Our Work
Facilities
The Alan Shearer Activity Centre offers children and adults with sensory, physical and learning disabilities a choice of indoor and outdoor facilities. Sensory rooms, a ball pool, hydrotherapy pool, internet cafe and a woodland walk in our large, wheelchair accessible, landscaped garden provide stimulation and entertainment.
Ball Pool
Feel yourself “float” on an ocean of bubbles. Climb and jump in safety on large foam blocks.
Lit from below our ball pool is filled with soft, clear spheres which take on different hues as the lights change colour. Overhead tracking hoists are available to enable those who are less agile to enjoy the sensation of being buoyed by clear plastic balls.
Hydrotherapy Suite
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.
Enjoy the therapeutic feeling of being water supported or be invigorated by switching on the water power jets to create a bubble whirlpool.
Wii™ Room
Up to eight people can play in the Wii™ Room, with lots of room to jump around and enjoy the action. The room can also be used for sound, music and projection and includes colour change bubble tubes, foam ball filled seating and bean bag loungers for the ultimate in comfort reclining.
Speakers incorporated into some of the seating enable sound vibrations to be felt through the body for a profound sensory experience.
You can relax on specialist seating beanbags which incorporate speakers to enable vibrations to be felt through the body for a profound sensory experience.
Light beams, bubble tubes and mirrors all enhance the projected images and sound in this room, which is also suitable for music therapy sessions.
Cushioned platforms, padded seating and beanbag “islands” create the ultimate in comfortable lounging positions for small groups to watch big screen entertainment.
Sensory Rooms
Sensory Cave
Slip through a shimmering fibre optic curtain and explore the Centre's sensory cave with its walls adorned with tactile object lights, games and mirrors then glide through a gently billowing mist over a milky way carpet.
Through the darkness, lit by an ethereal ultra violet light, gaze into infinity and marvel at colour changing projected images, bubble tube and optic panels.
White Room
This sublime sensory room is furnished with a white mattress flooring and incorporates a bubble tube, mirror ball, fibre optic strands, infinity light panel and CD player.
Different scenes, pictures and panoramas projected onto the wall help create different mood settings from moon landings to underwater adventures…
This room also has overhead tracking.
Blue Room
In the Blue Room computer generated sounds and pictures can be used to stimulate memories, emotions and feelings as well as promoting interactive learning experiences.
Here you can relax on the warm water filled mattress, enjoy using spot lamps and create your own lighting effects, while budding music conductors can change the tone of a note by breaking a musical light beam at different heights.
Overhead tracking in this room allows wheelchair users easy access to all the facilities.
This room also includes:
• A moveable shimmering fibre optic curtain • Bubble tube • Mood lighting
• Interactive panels with a chase the light sequence • Milky way carpet • Floor cushioning
Ultra Violet Room
Everyone enjoys this compact room which is illuminated by ultra violet lighting but it is particularly suitable for those with a visual impairment.
The luminous atmosphere is enhanced with uv fibre optics, glow sticks, mirrors and milky way carpeting. A vibrating platform bench seat is connected to a sound system and microphone to enable reverberations to be felt through the body.
A coloured wall xylophone is featured for those who wish to make their own music.
Browne's Café
If you've worked up a healthy appetite or just fancy a quick cuppa then drop into Browne's, the café on site at the Centre, for a bite and a beverage.
Browne's café is open throughout the day for a wide selection of hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks. The staff are here to help. While you're there you can access a world beyond the Alan Shearer Centre on our internet café computers. The café has four internet linked computers with special monitors and adjustable desks for wheelchair access.
We can also cater for private functions and parties at the Centre. Contact us for more details and our buffet menus.
Grounds and Gardens
The sensory stimulation, adventure and challenge continues outdoors at the Alan Shearer Centre.
With good weather, special themed days can be held outside. Equipment can be provided for games and events.
Our grounds are accessible by wheelchair users and include a sensory garden, woodland walk and a jungle den.
We owe a huge thank you to all the volunteers who have, in their own time, cleared and redesigned the Woodland Walk area to make it more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Thanks to (among others): Soldiers from the 39th Regiment Albemarle Barracks, Staff from the Department for Work and Pensions, Students from Newcastle University's Nigerian Society, Procter and Gamble staff and students from Ashington College.
Back to top
