The new cabin
Children with disabilities, and their siblings, that attend play sessions run by the Diverse Abilities Children’s Team will now be able to enjoy a brand new play cabin which opened this month at the Coping with CHAOS service in West Moors.
The new play cabin will be used by over 400 children in Dorset every year and is highly sensory to accommodate the needs of children supported by the charity. The cabin has a range of soft play toys plus two ball pools, one to accommodate smaller, less able children and one for older children who like the experience of feeling the balls covering them entirely.
Funds for the cabin purchase were granted from Dorset County Council and Keith and Laura Harrison from Harrison Property Group, who donated over £5,000. The property group has been a long term supporter of Coping with CHAOS and part of the funds were donations from friends and family in lieu of presents to celebrate Keith’s 50th birthday. In addition, the Westbourne Flooring Company, kindly donated the carpet inside the cabin and also fitted it free of charge, saving the charity hundreds of pounds.
Tessa Masterman, Coping with CHAOS Manager, said: “Without the support of the local community, the cabin would not have been possible. We’d like to say a massive thank you to Dorset County Council, Keith and Laura Harrison, plus Westbourne Flooring Company. All made a huge contribution to the building of the cabin and now we can enable more children with disabilities to access the play sessions in West Moors, experiencing fun and stimulating activities.”
For further information regarding Diverse Abilities and its Coping with CHAOS service please call 01202 718266 or visit www.diverseabilities.org.uk.
Coping with CHAOS provides a range of services for children and young people while supporting many families in Dorset, which includes play sessions during the school holidays, a youth club for teenagers with disabilities and an advice and guidance service for parents.
