Inside Lumiere Charity: Liverpool’s First All-Immersive Sensory Play Centre for Children with Complex Needs
- Chris Welford
- Apr 6
- 4 min read
On Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, Launchpad Magazine attended the official launch of Lumiere, a new all-immersive soft play and sensory centre for children with complex needs. Situated in Fazakerley, Liverpool, this pioneering facility represents a much-needed turning point in the accessibility and inclusivity of recreational spaces for families across the city and beyond.
The centre’s opening was a moving, community-led celebration of empathy, advocacy, and shared purpose, driven by the lived experiences of the families it’s designed to serve.
A Celebration Rooted in Lived Experience: Lumiere Charity Liverpool
The launch event brought together some of the UK's most respected voices in inclusion and community development, including Richard Kemp CBE, Bernie Hollywood OBE, High Sheriff Professor John Mohin OBE DL, and campaigner Hayley Smallman.
Hayley delivered an emotional speech, sharing the story of her daughter Holly, a teenager with multiple and profound disabilities who sadly passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayley became a national voice for families like hers after sharing her experience of caring for Holly alone, when lockdown restrictions prevented support workers from entering the home. Her account, later featured in The Mirror, highlighted the isolation faced by families with disabled children, particularly during moments of national crisis.
“Holly was the happiest child – she brought joy everywhere,” Hayley said.“She deserved to feel included and free, just like any other child. Lumiere is the kind of place that would have meant the world to her.”
Her words underscored the urgency and significance of what Lumiere has built—not simply a building, but a lifeline for families often left behind. The event also featured a poignant poem written and performed by Melody Clark, which captured the emotional weight of the occasion. The Kingsbury Primary School Choir closed the launch with a performance that brought many attendees to tears and set a tone of hope and togetherness for the centre's future.
Inside Lumiere: Designed by Families, for Families
Founded by Linda and Melissa, two women with direct, personal experience caring for children with complex needs, Lumiere is a product of empathy, determination, and community insight. Every design decision has been shaped through consultation with parents, carers, and, where possible, young people.
Guests explored Lumiere’s carefully planned zones:
A large soft play zone is built to accommodate all children, but it also has extra sensory areas, such as a Lego/building area with raised workstations for accessibility.
Lumiere Sensory Space is a designed environment that provides controlled and customisable sensory experiences to support individuals, particularly those with sensory processing differences, in regulating their sensory systems and promoting well-being and engagement.
A quiet space, a designated "quiet space" or "calm-down corner" that is quiet, comfortable, and free from potential triggers, offering a haven for self-regulation.
A teenage-friendly sensory space, with gaming and chill-out areas that offer a more mature environment for older users.
A café and parent hub, where carers can connect, support one another, and recharge—creating a true family-friendly space.
Too often, public and private play centres lack facilities that accommodate complex physical, emotional, or sensory needs. Lumiere stands apart by intentionally removing the barriers that so many families encounter daily.
The Volunteer Spirit Behind the Vision
What makes Lumiere particularly unique is the entirely volunteer-led structure. Linda and Melissa affectionately refer to their team as “the fairies”—a name that reflects both the magic they bring and their tireless work. With no paid staff, Lumiere has already raised over £60,000, but requires at least £20,000 more to cover essential costs and complete its build-out.
Through grassroots fundraising, passion, and community belief in the cause, everything has been achieved. The work of these volunteers is more than commendable—it’s transformational.
The National Picture: Why Lumiere Is So Vital
Lumiere addresses a gap that is all too prevalent across the UK. According to a 2022 Scope UK report:
49% of families with disabled children say they face barriers to accessing local play areas.
12% of children with additional needs report feeling unsafe in playgrounds designed without their needs in mind.
Only 1 in 10 local authorities in England have accessible playground policies.
These data points point to a fundamental imbalance. Children with disabilities are being systematically excluded from spaces where vital development, joy, and social interaction occur. Lumiere aims to change that, starting in Liverpool, but with an eye to national inspiration.
A Space That Listens
One of the most powerful moments of the day came from listening to parents who had travelled across the city—and some from neighbouring areas—to see the new centre for themselves. Their words were powerful:
“There’s nowhere else like it.” “We’ve been waiting for something like this for years.” “Finally, we can go somewhere with the whole family—and not feel different.”
For families raising children with disabilities, isolation and exhaustion are daily realities. Lumiere is not just a space for children to play—it’s a space where parents can be seen, heard, and supported.
The Launchpad Perspective
At Launchpad Magazine, we cover dozens of community initiatives each year. However, few have the depth, emotional honesty, and societal impact of Lumiere. What’s being created here isn’t just a centre—it’s a model for how lived experience, combined with community action, can drive structural change.
While councils and the NHS must support families, projects like Lumiere demonstrate the value of grassroots innovation. Lived experience is not just a bonus; it’s essential. As one speaker at the event said:
“The public sector can provide the structure, but it’s lived experience that gives it soul.”
How You Can Help
Lumiere is asking supporters, sponsors, and partners to raise the remaining funds needed to complete and sustain the centre.
You can donate here: Crowdfunder for Lumiere
To learn more or to get involved:
Email: info@lumierecharity.org
Website: www.lumierecharity.org
Follow: @lumiere_charity on social media
Final Thoughts
Lumiere Charity Liverpool is more than just a building—a movement for change. It’s a beacon of inclusion, a sanctuary for families, and a powerful reminder of what happens when people come together to meet an urgent need with heart and purpose.
Let’s return to Linda, Melissa, and their team of volunteers. Let’s raise awareness, funds, and the bar for inclusion in our cities.
Written by Launchpad Magazine - Your voice for community, innovation, and impact
