Download it here!

Aiming High for Disabled Children was pleased to fund the adaptations to a brand new residential building at Woolton High. The funding was used to fully adapt the 3 storey building which will increase the number of overnight short stay breaks for disabled children and young people.

The funding will enable disabled young people with physical needs and/or wheelchair users to be able to be as independent as possible. The building has rise and fall kitchen appliances to enable disabled young people whom are wheelchair users to be able to make their own meals, wash their own clothes and generally move around the building independently. Building work is currently in progress to make 2 bedrooms and bathrooms fully accessible to enable physically disabled young people, and young people with health needs to have some overnight short breaks.

Richard told us “I love this place, you get up when you want, and have breakfast when you want, it’s not strict.”

The residential setting also has a brand new state of the art quiet/chill room, where disabled children and young people with more complex health needs, sensory impairments and mobility issues can enjoy the freedom to relax and simply chill out with their mates!

James Berry certainly agrees, and said “The sensory room is amazing. I loved it. We sat in here, chilled out and I even stayed up until midnight, it was that relaxing!” The first overnight stay break took place in July. Emma Gorevin, 19, said: “When I stayed overnight here it was great. I love it as it feels just like home to me, only I get to see all my friends, and we get to stay up late!”

Sophie, who’s 18 and volunteers with Fusion, adds: “Woolton High is such a wonderful experience, it’s so comfortable and welcoming, and the beds are really comfortable. This feels like a second home to me.” During the summer Fusion were able to provide a variety of activities including arts, crafts, table tennis and music workshops.

John said: “I loved coming to Woolton High. I’ve played table tennis, pool and had a go on the Play Station. I also learned how to prepare and cook meals with my friends. If I didn’t have this place to come I’d be really lost, sometimes I just like to come here and chill out on my own.”

The residential venue will be used during weekends and summer and half term breaks. The team will support over 140 Disabled children and young people in accessing weekend breaks up until March 2011.

For more information on accessing short breaks please contact Fusion on

0151 233 6894

Base:
A brand new ‘ A Quiet Place’ opened at 2pm today – Tuesday 20th July 2010 - at Rowan Park Special School, Sterrix Lane, Sefton. The Head Boy and Head Girl cut the ribbon to the room following a whole school assembly with songs, piano and harp music

Age range:
121 Children and young people aged 3 – 19years old who have severe learning and /or physical difficulties attend this popular, oversubscribed school. Rowan Park has a choice of facilities to offer its pupils including a warm swimming pool, a light room and a dark room. Additionally the space where there was a little used kitchen has been transformed into A Quiet Place. Cupboards, fridges and tiles have given way to an underwater wonder world. Dolphins and fish adorn the walls. Fabrics and furnishings, puppets and musical instruments ensure that this room is an area to be discovered, explored and enjoyed by curious youngsters

Penny Moon who designs and creates the spaces said, “It’s important that people who use A Quiet Place are helped to feel relaxed and calm and so choices of theme, furnishings and fabrics are very important. Whilst endeavouring to meet the needs of each of the children we’ve managed to equip the environment with sumptuous yet functional resources that are attractive, warm and comfortable . Not one item has come out of a special needs catalogue”

Staffing:
Consultants and therapists from A Quiet Place are working alongside staff from Rowan Park. Together they are piloting a specially written emotional intelligence curriculum with the aim that Rowan Park staff will soon be delivering the programmes for themselves.
Head teacher Jane Kelly said, “All of our staff have taken to A Quiet Place really positively. Their feedback tells me that not only does this programme benefit the children but from their own point of view, staff talk about feeling better about their own well being as well ”
Alan Rutherford from Sefton Local Authority has brought the Rowan Park project to life using funding aimed to help children with disabilities and their parent s to enjoy respite and short breaks
A parent of a pupil with autism said, “ The room is gorgeous, restful and calming. As soon as my son gets into A Quiet Place he jumps on to the chair. Some people think that children who have autism don’t like to be touched but he loves to have massage in there. I can’t wait to get in there with him!”

The A Quiet Place room is used on a daily basis, for massage, story telling, movement, creative play activities, relaxation and a series of computer biofeedback programmes that help to teach both adults and children how to relax and calm. Most children in the school have sampled the room and a variety of the programmes that are on offer. One pupil chose to sit in the recliner chair and enjoyed a hand and arm massage from a Rowan Park staff member saying simply ‘It’s fun’ and added that he also likes shoulder and head massage. A pupil entered the room and, with no direction from anyone automatically changed his breathing pattern and immediately lay back in the low level den and closed his eyes.

A Quiet Place was set up in Speke mainstream schools almost 12years ago. Children and their parents were taught techniques to help them to relax and to feel better about themselves. Research proved that practicing the techniques led to better behaviour and school work from the children and a more relaxed home life for everyone in the family.

A Quiet Place is a Liverpool company that creates rooms in mainstream and specialised schools, colleges and community centres throughout the region and as far away as Jersey. Rowan Park is the first “A Quiet Place’ facility to be installed in a school for children with severe learning difficulties. Children, parents and staff at Rowan Park can access therapies to promote calm and well being. The following comments from staff accompanying pupils into A Quiet Place were noted:

“I’ve never seen him so relaxed”

“He’s usually bored and fidgeting by now - but look he’s so still”

“This is so lovely”

“Oh! I love it in here”

“Oh wow! He never usually holds anything for more than a few seconds, and look he’s been cuddling that soft toy for ages”

Two comment s from children were overheard:

“Absolutely fabulous”

“I’ve really enjoyed this”

A Quiet Place was featured in the Liverpool Echo receiving a double page spread to showcase our services.

Click here to read article

Click here to view actual spread from the echo (JPG)

As a New Year begins, what better way to start 2010 than with the launch of the new A Quiet Place website? We have been working hard putting together all our images, videos and new case studies, and the site is a reflection of all the exciting things happening at A Quiet Place.

2010 looks set to be a truly memorable year and everyone in the A Quiet Place team is looking forward to great things that lie ahead... here's to a Happy New Year!

What are they?

Time has depth as well as length ' (Elizabeth Kubler Ross)

Those moments when we really connect with another person, with a genuine warmth and appreciation

It may be a fleeting  with someone you know or a complete stranger. acknowledging the context of a situation

It can be marked by a smile from the eyes, a friendly , gentle touch or an appreciative sound and a nod or the mention of the other persons name.

A sparkling moment remains in the memory ,not necessarily the person who gave it but the genuine depth of connection and the knowing that you are not alone.

Once upon a time but not to far away, possibly closer than you would have expected, there lived an angel. Some people say angels live on clouds, some say they don't. This one did...

read more...