Cerebra Innovation Centre (CIC) in Swansea has been awarded a £5,000 grant from Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s Community Fund.
The money has been used to develop new sensory, floating, musical instruments for disabled children in a swimming pool setting at four special education schools across Wales.
The schools benefiting from the floating music stations are Ysgol Crug Glas in Swansea, Ysgol Maes y Coed in Neath, Heronsbridge Special School in Bridgend, and Ysgol y Gogarth in Llandudno.
The fund also supported a small swim school, Baby Swim Safari, which covers the Swansea and Llanelli areas, and offer free lessons for disabled children.
More than £500,000 has been donated by the fund to hundreds of local community initiatives over the past eight years, with around £60,000 awarded during 2024.
The team at CIC help support children who have a neurological condition and their families through a range of free services.
Their team of talented engineers and designers build innovative, bespoke products, for free, to help disabled children to discover the world around them.
Ross Head, from Cerebra Innovation Centre, said:
“Here at Cerebra Innovation Centre we respond to requests from parents, therapist and schoolteachers to invent new products to help children with brain conditions. We were aware of the amazing therapy enabled by both music, and hydrotherapy, and had a beautiful idea to bridge both disciplines.
“With the super generous grant from Welsh Water, we were able to realise this project by making a floating music station.
“We are so grateful to Welsh Water for choosing to support Cerebra’s innovative work and have been able to supply five special education schools in Wales with a floating music station which will help many children each year and for years to come.”
Welsh Water’s Community Fund launched in 2017 and has supported several community groups that make meaningful differences in their communities.
Community groups can apply for up to £5,000 for their work from the fund, with applications open during three windows in 2025.
Claire Roberts, Head of Community Engagement at Welsh Water, said:
“We’re proud to support this vital educational and wellbeing project.
“As a not-for-profit organisation our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we’re pleased to continue supporting our customers and communities by helping groups who work tirelessly to improve their local community.”
For more information on how to apply visit www.dwrcymru.com/Community-Fund
