Thank you all for sticking with us over the past year. So much has been going on but we have not been in a position to share the news….until now!!

In April last year we contacted Sefton Council and were invited to explain our idea of Jake’s Sensory World. After many meetings with Leisure Services and Children, School’s & Families Services, it was agreed that the facility was a fantastic idea that was greatly needed for the children and families in our area.

Plans were already under way to build a new Community Centre in Netherton (replacing the Netherton Activity Centre, NAC). The council felt that this would be a perfect location to accommodate Jake’s Sensory World and being part of a new build was more than we had hoped for! This will allow our children to be included instead of being excluded and they themselves along with their families and siblings will have the use of the rest of the facilities that will be on offer.

Subsequently, Sefton Council were successful in securing funds, via Aiming High for Disabled Children, to facilitate Jake’s Sensory World in this new centre.

We have been allocated space for a Light Room, Dark Room and Soft Play Area, along with 2 fully ‘Assisted’ disabled changing rooms/toilets. It is also hoped that we will be able to create our own outdoor space that will have an adapted play area and sensory garden.  Sefton Council will be funding the project but Jake’s Sensory World (Charity) hope to play an active part in fundraising for the outside Sensory area. 

After 3 years of hard work Ruth and Jo are sticking like glue to this and are working in partnership with the Leisure Services in the creation and overall running of JSW. Planning permission was granted in February and it is hoped work will start in Summer 2010 with the Centre being open for business towards the end of 2011.

We hope you will all agree that this is fabulous news for disabled children and their families. With the funds coming directly from the council this makes the sustainability of the Centre even more reassuring. This centre is being created for your children.  Jo is part of the Parents forum (P.A.C.T.S.) and when at the forums will take the opportunity to obtain views and ideas that could be included in the Centre to ensure we get this right.

If you want to have a say in how Jake’s Sensory World is shaped, then please get in touch with us now.

Updated 20/03/2010