Henry is the disabled son of Army veterans, Tania and Anthony. Henry’s condition affects his behaviour but thanks to the ABF’s funding of £6,000 towards a sensory room, he now has a safe, calming space, when he needs it. 

Veterans, Tania and Anthony live with their four sons, Henry, Anthony, Alfred, and George, in Dorset. 

Tania served for 12 years, firstly as a reservist with 6 RIFLES and then as a regular soldier with the Army Air Corps, undertaking an operational tour in Afghanistan. Anthony also served for many years in the Royal Logistic Corps. 

Their eldest son, Henry, has a rare genetic condition which means he has significant learning and development issues, as well as poor speech, vision and hearing. He is a football-mad child and loves Bournemouth FC – according to Tania, all he wants to do at his specialist school is play football! 

As he gets older, Henry’s condition increasingly is affecting his behaviour, which can be challenging. When he has “meltdowns”, the best thing is for Henry to move to a different environment where he can calm down and regulate his feelings. But, in their busy family home with four children, there was limited opportunity for Henry to have his own space. 

Tania turned for help to the ABF’s partner charity, SSAFA, and met with a caseworker to discuss possible assistance. A number of charities then contributed funding towards a specially designed log cabin for Henry to be built in the garden. The ABF was delighted to make a grant of £6,000 to create a sensory room within the log cabin, which is fitted with specialist sensory equipment and lighting, to cater for Henry’s needs. 

Now whenever he wants time out, Henry has somewhere of his own to calm down and relax. The room is a safe, comfortable space with padded, soft furnishings, and a hammock. It is also a place to bring his brothers and friends.  

Tania said,  

“We would never have been able to do this without the help of ABF and other charities. The family is over the moon with the funding support we have received. 

“The log cabin and the sensory room will most definitely benefit Henry for years to come. This gives him somewhere to go when he is having a meltdown, where he is able to regulate himself. To have this extra space at home where he can be on his own helps Henry massively. Thank you.”