New wellbeing space The Sanctuary offers area for students to relax and regulate

College Principal & Chief Executive Ken Merry cut the ribbon to celebrate the launch of the state-of-the-art inclusive room, which has been created with the support of funding from the Crescent Purchasing Consortium’s Giving Back grant.

The Sanctuary, with its carefully designed elements, will make a significant difference to how learners experience college life, whilst having a transformational impact on student wellbeing in the process.

A key aspect of the new space can be found in the corner of the room where the Sensory Nook is located.

The nook will provide a private place to host targeted sensory work for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Offering a space for quiet reflection that is accessible to any of York College & University Centre’s 7,000-plus students and apprentices, The Sanctuary will also serve as a triage point within the wider network of support services to ensure staff can respond quickly to individual needs. 

The inclusive design, encompassing adaptive lighting, secluded seating, beanbags and a dedicated meeting booth, means a diverse range of students will benefit from the new facility, including non-SEND learners.

Level 1 Sport student Ibraheem Hadrami is already benefiting from The Sanctuary’s calming ambience having progressed from College’s Pathways to Work and Independent Living course.

He said: “It’s very calming and an easy place to come. I enjoy being here and like to come every day that I’m in College.

“It’s somewhere I can chill and relax and it’s a great place for anybody to be if they are experiencing anxiety.”

Liam Garside, York College & University Centre Director of Student & Apprentice Services, added: “The impact of The Sanctuary has been transformative. Students consistently report feeling calmer and more able to engage with their studies after using it. The sensory resources have proven especially impactful for learners with SEND, while the inclusive design has fostered a broader sense of belonging and respect across the College community.” 

The Crescent Purchasing Consortium’s Giving Back charity initiative supports educational institutions in their efforts to assist with SEND issues, tackle absenteeism and support the physical and mental wellbeing of learners.

Since its inception in 2019, the charity has designated more than £2million for reinvestment across the education sector, facilitating a wide variety of purchases, projects and events. 

Explaining the motivation for supporting The Sanctuary’s launch, Crescent Purchasing Consortium Managing Director Darren Lowe said: “I’m delighted the Giving Back funding support York College received has helped them create and launch The Sanctuary, which not only supports SEND and student wellbeing, but the wider college community, as well. 

“It’s fantastic to read and hear about the difference projects like this are making. Our Giving Back charity is at the heart of everything we do and what makes us unique, as we work towards our vision of being the first-choice procurement services charity that gives back to the education sector."

To learn more about York College's wellbeing provision, click here

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