Sensory loss charity celebrates its 20th year
Forth Valley Sensory Centre logo.
A groundbreaking sensory loss charity is celebrating 20 years of transforming lives.
Forth Valley Sensory Centre, which supports thousands of people with sight and/or hearing loss every year, opened its doors in 2006. When the £1.5 million centre in Camelon, Falkirk, opened it was hailed as one of the most advanced in the world and has since gone from strength to strength.
The charity is celebrating its 20th year with a packed programme of activities, marking its impact in the lives of the people it supports. The centre provides a wide range of services, including a specialised IT suite and breakout rooms, which are used to run computer classes for people with sensory loss.
More than 30 classes and groups are on offer at the centre, including the hugely popular cookery classes for people with sensory loss, run by DeafBlind cook David Black, who also prepares the food for the fully accessible onsite cafe. Book groups, knit and natter sessions, a walking group, Braille classes, the Sensory Singers choir, lessons on British Sign Language and lip reading are also available. The charity also runs sensory awareness training for businesses and in schools.
Architects Jewitt Arschavir and Wilkie created the centre in close consultation with service users, incorporating features such as anti-glare lighting and décor, and specialist smoke alarms.
Garden photo before on the left with an old white shed, gravel and some grass and empty wooden garden planters piled up on the left. Garden after photo on the right has blooming, colourful variety of flowers and a grey shed in the background.
The centre’s sensory garden has recently been refurbished and is available for hire, as are the meeting rooms on site.
Jacquie Winning MBE, Forth Valley Sensory Centre chief executive“The centre has now been here for people across Forth Valley for two decades, and we’re proud to play a vital role in helping people work, study, and socialise, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing. Centre users, volunteers, and staff all come together to make sure that every person who has sensory loss is included and supported, as part of a thriving community. Our work depends on the people who give up their time to volunteer for us, and those who make donations, and fundraise. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supports us and those who attend the centre, and we look forward to celebrating with you.”
A group photograph shows (left to right) volunteers behind a desk who are wearing Forth Valley Sensory Centre T-shirts: John Somerville, Christine Fraser, Jenn Pow, Duncan McPhee, Ann McFarlane, and Colin Watterson.
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