A Lisburn-based group that focuses on giving adults with learning disabilities more social opportunities is set to host a unique sensory Santa experience for people with additional needs.
Live Life Well-Being Centre offers a focused service for adults aged 19-35 with learning disabilities.
This year, they have decided to host their first social enterprise Christmas market which includes their Ultra-Violet Winter Wonderland Santa Experience.
Read more: Lisburn group giving adults with learning disabilities more social opportunities
Philip Adair, director of Live Life, told Belfast Live that they wanted to create a space for those who may not be able to attend traditional shopping centre grottos due to over stimulation so they can also join in the magic of meeting Father Christmas.
Philip said: "The central aim of Live Life is to improve opportunities and experiences for those who have additional needs, not just for our own participants but also for the wider community.
"A typical Santa experience for some children with additional needs can prove to be an over-stimulating experience, with all the lights, music and large shopping centre environments.
"The Ultra-Violet Winter Wonderland is a dark, immersive experience. There will be soft music playing. All the decorations are white and they produce a soft glow when put under Ultra-Violet light - including Santa’s Beard."
The event will be held on Saturday, December 10, from 10am to 2pm at Sarah Crothers Hall in Lisburn.
Philip continued: "At Live Life, new ideas and creative thinking are encouraged and nurtured with our participants, staff and community partners. There is never a week that goes past without someone saying “I have got an idea, why don’t we...”.
"Our new day opportunities service for young adults with severe learning difficulties has been operational now for 15 months and over this period our participants have been developing a range of products which they make themselves and then sell.
"With the income, they decide what they wish to spend the money on and we like to think of the concept being that the young people are working for themselves for their own benefit."
The team at Live Life have been working hard to independently make their own woolly hats and scarves this festive season and thought this would make the perfect opportunity to hold their own Christmas market.
"Our Christmas Market initiative has proved hugely popular - we can accommodate up to 20 stalls in our hall, but we could have doubled this number with the requests we received from local retailers, crafters and creatives.
"There are so many talented people making amazing products in NI," he added.
Live Life participants will be working hard in the run up to the big day to create the Grotto, an activity Philip said they cannot wait to do.
"Through our various community initiatives, they often experience the ‘helpers high’, which is a positive feeling a person experiences when they do something to help others.
"As an organisation, we feel strongly that those with additional needs deserve the same opportunities to participate in the fullness of life," he said.
"With innovative thinking, adaptations to activities and the right support measures put in place everyone can achieve living life in a meaningful and fulfilled way.
"We are presently working on an exciting inclusive community proposal for the future that we will be presenting to Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council in the coming months."
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