On Friday 13th June 2025, Swansea Bay Health Charity proudly celebrated the official grand opening of the new Children’s Therapy Sensory Room at Neath Port Talbot Children’s Centre. The event marked a major milestone in our ongoing mission to support children and young people with additional needs across Neath Port Talbot and beyond.

Among the special guests who attended the grand opening, the room was officially opened by Swansea Bay UHB Chair and Charity Trustee, Jan Williams and Senedd for Neath, Jeremy Miles, who attended to show support for the centre’s work.

The new sensory room is already making a difference, providing a calming, interactive environment for therapy and development. Thanks to the generosity of local donors and supporters, the room is now a safe space where children can play, process emotions, and build confidence through sensory exploration.

Many children will now be able to use the space, including Malaki, who’s father, Pacer spoke at the event:

“For children with Prader-Willi Syndrome, early consistent intervention and therapy is essential. A sensory room provides a safe and structured environment where he can work on his physio and occupational therapy, strengthen his muscles and regulate his sensory needs.

This space isn’t just a room. It is a place of progress, comfort and possibility. It will allow him to focus, to feel safe and to build the strength that will support him throughout life. This room exists today because of the generosity and kindness of each and everyone who contributed. You have made a difference in my son’s life, and the lives of all the others who will benefit from this space.”

But the celebration didn’t stop there…

Launching the Cwtsh Natur Appeal

During the event, Swansea Bay Health Charity and the Children’s Centre team took the opportunity to officially launch Cwtsh Natur, our newest appeal. This ambitious project aims to raise £200,000 to transform the centre’s outdoor space into a safe, accessible, and therapeutic garden for children with additional needs and their families.

Working with sustainable design organisations Earthwrights and Down to Earth, we’ve developed exciting plans to turn a once-derelict garden into a nurturing, nature-filled sanctuary. The vision includes:

● Inclusive play equipment designed for all abilities

● Wheelchair and visually-impaired friendly design

● Quiet, calming corners for outdoor therapy and relaxation

● Biodiverse features including wildlife habitats and sensory planting

This new outdoor space will complement the sensory room, providing an alternative therapeutic environment that encourages movement, social interaction, and connection with nature.

About Neath Port Talbot Children’s Centre

Established in the 1990s and part of Swansea Bay University Health Board, the Children’s Development Centre in Neath Port Talbot supports children from the Afan, Amman, and Glynneath Valleys and beyond. It houses both a Children’s Therapy Team and CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), helping children with conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, diabetes, brain injuries, and more.

Every year, between 3,000 and 8,000 children benefit from the centre’s services. Now, with your help, the outdoor space can become a natural extension of that support.

How You Can Help

Cwtsh Natur is a project rooted in hope, health, and healing through nature. Every donation, large or small, brings us one step closer to building a garden that helps children through therapy.

Donate to the Cwtsh Natur appeal today and help us create something truly special for Neath Port Talbot families.

Together, we can grow a space where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired.