Watton Youth Group gifted £200 for calming sensory room

The recent donation to Watton Youth Group, part of the larger Benjamin Foundation, came from real estate owners Annington, who is refurbishing homes at the town's Tedder Close.

The company provided £200, which was used to purchase items for the group's quiet room, following a discussion with the young people.

Items like kinetic sand, lava lamps, and bean bags were added to the sensory room, specially selected by youth group members aged eight to 18.

Watton Youth Group got items such as kinetic sand, slime, lava lamps and bean bags (Image: Submitted)

The concept of sensory rooms, multi-sensory spaces designed for relaxation, stimulation, and quiet time, originated from the Netherlands in the 1970s and has been adopted in educational and recreational settings worldwide.

Ellie Brown, team leader of Watton Youth Group, said: “Ever since Watton Youth Group’s inception in 2021, the Benjamin Foundation has been working hard to ensure the children in our community feel listened to and looked after.

"When we were approached by Annington with an offer of support, we had a chat with the young people who came up with the idea of using the money to create a sensory room, which has been a great success."

Watton Youth Group is part of the Benjamin Foundation, an organisation which has grown into one of East

Stacy Whitehead, marketing manager at Annington, said: “It’s important to us that we partner with organisations that are doing real work on the ground to positively impact the lives of local young people.

"The Benjamin Foundation has done remarkable work over the years across Norfolk and Suffolk, so it's wonderful to be even a small part of their story."

With the new sensory room set up, Watton Youth Group continues to serve the community by offering a tranquil retreat for young carers in need of rest and relaxation.