Birchwood Primary School welcomes new sensory ‘zen den’ following £3,000 donation from East Suffolk Cllr Mark Packard

A councillor’s donation has ensured that pupils at a Suffolk primary school will have a peaceful place to unwind.

Birchwood Primary School, in Martlesham Heath, has unveiled a new ‘zen den’ – a specially-built cabin containing a sensory room to alleviate anxiety and stress.

The space was opened by Cllr Mark Packard, who donated £3,000 from East Suffolk Council’s Enabling Communities Budget, to make the project possible.

Cllr Packard, who represents the Martlesham and Purdis Farm ward, said: “I was happy to use my Enabling Communities Budget to help Birchwood Primary School Parent Teacher Friends Association fund this worthwhile project.

“This new Zen Den provides a sensory setting for pupils to make use of when feeling overwhelmed.

“Projects like these acknowledge the importance of children’s wellbeing as a key part of their safety, happiness and development.

“Looking after the welfare of our young children has always been important, but in the modern age and with the impact of covid, schools like Birchwood are leading the way in finding extra ways to help their children.”

Each East Suffolk Council representative gets a share of the Enabling Communities fund.

The budget is designed to support activities delivered by community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations.

Paul Firman, governor for The Partnership of Birchwood and Holbrook Primary Schools, said he had been involved in many fund-raising projects, but had never seen ‘such a much-needed’ scheme gather funds so quickly.

He added: “There is no doubt that Cllr Packard’s contribution gave us an injection of funds that really spurred us on to meet our goal and got this worthwhile project up and running to meet the needs for the wellbeing of the Birchwood community.”