREE!
The music room still hosts the Centre’s wii facilities so if you feel a battle of skills is more up your street choose from a large range of wii games and applications.
This is a fun room and offers the freedom to experience music and to explore sounds. Although a firm favourite with children and young adults, it allows people of all ages and disabilities to be creative, and often noisy and active. There are facilities to enjoy the room quietly too, and to appreciate the calming and soothing effects of gentle vibrations and the tinkling of echoing wind chimes. Overhead tracking and a hoist are available to assist those with restricted mobility.
This room has been made possible through donations received into the Centre over the past year, including money from the Evening Chronicle Wish 10 Campaign. A big thank you to everyone who has helped to make this room what it is.
Over the coming months, the Centre is investing in more sophisticated sound activated visual effect equipment and facilitated sessions will be available to book for an hourly charge.
Craft Room Book your free half hour session
Our craft room is back by popular demand! And it’s FREE! The newly refurbished craft room has been kitted out with artistic materials from pens, pencils, chalks and crayons to glitter, paint and sticky things! The bright and airy room with its colourful posters and exciting choice of resources allows you to let your imagination run wild.
If you’re looking for something a little more demanding, the Centre has a range of craft packs and boxes to buy to allow you to make your very own creation to take home. So if you want to decorate your own mug, make hand-puppets, or just fancy dipping into our lucky dip, speak to the staff at reception for more information.
(Charges apply for craft packs and boxes.)
Adapted Play Area and Gardens Book your free half hour session
Sensory experiences and fun continue outside too at the Alan Shearer Activity Centre. Our extensive grounds offer large lawns to run around and play on, a specially adapted play area, wheelchair accessible paths, a Woodland Walk and beautifully landscaped gardens ablaze with colours and scents throughout the summer months.
You must still book in advance and register at reception before using the outside facilities.
Once you’ve worked up a healthy appetite make sure you pop into Browne’s, the Centre’s very own on-site café. Whether it’s just a cuppa you fancy, or something a little more substantial, our resident chef’s menu offers a daily selection of seasonal hot and cold dishes to whet the taste buds.
The Activity Centre is available for private bookings and you can block book all of the activities and grounds in advance, including the hydrotherapy pool. Block bookings are popular with support groups who require longer sessions and exclusive use of the facilities. Charges apply for block bookings so please discuss your requirements with the Centre.
The specially adapted facilities at the Centre make this venue a firm favourite for parties, for both children and adults with disabilities who require a safe and fun environment.
We personalise each party and offer a selection of party food too.
(Charges apply so please discuss your requirements with the Centre.)
In addition to the daily facilities on offer, The Activity Centre provides Live & Learn. This is a programme of morning and afternoon sessions of interactive activities for disabled adults and their carers. People with both physical and learning disabilities are welcome to join in.
Download a leaflet for more information or contact the Centre to discuss your requirements.
(Charges apply.)
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