CHARITY
MONITOR
Pupils using Soundbeam during playtime
I
n summer 2015 the WCIT
Charity made a grant to The
London Centre for Children with
Cerebral Palsy (LCCCP) to enable
the organisation to purchase
Soundbeam. Soundbeam is a 'touch
free' device which uses sensor
technology to translate body
movement into music and sound.
LCCCP aims to inspire children with
cerebral palsy to develop
independence, confidence and
self-esteem and to achieve their full
potential.
Anna Salamonowicz, Trusts and
Foundations Fundraising Manager,
said “Soundbeam’s use is being
phased in across our Centre, so staff
and children can maximise the
educational possibilities the
equipment offers. Our Conductors
and teaching staff are very grateful to
have received such a unique
educational resource. Soundbeam
allows them to tap into a world where
the child is totally in control, equal
and in charge of their movements;
clearly having fun without the need
for words.
Pupils in our school have been using
Soundbeam since November last
year, during playtime after lunch,
Page 8
because the invisible sound beam
level decreased significantly. Staff at
facilitates development of imaginative the centre said Sara is ‘coming out of
play.
her shell’ and becoming more
extrovert, she sings louder in her
Within a couple of weeks, staff
music therapy sessions, speaks more
observed that children were finding
confidently to adults and her peers
more ways to express themselves
and is increasingly comfortable to
because every little movement and
participate in groups.
action they make converts into sound.
Pupils who have restricted muscle
Soundbeam is enabling Sara to
control are participating in sessions
develop her social skills and the
on a par with their peers, integrating
ability to establish herself in a social
in the group by using their voice and setting amongst her peers, several of
body in a functional way. Each child
whom are very outgoing.
is enjoying dancing and creating
Anna says “Our Speech and
movements, even those not usually
Language Therapist will introduce
keen to do so.”
Soundbeam later this term within a
A pupil who has already made
social skills session, particularly with
excellent all-round progress by using pupils like Gerry who have minimal
Soundbeam is Sara. Sara, eight, is a movements, to allow children to make
lively, friendly child. She has dystonic their presence known. Sessions will
include activities such as asking for
cerebral palsy which presents in
fluctuating muscle tone and means
the ball in a game of catch by
Sara has involuntary movements in
speaking or using an instrument to
all four limbs, her trunk and facial
gain attention (the Soundbeam in
muscles.
Gerry’s case).
At the start of the academic year,
Sara was very shy. She did not like
being the centre of attention and so
did not want to participate in music or
singing in large groups.
Sara was not even keen to join her
class friends in small groups in
familiar surroundings because there
is a focus on the person playing
traditional instruments. However,
when children use Soundbeam, they
sit on the floor in their chosen
positions, as they are in their natural
environment.
Our Music Therapist is also planning
to use Soundbeam in this academic
year as an additional tool for
encouraging children’s participation in
music therapy sessions, and
conductors in our Early Intervention
services team are studying
Soundbeam to establish how and
when it might assist them to reach
identified learning objectives for
babies, toddlers and young children
who attend their sessions.”
Contributed by Anna Salamonowicz,
Trusts and Fundraising Manager, LCCCP
Thank you to all our donors to the
WCIT Charity for helping make this
donation to The London Centre for
Children wit h Cerebral Palsy.
If you would like to talk in more detail
about joining our Continuous
Charitable Giving Scheme, to enable
us to help more organisations such
as this, then please contact Eleanor
In Soundbeam sessions, Sara soon
MacGregor at the WCIT Hall either by
began to move on her own a little and email to eleanor@wcit.org.uk or
touch the pads. Over time her anxiety telephone at 020 7600 1992.