The Darwin Centre is North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust’s specialist mental health services for young people aged 12-18. Over the last few weeks, staff at the centre have been working to turn a spare room at the site into an alternative social space and sensory room. The plan is for small groups of young adults to use this area for relaxation, such as playing games and watching films. The room will also be used to hold sensory, mindfulness and relaxation sessions when needed.
The staff have made a concerted effort to co-produce the design of the room with the young people, which included the design for the mural on the back wall of the room. The mural contains a space for the young people to write and edit positive quote and comments on whiteboards. There is also work in progress to develop a sensory board, which includes a pom-pom display and a blackboard and whiteboard area, as well as creating a communal self-soothe box.
Staff at the Darwin Centre said:
“This room is a wonderful addition to the Darwin Centre and will be a huge benefit to the care of our young people.”
The young people have expressed that throughout the project that they are looking forward to using the room and have worked with us through our daily community meetings to develop the room to best suit their needs.
The sensory/relaxation room was officially opened on 5 October 2023 by one of the young people and the staff hope that this space allows the young people, both present and future, a space they can truly enjoy, and also a space that provides many therapeutic options for their care and recovery.
