Published on:
30
March 2006
The highly successful Forth Valley Sensory Centre - the first of its kind in the UK and one of the most advanced in the world - celebrates its official opening today. (March 30)
Service users, including children, will join the partners who created the Centre and representatives of the funding organisations and the many agencies who made it all possible in a special ceremony at the centre today.
Since the £1.5 million Centre opened its doors for businesses in Camelon, Falkirk, in August 2005 it has had more than 8000 visitors who came to use everything from clinical and social work services to training and social facilities.
Councillor Margaret Paterson, Leader of the Council said: "This is a fantastic facility and its success is clear from the number of visitors using the centre since it opened last August. What makes the centre particularly exciting is the role service users had in its design. Our relatively small contribution to the centre has opened up a terrific service to people in Clackmannanshire with hearing or sight loss."
The Forth Valley Sensory Resource Centre creates a unique environment where people of all ages from across the Forth Valley area with hearing or sight loss can access services and share experiences under one roof. Built by the Forth Valley Sensory Centre Trust (FVSCT), it has been designed, in close consultation with service users, to the highest standards with many innovative features and technologies like anti-glare lighting and décor to specialist smoke alarms.
Facilities include:
- ophthalmic and audiology consultation rooms
- a sensory playroom for children with visual problems
- a soundproofed audiology room where children with hearing problems can be observed and assessed
- training kitchens for visually impaired people
- a range of aids and adaptations for service users to test and train on
- café and recreational area
- meeting rooms
- a recording studio
- a computer suite funded by the European Regional Development Fund
- a sensory garden
The Trust was established as a charitable company by a partnership of Falkirk Council, the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) Scotland, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils and NHS Forth Valley with support from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and service users.
Billy Watson, Chairman of the Forth Valley Sensory Centre Trust, said: "We have created a ground breaking partnership, a unique centre and a
service that is making a real difference to people's lives - Forth Valley
has something to be proud of. We must now go forward with high ambition
and set standards for others in Scotland to follow".
Councillor Pat McCafferty, Convener of Falkirk Council Housing and Social Work Services, who unveiled the plaque commemorating the opening of the centre, said: "The Centre has not only matched our expectations, it has exceeded them and everyone associated with its creation can take great pride, as Falkirk Council does, in what has been achieved here. The Centre has made a considerable impact on improving the quality of life in Forth Valley for people with sight and hearing impairment by providing joined-up services and tailor-made facilities. It offers an excellent model for the rest of the UK to follow."
John Legg, Director, RNIB Scotland, said: "RNIB Scotland is proud to have had the opportunity of investing in this imaginative initiative. Blind and partially sighted people face a major challenge in securing the support and resources they require to lead their daily lives. The centre, in meeting these needs in a friendly and professional manner in purpose built facilities, provides a model for service provision across the country."
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Note to News Editors and Picture Desks:
FUNDING: Falkirk Council provided the land for the centre and more than £500,000. The RNIB gave £200,000, with £100,000 coming from Stirling Council and £50,000 from Clackmannanshire Council. NHS Forth Valley also contributed £200,000.
There have also been grants from the European Regional Development Fund, the Community Fund, the Robertson Trust, BBC Children in Need, Fresh Futures, the Falkirk Environment Trust, ASDA, Falkirk Rotary Club, Falkirk Disability Action Group and the British Legion. The Trust's fundraising appeal was also supported by a wide range of events by local people and organisations.
DESIGN: The architects for the project were Jewitt Arschavir and Wilkie and the contractors were Ogilvie Construction.
SENSORY IMPAIRMENT
- Currently 1647 people in Forth Valley are registered as either blind or
- partially-sighted. RNIB research estimates that these figures are underestimated by 30% and 20% respectively.
- 600 people are known in the Forth Valley area to have profound hearing
- loss or to be deaf without speech. No formal register exists for the deaf or hard of hearing population so accurate numbers are more difficult to gauge. RNID research indicates that there may be 18,282 people in the Forth Valley area with a moderate hearing loss or more.
- It is believed that in the UK there are 24,000 people in the population who are Deafblind. This translates into 110 people in the Forth Valley area.
Getting there:
- The Forth Valley Sensory Centre, Camelon, Falkirk, is reached from Redbrae Road on the A803 and is next to the Mariner Leisure Centre. A signed path leads to the Centre from Camelon Railway Station.
- Telephone/textphone: 01324 590888
Text: 0780 389 7928
Fax: 01324 590889
Email: sensory@falkirk.gov.uk
Website: www.falkirkonline.net/specialistservices
Issued for Forth Valley Sensory Centre Trust by Falkirk Council Press Office. For more information please contact Barbara Suttar, Falkirk Council Press Office. Tel: 01324 506057 or email: barbara.suttar@falkirk.gov.uk