About the Project

The South Cambridgeshire Opportunities Without Limits (OWL) day service supports 33 local adults who all have mild to complex disabilities, some with the addition of a physical and / or mental health need. 

South Cambridgeshire OWL are developing a sensory programme with indoor and outdoor activities to complement its existing activity timetable. The programme will encapsulate a range of sessions and equipment that will ensure those customers with a range of sensory needs are supported to a high level. Included in this programme are sessions such as Sensory Art, Sensory Music and Band and Woodland Activities (COVID protocols dependant) that will all be delivered to meet these needs.

A couple of examples to highlight the benefits of developing sensory skills are as follows:
Woodland activities - will use the natural environment to aid sensory development in our customers.  For example, feeling different soils, trees and plants; identifying smells in a forest, seeing and identifying differences in seasons. Customers will learn; about the environment they are working in – what trees and plants are growing? how can I help them grow? how to use logs and branches from the woodland to make objects? cooking outside and using natural resources from the woodland in arts and crafts.  These activities will aid sensory skills by providing customers with the natural resources of a woodland and parkland.
Sensory readiness – similar to sensory circuits, these sessions will use sensory equipment to help individuals to energise and settle over a period of time.  The benefits for adults with learning disabilities to take part in sensory circuits are really positive.  The aim is to focus concentration – this will really help with some of our customers who struggle to concentrate, display challenging and negative behaviours, obsess about the wrong thing, and can be disrupted by change.

The Difference

The Sensory Programme at South Cambridgeshire OWL will allow our customers the opportunity to learn and develop a variety of sensory skills in a bespoke environment. It will make a significant difference to customers:

• Development of sensory skills
• Reduction in challenging behaviours
• Increased concentration and focus
• Increased movements and coordination
• Developed of creativity
• Improved coordination
• Improved communication
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Reduction in challenging behaviours

The Cost

It total cost of developing the South Cambridgeshire OWL Sensory Programme is £25,600