I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for your newest invention, the Safespace Voyager. We took it on holiday last week for the first time and it transformed the week for both my son and myself. I am amazed to find that something so suitable for my ‘one- off’ son has been designed – I am so glad too! For the first time in the last 5 years I was able to pop him to bed and ’switch off’ knowing he was safe – usually holidays are such hard work. Also, Thomas was ill during our holiday so I was especially glad to have the Voyager, he was able to rest in there in the day as well, it really was a godsend. I was pleased to find I had no difficulty putting the Voyager up and down, it was amazingly quick and easy. Thanks again for a priceless piece of equipment, which I look forward to using many times in the future.

I can’t believe how simple and straightforward it was to put up – we’re totally thrilled to bits and now really looking forward to our holiday this year. John went in it when I built it as if he had always used it. He loves his big one in his bedroom and was pleased as punch when he saw this one, like a duck to water!

I am just writing to say thank you for the travel cot [Voyager] which you made for my son Steven. It has saved me a lot of stress and worry whenever I take him on holiday or down to my parents’ house. Steven really likes it and his brothers think its a den for them to play in. Thank you for your help.

Everything is great about the Cosyfit Hi-Lo. Sarah is now safe and if she headbangs or throws herself around she doesn’t hurt herself. I love the fact that it comes in girly pink and is very spacious. She loved her bed within 10 minutes and she hates change so that’s a first!!

We are a short break unit and therefore need to cater for all manner of disabilities. The Cosyfit Hi-Lo is ideal for our purposes, it has resolved several issues that we had. We use it instead of a hospital bed with cot sides and it is much safer. We now have children able to watch TV in bed (through the plastic [window]). We have always had excellent, quick service from your company.

The Cosyfit Hi-Lo is fantastic. Toby is able to sleep in a safe environment and I can sleep sound in the knowledge that he can’t fall out of bed or injure himself. It also gives me the option of putting him in a secure place where he can play/rest safely if I need to do a job/get washed & dressed when no-one else is available to watch him. The Hi-Lo function also saves my back.

Prior to the arrival of the Cosyfit, Holly was sleeping in an inflatable boat to minimise any risk of injury during any night time fits. The bed quickly became a safe haven both for her and us as parents. It meant that we could put her to bed safe in the knowledge that she would be as safe as possible, and that we could relax. Now that the fits are mostly under control, it has become more than a bed – it is a night time play area, a safe, warm den and most of all, the place that she relates sleep with. She can often be found making her own way into her bedroom and into the Cosyfit, and will literally play contentedly through the small hours of the night if she is awake. The positive effect that the bed has had on the lives of all three of us is simply astounding, and it is something that we would thoroughly recommend to others dealing with similar difficulties.

We are over the moon with the bed and it has helped us greatly in our care for Sarah. She took to the bed right away and has settled into a good sleep routine which she never had before. We are happy to recommend your services to all our friends most of whom have disabled children also.

Being a parent of a disabled child brings many challenges and one of the difficulties I faced in particular was bed-time and my son’s sleeping difficulties which resulted in many unhappy and sleepless nights for the whole family. My son’s problems stem from a rare brain condition as well as autism and seizures. He needed a bed that could be tailor-made for his safety and comfort and I struggled for a long time to find one.

Then I discovered Safespaces with the help of my son’s Occupational Therapist. After an initial consultation, Safespaces designed an amazing bed, custom-made to my son’s needs and totally suitable for his night-time environment. My son is now safe and happy in his new bed and is sleeping so much better. This bed has changed our lives in such a positive way. I cannot thank Safespaces enough for designing and providing such a wonderful piece of equipment that has made such a great impact on our lives.

Thank you Safespaces!

Holly Grove is a Primary School for pupils aged 3-11 years with Generic Learning Difficulties. This includes pupils with Profound and Complex needs, Severe or Mild Learning Difficulties and pupils with Autism and/or Challenging Behaviour.

Initially when I discussed purchasing a Safespace for our school, some of the staff had reservations. They said, ‘It looked like a padded cell!’ Questions were asked such as ‘How would we get the children to the Safespace when they were in crisis?’ and ‘Would the children not just misbehave to get out of lessons?’

During the first 2 months the pupils were fascinated by the Safespace and therefore did initially abuse its use by consistently either misbehaving or more commonly requesting ‘time out’.

Fortunately the novelty wore off, as it did in my previous experience, and we began to see noticeable changes in the pupils’ behaviour. We no longer have to use positive handling techniques to support our pupils in crisis, as now they are simply escorted to the Safespace to calm down. The length of time they now spend in the Safespace has reduced considerably, from approximately 30 minutes to 5 minutes.

Many of our children with autism who are non-verbal have a symbol/photograph of the Safespace displayed in class, and will now remove the symbol/photograph from the board, give it to the nearest adult, and run to the Safespace, when they have identified themselves that they need to calm down. Previously when becoming anxious these pupils would grab at the nearest adult/peer and become aggressive when adults then had to use positive handling techniques to keep everyone safe.

The Safespace is also used as a ‘Blank Canvas’ for Intensive Interaction. The only stimuli in the room is the adult and therefore this encourages positive, successful interaction. All the staff and pupils at Holly Grove now agree that the Safespace has been an invaluable investment!

See Karen and Holly Grove School on the Safespaces Films.