Durham cricket stars unveil new facility for young people with disabilities

Durham Cricket’s Phil Mustard and Gordon Muchall officially opened a BT-funded multi-sensory room for young people with physical and learning disabilities at Hadrian School in Newcastle today. Hadrian School becomes the 17th school to benefit from the partnership between BT and the Lord’s Taverners charity, which will help to improve the lives of over 18,000 young people with severe disabilities and communication difficulties across the UK.

Hadrian School caters for 123 children aged 2-11 with special educational needs, including profound multiple and complex difficulties, behavioural and emotional disorders, severe learning disabilities and physical disabilities. In addition to its pupils, the school is open to other local children and adults, providing community access to a vital facility for people with a range of disabilities.

Multi-sensory rooms feature a relaxing and stimulating variety of lights, sounds and textures, which help children with physical and learning disabilities to engage in a learning environment that suits their educational needs. The rooms can result in dramatic benefits to children with sensory impairment, helping enhance development of senses such as hearing, sight, smell and touch.

BT’s partnership with the Lord’s Taverners will see multi-sensory equipment installed in at least 26 schools in the UK. With BT pledging to maintain the specially-adapted classrooms until 2020, the lives of more than 18,000 young people with severe disabilities and communication difficulties across the country will be improved thanks to the partnership.

On the opening of Millstead School’s new multi-sensory room, Durham wicket-keeper batsman Phil Mustard said: “The Lord’s Taverners has supported grassroots cricket for over 60 years so it’s great that Durham Cricket can do our bit to help the charity and give a bit back to the community. The sensory room is an incredible facility that will help hundreds of young people with disabilities here in Newcastle and Gordon and I are both proud to be part of this special day.”
Suzi Williams, BT Group Marketing and Brand director, said: "We want to use the power of communications to make a better world, and the sensory room at the Hadrian School is a brilliant example of how technology can create possibilities and improve lives."

Jamie Graham, Regional Chairman of the Northumberland & Durham Lord’s Taverners, said: “The Lord’s Taverners is committed to giving young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with disabilities the chance to enjoy sport and recreational opportunities. Today is a shining example of how the charity’s national partnership with BT helps improve lives right at the heart of communities across the country.”
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For more information about the Lord’s Taverners please contact:

• James Salisbury on 020 7025 0000 or james.salisbury@lordstaverners.org
  • Tom Lloyd on 020 7940 1700 or toml@capitalize.co.uk
  • Philippa Clothier or Leigh Chelton on 0191 273 9897 philippa.clothier@clothierlacey.co.uk/leigh.chelton@clothier lacey.co.uk

For information about BT’s partnership with the Lord’s Taverners please contact:

• The BT Regional Press Office on 0800 085 0660
  All news releases can be accessed at BT’s web site: http://www.btplc.com/News

Notes to Editors – Lord’s Taverners

The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity whose objective is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance.

Every year, the Lord’s Taverners donates over £3 million to help young people of all abilities and backgrounds participate in sporting activities. In 2014 alone the Lord’s Taverners gave 8 million sporting chances across all of its charitable programmes.

The Lord’s Taverners benefits hugely from the support of its highly regarded members, many of them drawn from the world of sport and entertainment. The list includes Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Greg James, Will Greenwood, Chris Tarrant, Miles Jupp, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Jonathan Agnew and Mike Gatting.

To find out more about the charity go to:

• Facebook: The Lord’s Taverners
  • Twitter: @LordsTaverners
  • YouTube: LordsTavernersUK
  • URL: www.lordstaverners.org

The Lord’s Taverners – Registered Charity No. 306054