Blists Hill Victorian Town introduces sensory bags for visitors

During 2023, 383 pupils from 36 SEND schools visited IGMT’s museums, along with hundreds of children and young people who came with their families. 

The brightly coloured, new sensory bags, which feature the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Sunflower Scheme branding, have been provided by MyWorkWear in Telford. They contain items, funded by three private trusts and foundations, including ear defenders, pop fidgets, spiky light up balls, squeeze stress balls, a wooden kaleidoscope, and wooden twist and lock blocks. The contents have been specially chosen to soothe visitors to the museum who may become stressed, agitated or anxious due to sensory input or overload. 

This is the second new initiative the Trust, a heritage conservation and education charity, is implementing during Christmas 2024 for children and young people with SEND. This year the Trust is hosting its first Calm Christmas Grotto adapted to children and young people with SEND. From 18 and 22 December there will be sessions dedicated to families with children or young people with SEND, or to schools or other similar support organisations with a SEND provision. 

Andrea Nelson, Community Engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust said: “We have been really excited about the arrival of the new sensory bags and are delighted to be able to introduce them for our Victorian Christmas Weekends, some of the busiest weekends of the year. Families love Blists Hill but we know that for children and young people with SEND the experience can be overwhelming. We are therefore happy to be able to provide these bags, generously funded by MyWorkWear and private trusts and foundations, to help families create extra-special memories together this Christmas.”

James Worthington, Co-Owner and Co-Managing Director at MyWorkwear, said: “We are delighted to support the Trust, a valued customer of ours, with this fantastic initiative. We’re really proud to have provided the team with new sensory bags as well as 'here to help' jackets that will enable their staff and volunteers to be more visible to visitors who need their help.”

Karen Davies, Museum Development Director, said: “As a charity, we are very grateful for the support of local company MyWorkWear, to the Richardson Brothers Foundation and the Edith Murphy Foundation, as well as one other who wishes to remain anonymous, which has made it possible to introduce our sensory bags this Christmas. We know that these bags will make a big difference to the experience of our visitors with SEND and will help us achieve our objective of ensuring that everyone feels welcome at our museums.”

The new sensory bags will be available at the Blists Hill Victorian Town museum entrance. The bags are free but a £10 deposit, to be refunded on the return of the bag and its contents, will be required.