Major Grant Award Will Transform Sensory Spaces at Gympanzees
We’re excited to share that our funds have received a major boost with a £30,142 grant from the Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) socio-economic scheme at Oldbury site.
The funding will purchase specialist equipment for the sensory rooms at the Gympanzees purpose-built centre in Aust, South Gloucestershire, which will open its doors in 2026.
Meeting a critical need
Across the UK, 77% of families with disabled children cannot access regular leisure facilities. Gympanzees is changing this by creating a 14-acre centre designed from the ground up to welcome disabled children and young people aged 0-25, and their families.
The sensory rooms will provide carefully designed spaces where visitors can regulate their sensory experiences. For many families, these rooms will offer something they’ve never had before, a place where their child can feel comfortable, safe and able to participate fully.
“This grant from NRS will make a real difference to the people we serve,” said Stephanie Wheen, Founder and CEO of Gympanzees. “Sensory rooms are essential for many of the children and young people who will use our centre. With the right equipment, these spaces become places of calm, exploration and joy.”
John Alderton, Oldbury Site Director, added: “Gympanzees new centre is an inspiring local project and we’re pleased to play our part. NRS funding will help equip the active and calm sensory rooms, creating safe, inclusive spaces where children and young people can participate in ways that work for them.
“As Oldbury site moves through decommissioning, we remain committed to supporting our neighbouring communities and projects that improve everyday life for families in South Gloucestershire.”
Supporting communities across the UK
NRS supported 149 projects to bring positive social change to benefit people living in communities across the UK in 2024/5, from Caithness to the tip of North Wales, down to the Bristol and English Channels.
Every £1 of the £2,287,696 NRS invested unlocked another £8.23 in match funding, elevating the community investment to over £18.8 million.
The £30,142 grant will fund equipment including:
- Specialist sensory lighting systems
- Interactive projection technology
- Tactile and textural wall panels
- Adjustable sensory equipment suitable for wheelchair users
- Sound systems for music therapy and audio experiences
Building towards opening, and beyond
This donation brings us closer to our goal, having already raised over £6 million towards our capital appeal. We’ve proven the demand through Pop Up sessions, which welcomed 28,000 visits across 165 days and achieved a Net Promoter Score of over 94. The permanent centre will serve thousands of families each year, with plans to create 12 additional centres across the UK by 2040.
