In the Spotlight

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opens TouchBase
Music and dance launch Sense Scotland's unique, accessible resource

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened TouchBase, our new Glasgow based resource which brings together day services for disabled people, a new meeting and conference venue, café/catering services plus our Head and West region offices.

Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque and enjoyed entertainment featuring music from Murray (who we support in Dundee) and a dance piece featuring Ian and Ghazalla, who both use TouchBase day services. She then met people in children and adult day services and attended a private reception for families and supporters of Sense Scotland.

"It's wonderful to have HRH The Princess Royal officially open TouchBase," explained Gillian Morbey, Sense Scotland's Chief Executive. "Our day services for both children and adults are already thriving and we have just opened our new conference, training and meeting room space, which is supported by our in-house catering and café service. TouchBase will help disabled people explore creativity through arts and music and develop life skills through a growing range of vocational opportunities including, supporting our admin team and helping in the café. It's also a valuable and fully accessible resource for business and the local community to meet and work in."

About TouchBase: In December 2003, Sense Scotland bought a building in Kinning Park, Glasgow which needed complete refurbishment. The 27,000 sq ft warehouse and office block, named TouchBase, now provides innovative and fully accessible resources for disabled people, carers, families, the local community and businesses. Facilities and services include a day centre base for children and families, drop-in resources for adults, music, visual and performing arts spaces, community offices, training and meeting rooms for hire and a café/catering service.

Building and equipping of TouchBase was supported by funders including:

• BBC Children in Need - build for the The Children and Family Suite
• Big Lottery Fund - woodcraft and drama spaces
• Claremont Centre Ltd - office furnishing
• European Union - Europe and Scotland Making it work together - training and learning development
• The R.S. Macdonald Charitable Trust - training café
• The Robertson Trust - music suite
• Scottish Arts Council Lottery Funds - visual arts suites
• The Wolfson Foundation - training suite
• Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland - accessible lift
• Futurebuilders Scotland
• Glasgow City Council Social Work Services - Children and Family Suite build
• Radio Clyde Cash for Kids - toy library
• Redrow Foundation - snoezlin and sensory stimulation equipment
• The Moffat Charitable Trust - Children and Family Suite
• Hilton in the Community Foundation - Playroom equipment
• Children's Aid - Kitchen and family room equipment
• Wooden Spoon - children's outdoor play area and garden

For more information contact:

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