Sparkle Ball will support Knockevin room project

Sparkle Ball will support Knockevin room project

21 September 2016

THE last push is on in a major fundraising drive to help children with severe and profound learning difficulties.

The Sparkle Project was launched last November by Knockevin Special School’s Parent Staff Association in Downpatrick.

The group aims to raise at least £50,000 by November to provide new multi-sensory rooms for the school, which caters for over 130 children at campuses in Downpatrick and Dundrum.

Due to the success of the campaign, the highlight of which will be a fundraising Sparkle Ball at the Titanic Centre in Belfast on October 21, parents and staff are also hoping to purchase communication aids for non verbal children, musical instruments and specialised bicycles.

Association secretary Kelly O’Reilly said parents and staff were delighted with the widespread support for their campaign, which they launched following a number of recent successful fundraisers for Knockevin.

While the sensory rooms in Downpatrick are in urgent need of refurbishment, she said the new Dundrum campus, which provides a feeder facility for the Downpatrick senior school, had no sensory room at all.

Kelly said the fundraising had been so well supported that work was already underway on the sensory rooms, which will be be state-of-the-art and include elements that could be controlled by eye movement so every child could be catered for.

“We are delighted with the support we have received from school staff, parents, families and the public. Everyone has worked so hard and it has been both tough but enjoyable and our motivation is the children,” she said.

“They will get so much benefit from the equipment we buy.”

Kelly said the Sparkle Project had also helped to raise awareness in the community about the struggles some children face.

“There are a range of issues facing these children including sensory, mobility and health problems and this project is about helping them overcome their frustrations and anxieties and to relax and enjoy themselves,” she said.

“These sensory rooms are essential for the children to help them tap into another side of things, whether it be touch, sound or taste, which will help them regulate their system so that anxiety s. It is also fun and they deserve the opportunity just to relax.”

While the opening of the sensory rooms is now much awaited, Kelly said the campaign was expanding in its final weeks to include a drive for bicycles and musical instruments that would benefit some children who would not use the rooms.

“We will work hard to make sure each child gets what he or she needs,” she said.

“Every little bit of support is so much appreciated.”

Anyone who would like to attend the Sparkle Ball or to support the Sparkle Project may so so via the school or Knockevin Special School’s Parent Staff Association.