A NEW play facility for children with multiple disabilities has been given £357 thanks to shoppers at a town centre supermarket.

SMILE (Sensation and Movement Interaction for Life Experience) is a new initiative based at the ARCOS Therapy Centre, Avenue Road, Malvern.

It was selected as one of the local causes to benefit from the Waitrose Community Matters funding programming, where shoppers indicate their preference with green tokens at the Edith Walk supermarket. And thanks to their votes, the SMILE project is being given £357.

The project is a stay-and-play facility that encourages parents or carers to play and learn alongside their child with support from experienced staff.

It offers a sensory room with technology not currently available in any other sensory room in Worcestershire. It provides music and drama workshops, and play activities such as cooking, creative storytelling and messy play. The money will go towards the development of a sensory garden as part of the project.

Samantha Jones of ARCOS said: “Local children and families are already starting to feel the difference SMILE can make.

“We would like to thank everyone who contributed their green tokens.

“Thank you to everyone for all your support, from all of us at ARCOS but more importantly on behalf of all the children to whose lives you are making such a difference.”

For more information, contact smile@arcos. org.uk or telephone 01684 576795.