DUBAI // Children at the Senses Centre for special needs spent the better part of yesterday afternoon playing with the Dubai Xodus Wasps rugby team.
Ten Wasps members got the children passing rugby balls around, dancing and playing games.
“This is the second time we’ve visited the centre and had a chance to interact with the kids,” said Craig Gibson, chairman of the team. “The first time we visited it was the first time the children had seen a rugby ball.
“It’s nice for the kids and a new experience for the players. We had about 60 per cent of our members wanting to join us today, so we had to pick the players randomly,” Mr Gibson said.
Senses Residential and Day Care Centre is a non-profit organisation and the first and only residential care facility for special needs in the UAE and the Middle East.
“We have 47 children who live at the centre, including many from the GCC. And we get about 48 for day care,” said John Miller, sponsorship manager at the centre. “We take children with all issues, from moderate to severe, and from 5 to 30 years old.”
“These kids are like any other kids, they want to have fun and sports are a great way of getting them active and interacting with people,” Mr Miller said.
The centre is always looking for help. Volunteers can do anything from ironing and cleaning to interacting with the children.
“If you are stuck at home all the time, you’d be excited about having visitors. That’s how the children feel,” Mr Miller said.
Donations can also be made at the centre to help with therunning costs. “We accept monetary donations as well as donations in products that we can use,” he said.
“The facilities are getting better here. The soft turf and the shaded area make it easier for the kids to play,” said Wasps prop, Chris Hollard, who visited the centre with the Wasps last year. “I recognised many of the faces we met last time, some who were active last time seem shy today, but everyone was very excited.”
Mr Hollard has some experience with special-needs children and has worked at similar centres in the UK.
“People get in their own bubble here, so it is important if you see anything like this to get involved. This is much better than a Friday brunch.”
Katie Phillips, who plays for the Wasps women’s team, has siblings with special needs and is used to helping out and volunteering.
“I didn’t know that a centre like this existed in the UAE. Now that I know about this place, I want to volunteer again,” Ms Phillips said.
malkhan@thenational.ae
