Ruby's Fund Sensory Bus

Project Background

Ruby’s Fund is an independent children’s charity that provides inclusive support services for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities in and around Cheshire.

We’ve had the honour of collaborating with the charity on multiple sensory projects, from designing and planning their spectacular Sensory Room to helping them secure funding to set up a permanent play space in Congleton town centre.

With their continued success, Ruby’s Fund were keen to expand their services further. They’d noticed that some families struggled to visit the centre because of their children’s additional needs. So, instead of families coming to them, Ruby’s Fund thought, why don’t we come to you?

And this simple thought kickstarted one of our most ambitious sensory projects to date!

A Sensory Bus

After an impressive fundraising drive, Ruby’s Fund came to us with a proposal for a Sensory Bus – a bright pink, portable sensory room on wheels.

We couldn’t have been more excited to get stuck into the project and turn their magical sensory dream into a reality.

Building A Sensory Bus

From the outside, it might look like a standard van, but on the inside, you’ll find a magical, glowing interactive sensory room where users can play, have fun, and develop their senses.

The sensory bus was designed as a therapeutic space for families to escape to. When you step aboard you are instantly immersed in calming mood lighting. Cosy cushioned benches lined with soft safety padding create comfortable places for users to sit back and explore their senses. Kids can lie against the vibrating bumpers and feel their relaxing proprioceptive stimulation, sit alongside the hurricane tube watching the flurry of floating balls dance around, or let their minds wander to the infinite depths of imagination inside the infinity tunnel.

We wanted to make sure that the bus was inclusive and accessible for all. To achieve this, we made the bus wheelchair-friendly, widening the sensory areas so wheelchair users can easily access all of the sensory resources and installing a ramp so wheelchairs can easily wheel aboard.

What’s inside the Sensory Bus?

• Bubbling Hurricane Tube
• Twinkling Fibre Optics
• Vibrating Wall Panels
• Wall and Ceiling Projectors
• Tactile Wall and Floor Panels
• Convex Mirrors
• Wall Padding and Cushion Seating

Easy to Clean & Covid Safe

Even though the project was commissioned before the covid pandemic, we designed the space to be infection-control friendly and suitable for safe sensory play.

All of the resources aboard the bus are made from robust materials that can be easily wiped clean with antibacterial spray and wipes. Not only does it make the space safer, but it also reduces play downtime, as the bus can be cleaned quickly before arriving at its next destination.

Sensory On Tour

When Ruby’s Fund was forced to temporarily close their centre due to covid restrictions, their sensory bus had a bit of a Cinderella moment, turning into a magical pumpkin-like carriage, ready to take the children to their very own special sensory ball.

Ruby’s Fund rearranged all their centre appointments and embarked on a sensory road trip, visiting the homes of every family who’d had their sensory sessions postponed.

The bus provided much-needed relief, therapy, and a wellbeing boost for families in the Cheshire area.

Find Out More

• Sensory Bus Virtual Tour: Take a virtual tour of the inside of the sensory bus. Use the room navigation tab at the top right of the page to jump straight into the sensory bus. (p.s. you can also explore the sensory room area we designed for Ruby’s Fund too!).
• Ruby’s Fund: Find out more about the charity.
• Get In Touch: To discuss your own sensory project!