Christian Lewis Trust Children's Cancer Charity

The importance of the playroom as central to the therapy cannot be underestimated. In order for a child to feel safe with the therapist, there needs to be a calm and inviting space that the child can feel in control of.

We have been fortunate enough to have received a generous grant from Barclays Bank that has allowed us to redesign and update our playroom.

We have freshened up the walls and had a new wipe clean floor laid, so that the room feels lighter. We have used the storage space available and added new ideas so that as many toys, games, and crafts are within the reach of the child.

The furniture within the room is proportional to the child not the adult and we have attempted to leave floor space so that the child has the room to chose to play in whichever way they need too.

Within our room we offer sand play, a 'home corner', dressing up clothes, dolls, vehicles, Lego, paint, play-doh, paper and pens, board games, football tables, books and tunnels. We do not offer suggestions of what to play with to the child, which is why we attempt to provide as many appropriate options as we can. Within the playroom, for the duration of their therapy the child is invited to be whoever they need to be and to choose their own ways to express themselves.

We are grateful to Barclays for their support so that we are able to meet the needs of more children who can benefit from therapeutic intervention.