Background to the Partnership

BT in partnership with The Lord’s Taverners have started a three-year partnership which will enhance the communications skills of young people with disabilities. Together we will create 12 Olympics-branded sensory play areas for young people with disabilities and communication difficulties. The project will allow both organisations to play a significant role at the very heart of local communities across the UK.

In addition, BT will work closely with The Lord’s Taverners to identify volunteering opportunities and fundraising initiatives for BT employees through their other programmes and activities.

The Lord’s Taverners is dedicated to providing sporting and recreational opportunities to disadvantaged and disabled children. In partnership with BT, this new project will allow many thousands of young people to benefit from a new type of learning environment that enables them to explore communication skills from an entirely new perspective.
 

What will the Partnership deliver?

• 12 sensory areas across the UK in partnership with local authorities and special needs schools
• Showcase play site at Stratford during the London 2012 Games – where young people, media, athletes and officials can “have a go”
• Temporary play areas in key BT buildings so BT people can get involved

Aims and Objectives of the Partnership

• Raise awareness of BT’s commitment to making a positive difference to society amongst key opinion leaders and customer groups
• Work with a National Children’s Charity that has similar core beliefs
• Engage BT employees and external stakeholders in a socially inclusive project
• Change perceptions and behaviours of young people with communication issues
• Create unique environments that enhance the lives of young people
• Leave a lasting unique legacy

The Purpose of Sensory Rooms

Time spent in a multi-sensory room increases spatial awareness, concentration, relaxation and alertness. For children with autism or severe communication difficulties, the stimulating and soothing properties of these rooms has been shown to calm their behaviour and make them more communicative and responsive.

Multi-sensory rooms feature a relaxing and stimulating variety of sights, sounds and textures which help disabled children to learn in an environment that suits their educational needs. Such rooms can result in dramatic benefit to children with sensory impairment, and they can enhance development of senses such as hearing, sight, smell and touch.
 

Ongoing Communications Strategy

There will be regional launch activities for every new sensory room, comprising brand and PR activities, internal communications and engagement, and volunteering where appropriate.

In addition, BT will be profiled as key contributors and participants in fundraising events using facilities such as BT Tower, staging celebrity sports matches and obtaining VIP hospitality at key events.
 

What Happens Next

The first multi-sensory room funded by the partnership between BT and The Lord’s Taverners will be created at the Seashell Trust in Manchester, who run a school and college for young people with significant communication difficulties. The launch is planned for May 2010.

Dominic Tinner, Head of Development at the Royal School Manchester, which is operated by the Trust, said:

“We are so very grateful to the Lord’s Taverners and to BT. The new sensory room will be extremely therapeutic for children, such as ours, with multi sensory impairments by providing a wonderful environment in which to stimulate the senses.

“For some of our children, the experience of the sensory room will stimulate reactions not witnessed before by teachers and carers. Lighting, sound effects, mirrors, bubble tubes, fibre optic multi-coloured strands, a warm water mattress, music and aromatic oils will all help to enhance the experiences of the children.”

Watch this space for regular updates on the development of the BT and The Lord’s Taverners partnership.