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Sensory grotto makes Santa visits accessible

Alice Cullinanein Birmingham
Alice Cullinane/BBC Santa Claus is wearing a red hat and a cape. He has long white hair and is sitting next to a red brick fireplace. A man with a green hat and a green suit is sitting next to Santa and smiling.Alice Cullinane/BBC
The grotto provides a slower pace for people to relax with Santa for as long as they need

A charity has built a sensory grotto to make visiting Santa accessible to all.

Focus Birmingham, which cares for people with visual impairments and complex needs, aims to create a sense of calm with the grotto's adaptable soft lights, gentle sounds and different textures.

It created the experience to make Christmas more inclusive and ensure that there was a "safe space" for everybody to enjoy a visit with Santa.

"The family's reactions are amazing to what we do, it fills my heart all year," staff member Thomas Ward said, adding that it gave "something to the wider community".

Mr Ward said that the charity celebrated all events across Birmingham and Christmas time incorporated "lots of love".

"We do this to give an opportunity for everyone to see Father Christmas, regardless of their age, their additional needs," he said.

Alice Cullinane/BBC A woman is sitting in a wheelchair and using a screen to communicate. Her carer is standing behind the wheelchair as a reindeer stands next to them in a pen. Alice Cullinane/BBC
Reindeer visits were also on offer at the charity's centre in Harborne

CEO of Focus Birmingham Kate Burke said the grotto was just one of many accessible events that the charity held with others, including Christmas fetes, bingo and sing-alongs.

"It's so important because we believe everybody has the right to live life to the full and reach their potential," she said.

Ms Burke said that Christmas could be a time with more barriers for those with care and support needs, so the charity made sure people had the same opportunities.

The charity’s specialist mini buses cost more than £400,000 a year to help keep the centre accessible.

It appealed for support for its Christmas campaign this year to help fund the transport service.

Alice Cullinane/BBC A brick fireplace is covered in gold and red tinsel and white candles. There are presents stacked on the right side of the fireplace with colourful lights in the background.Alice Cullinane/BBC
Soft lights, gentle sounds and different textures feature at the grotto

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