Dimming the lights, curling up on a bean bag and just chilling out – this is what the young people at Watton Youth Group have been up to recently, following a donation towards their new sensory room. Annington, who is refurbishing homes nearby on Tedder Close, has donated £200 to equip the club’s quiet room, in a step by the youth club to establish a safe and calm space for local children to enjoy.
Watton Youth Group is part of the Benjamin Foundation, an organisation which has grown into one of East Anglia’s largest charities, tackling youth homelessness, providing Early Years education, youth and family support, emotional wellbeing and mental health services.
Amongst the donation to Watton Youth Group were items such kinetic sand, slime, lava lamps and bean bags. This came following a consultation with the youth group members, aged eight to 18, who worked together to create a wish list of items they would like to see in the quiet room. With origins in the Netherlands in the 1970s, sensory rooms have continued into modern education and recreational settings as multi-sensory spaces for people to relax, provide stimulation and enjoy some quiet time.
Ellie Brown, Team Leader of Watton Youth Group, said: “Ever since Watton Youth Group’s inception in 2021, The Benjamin Foundation has been working hard to ensure the children in our community feel listened to and looked after. When we were approached by Annington with an offer of support, we had a chat with the young people who came up with the idea of using the money to create a sensory room, which has been a great success.
“The children’s favourite items are the kinetic sand and slime, which even I’ve enjoyed using with them! Watton Youth Group also offers services to young carers in the area, so providing them with a quiet space to come and decompress in a neutral environment is an important part of our mission.”
15 homes will be refurbished in Watton thanks to Annington, all former MoD homes in the village. The homes will go on sale on the open market in September 2024.
Stacy Whitehead, Marketing Manager at Annington, added: “It’s important to us that we partner with organisations that are doing real work on the ground to positively impact the lives of local young people. The Benjamin Foundation has done remarkable work over the years across Norfolk and Suffolk, so it's wonderful to be even a small part of their story.
“Watton has a terrific local spirit, so we’re very much looking forward to engaging with the people here, both through our community work and through the refurbishment of the homes we are working on in the village.”
To find out more about the homes in Watton and register your interest with the appointed selling agent Abbotts, visit www.abbotts.co.uk, call 01953 440165 or email theoaks@abbottscountrywide.co.uk.