Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 41 | Page 19

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19
Aycliffe mayor Mary Dalton and her consort Val Raw
are joined by ROF 59 founder John Finley (right) and
general manager Glenn Fletcher at the opening of a
£6,000 sensory room on Aycliffe Business Park.
Aycliffe mayor Mary Dalton samples the sensory
room at ROF 59 after opening the new centre.
“We’ll have staff on
hand to look after
young people in the
sensory room, which
gives parents the
opportunity to take a
break and chat with
other parents.”
in the region for parents who have children
with special learning needs, and you have to
travel a long way to find it,” said Chilli.
“These rooms can stimulate their senses
but they can also help them to relax. More
importantly, we’ll have staff on hand to look
after young people in the sensory room,
which gives parents the opportunity to take a
break and chat with other parents.
“Parents don’t always get the chance to
talk to other parents about their experiences
and struggles, and this will give them that
opportunity but in an informal, relaxed
environment where they know their children
are safe and having a good time.”
Aycliffe mayor Mary Dalton and deputy
mayor Val Raw helped to launch the official
opening of the sensory room.
Mayor Dalton said: “I think it’s absolutely
Beauty and the Beast’s
‘Belle’ and Spiderman
joined young people
to help celebrate the
opening of the new
sensory room at ROF
59 on Aycliffe Business
Park.
wonderful, I don’t think I’ve ever seen
anything like it before.
“I know some parents have to travel for
something like this, so for us to have this on
our doorstep in Newton Aycliffe is fantastic.”
ROF 59 built the new sensory room
with guidance from the Pioneering Care
Partnership (PCP) in Newton Aycliffe and
nearby Tree Tops Nursery.
PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth said:
“It’s a fantastic new facility, not only for the
people of Newton Aycliffe but the wider
community as well.
“It’s a brilliant place for young people to
come and enjoy, but ROF 59 also provides a
wonderful opportunity for parents to have a
bit of a break, as the staff here can monitor
the children and mams and dads can relax
and chat with other parents.
“We’re delighted to have worked with
ROF 59 on this project and we’ll certainly be
able to refer families here for those who will
benefit from a sensory room like this.”
ROF 59 re-opened as an activity centre
nearly four years ago, rejuvenating the old
Presswork Metals building and former World
War Two munitions factory into a 21st century
entertainment and leisure venue, after an
initial £1.1m investment.
The 70,000 sq ft centre, which created 30
new jobs when it opened in September 2015,
now includes the Blitz restaurant, the Bunker
bar/lounge, ice cream parlour, events room,
trampoline park, adventure walls including the
‘leap of faith’, Virtual Reality suite, Battlefield
outdoor laser combat, outdoor play area, beer
garden, 19m drop-zone, climbing centre and a
200m zip line.