Sensory People
People: Improving people’s mental wellbeing
We will support children who have sensory processing disorders and are unable to leave their homes due to anxiety-related issues. We will enable them to fulfil education, sports and friendship goals.
About this cause
We are a small charity set up in 2015, based in Stourbridge, West Midlands. Sensory People's principal objective is to develop early intervention services for children in need of help with their sensory processing (SP) challenges and who may have diagnoses such as autism/ADHD/dyspraxia. Their difficulties often include an inability to concentrate, listen, play with their peer group, and manage their emotional behaviour and wellbeing. We use a specialist Cool Kids movement programme in Nursery Schools and work with 7–11-year-olds in our Cool Kids schemes, supporting children before they move into one-to-one therapy support. We deliver monthly information evenings and creative activity get-togethers for parents appreciating the extraordinary task of supporting a child with SP disorders.
How this cause brings people in the community together
Our project will support children who are isolated from their peer group, social and educational settings. Our Cool Kids programme sets them and their families on a fresh pathway as behaviour is re-understood as Sensory Integration processing. The movement activities stimulate and develop neural pathways improving focus, concentration, movement and hand-eye coordination. This enables children to develop their confidence, language and handwriting, and to join in sports activities. Taking part with their peer group or on a one-to-one basis supports a greater level of sociability. The charity prioritises developing a payment/funding policy so that each child whose life chances are greatly affected by the cost of specialist treatment can be supported, enabling their best future.