We are working on a special project to keep children safe as schools get set to re-open. Our Swansea based Innovation Centre is busy making child-friendly face visors so that children with disabilities can return to school safely in September.
Cerebra’s mission is help children with brain conditions to discover a better life and with the current health situation, this is more important than ever. Children with special educational needs and disabilities have been badly affected by the drastic changes the Coronavirus pandemic has brought about. School closures in particular have resulted in a substantial change to children’s routines and are a potential contributing factor for declining mental health and well-being. Returning to school in September will be a positive step for lots of young people, but alongside that, there will be worries about how to keep them as safe as possible.
Unable to access their normal workshops because of COVID restrictions the charity’s Innovation Centre team are using their unexpected spare time to help out. Over the next few weeks they will be hard at work to produce an additional 2,000 child friendly face visors free of charge for special needs schools across the country.
The visors are designed to be worn by children and are less intimidating than standard visors. They feature artwork by former UWTSD Graphic Design student Brogan Evans. Brogan said: “It was such a pleasure to be asked to help the wonderful team at the Innovation Centre. They are doing such a kind selfless task and I am just thrilled I could help. I feel very lucky that I have been able to make important protective equipment a little less scary for children”.
To help deliver this project the charity has launched a fundraising appeal, asking for people to donate just £5 which will cover the cost of producing one visor. Derek Spinks, Fundraising Manager at Cerebra explains: “The last few months have been a real challenge but seeing children go back to school will be a big step towards returning to some form of normality. That’s why it’s really important for children to return safely and we’re so pleased to be doing something to help them, their classmates and teachers stay protected. If anyone would like to pay for a visor and help a child with a brain condition to stay safe when they return the school, simply text VISOR to 70470 to donate £5”. You can also donate here.
The Innovation Centre have already produced over 7000 visors for use in nursing homes and shops across south and west Wales. Centre Manager Ross Head explains: “It has been a great honour to be able to help out a little during the pandemic. We will have made 7000 visors in total which have helped out in schools, nursing homes and shops, to give people the confidence to return to work and to continue their amazing jobs providing services, health care and education. My sincere thanks to my small but dedicated team of volunteers who have made this possible, and to UWTSD for the use of their equipment and space, keeping us safe whilst we worked!”
The Cerebra Innovation Centre is a partnership project between Cerebra and the University of Wales, Trinity St David. From fish tanks to oxygen masks via specialist buggies and surfboards the award winning Innovation Centre team are brimming with ideas and solutions for families who have a child with a brain condition.
