New sensory and wellbeing centre opens in Rochdale

Date published: 01 August 2021

A brand new sensory and wellbeing centre has opened in Rochdale.

Located at Oldham Road, near Matalan, All Aboard CIC is a not-for-profit organisation providing sensory and wellbeing experiences for any age.

The new centre was opened on 19 July by ambassador for All Aboard, Scarlett King. Scarlett, who has Autism and sensory processing difficulties, cut the ribbon on the official opening day, along with director Beth Kitchen, surrounded by friends and family.

From September, there will be an extensive timetable of activities and sessions for children and adults to attend, but an inclusive summer timetable is currently being offered.

Sessions throughout the week include children’s sensory (not just for those with additional needs), sensory sessions for teenagers, sensory and art therapy for dementia patients and those with brain injuries, baby massage sessions, and many more.

Each session includes use of the ocean themed large sensory room, the sand and water playroom, the cosy woodland themed library, and an immersive indoor sensory garden.

Two additional rooms - the Mountain room designed for therapies to be delivered, and a Wellness room which is a multi-use room – are also on offer.

The Wellness room is currently set up as a sensory circuit for founder Beth to deliver sessions and training in, such as yoga, and can be used as a rebound room or a calming space for baby massage.

The highly qualified staff and therapists also run sensory activities throughout including sensory circuits, rebound therapy and yoga, for people to join in if they wish. Each session allows people to move freely between rooms and explore as much as they like.

As well as the sensory rooms, All Aboard also has something for parents and/or carers who visit – the lake lodge retreat room is a dedicated space for adults to go and have a bit of ‘me time’. A dedicated pastoral and family support worker also delivers a number of parenting workshops and advice, alongside a cup of tea and a listening ear.

With All Aboard staff’s knowledge and understanding of SEND and services, a quick chat can lead to being signposted and supported to other agencies.

An educational provision providing intervention tutoring, director Beth Kitchen says of All Aboard: ‘Too many children have hit ‘crisis’ in school, unable to attend, and there is no provision for them to go to while waiting for somewhere specialist. This results in children’s educational, social, and emotional needs not being met and can cause gaps to widen.

“Often the solution is to have a home tutor. This can be ineffective due to an inappropriate learning environment, with many of the distractions of the familiar home environment. However, this also omits to tackle the reason children have hit crisis in the first place and misses an opportunity to provide appropriate interventions and toolkits to help.

“The aim of the centre is to not only to provide educational interventions but a holistic, person-centred package, where social and emotional interventions are put into place as well as sensory interventions

“All Aboard aims to either facilitate the reintegration of pupils back into the original school setting - supporting the child, family and staff to do so - or fulfil the needs of the child while another suitable provision is found. Unfortunately, children can be away from the education setting for up to a year at a time and over, this is why it is so important to provide this service and ensure children can still have their needs met during this transitional time.

"Every educational session will include core education designed and delivered to meet each child’s specific learning needs, a pastoral and therapeutic activity, and a sensory and well-being activity (the triangle of education).

“We accept council funded pupils (all local councils not just Rochdale), direct payment pupils and private bookings.

“All of All Aboards outstanding tutors and therapists have a wealth of experience of working with children with SEMH difficulties, ASC and SEND, and are used to delivering lessons in a innovative and inclusive manner.

“We are now taking pupils for September start dates.”

For more information contact All Aboard CIC: info.allaboarded@gmail.com / 01706 551320.