A COMPANY that provides loving, stable, and nurturing homes for children in care has come up with a unique solution to provide a state-of-the-art sensory room free to those in need.

Mulberry Foster Care has a conference room at its base at the Phocle Green Business Park in Ross-on-Wye that could be used by individuals and outside organisations and in return for the fees charged, these would be banked to sponsor the sensory room.

Matthew Smith the organisation’s recruitment manager explained that Mulberry Foster Care was founded by Shaun Burnett and Andrew Robinson in 2016. Together they created an agency with children at the forefront of every decision and of every employee and foster carer within the agency.

He said that following a building swap in October last year, with another company on the same business park, that they have been able to expand what the organisation offers and move into a premises that are much larger.

A lot of internal reorganisation of the rooms was undertaken to provide management offices, individual consultation rooms, quite areas, a play therapy room and the sensory room, which opened in February this year.

Mr Smith said: “We’ve completed the sensory room earlier this year and its lovely to see so many children benefitting from it. However, its capital outlay and its ongoing costs, while affordable, is still significant and to enable to offer the facility free to those in need, we came up with the sponsorship idea from the hiring out of the main conference room.

“So far we’ve had babies using the sensory room, when their own issues need a developmental push along with children who are suffering from regulation issues and those from life-limiting conditions. It has even been used by young adults with behavioural issues.”

Mr Smith said that company had always been a fostering agency in which it recruited and found families that would be able to take in children under the foster care system.

“Out job is to find these families and train them. We are here for the foster carers who have children place with them. We look after them so that they can look after the youngsters.  We support them throughout their time with us,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith pointed out that this is the first time since records began that the number of foster carers leaving this vocation is greater than those coming through. The average age of those beginning their first steps into fostering are people in their late forties or early fifties.

Mr Smith explained that another facet of the organisation is that it is also therapeutic agency and as part of this equine therapy is an essential element.

“There is no science behind it, but it seems that children and young adults with sensory issues have an empathy with the horses,” said Mr Smith.

“The children can groom the horses, pat them or they can ride them. Each child is assessed individually. It grounds them, it calms them and gives them a connection, a trust which they might not have experienced before.

“Lego therapy is also popular as is art and drama classes and we are looking to expand into this realm in the future.

“There are hundreds of children across Herefordshire that need homes. Our goal is to make the space we have to become a community hub for them. We want people outside of the sector to come through our doors and start a conversation.

"This conference room sponsorship initiative reflects our dedication to creating a positive impact beyond our immediate circle.

“By partnering with local businesses and individuals we can suggest to them they are not paying for the conference room as such, as in reality they are donating hours for the sensory room.

“The donated bank of hours will then be offered to families who are unable to afford to use the facility because of the cost and give back to them so they are not disadvantaged and thei children’s therapeutic needs are met.”

For more information email [email protected] or view the organisation’s web site.