Therapy enterprise opens community hub

Community interest company (CIC) Sensoriel launched the new facility in Ince and hopes the building will put the group at the heart of community life.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony officially welcomed the public to a community room available for hire and a cafe.

Sensoriel is now working flat out to complete the two big rooms housing the group’s multi-sensory therapy sessions, which include equipment such as bubble tubes, scents and interactive panels.

Sensoriel founder Amy Cotter said: “It is fantastic to have the hub open. People are so enthusiastic about what we are providing and we are already seeing how much this is needed.

“It’s quite emotional to see how it is going to really help families in a completely different way. It’s providing a hub for helping holistically. We can signpost people to services they are looking for and provide things like art classes.

“We’ve got the community room and the cafe and we’re now looking for local businesses to support us and sponsor equipment so we can get the therapy rooms open.”

Amy came up with the idea for Sensoriel four years ago but it has been a mobile service visiting clients’ homes during the long search for a permanent base.

Trevor Barton, from umbrella organisation Trust in Leigh, performed the ribbon-cutting duties and local entrepreneur Ruth Mort from H20 Divers attended.

Sensoriel is now working to get the sensory rooms ready. The first, which Amy hopes to launch in September, will have a ball pool, a concealed space full of twinkling lights big enough for an adult to get into, a soft slide and interactive wall panels.

In contrast with the first room, which will provide a relaxing atmosphere, the second sensory space will have interactive floor and wall panels which come to life when people speak or touch them.

A business networking group will also meet at the centre, with the first event on July 20.

Sensoriel‘s therapies help a range of people, including disabled children and dementia sufferers. For more information about the hub, visit sensoriel.co.uk