A SPECIALISED piece of equipment created for Bury College has received national recognition.

The SensoryPod has won the coveted “educational project of the year” category at the National AV Awards 2013 which were staged at the London Hilton earlier this month.

Yorkshire-based Osborne Technologies Ltd, which was involved in the project for the college, lifted the award.

The equipment helps young people with learning difficulties.

The pod took home top prize for providing a controlled environment which excludes the outside world by shutting out noise and uncontrollable elements.

Designer of the pod Kevin Wheatley worked alongside Osborne Technologies Ltd to create a 10-sided building within a building without any feeling of claustrophobia.

Together, they created a self-contained area for students to use and enjoy.

Darren Tattersall, team leader of New Horizons at Bury College, said: “I have used sensory rooms in the past but we wanted to go to the next level and find something different.

“This is when the makers of interactive touchscreen boards told us about the pod.

“They had never been used in education before but we took a leap of faith in this amazing product and now they are being built all over the country.

“We have had loads of schools come to look at ours.”

In October 2012, Bury College chose to be the first in the county to have the pod installed and has seen great improvements in students who use it as a form of escapism.

All Foundation Studies students are invited to use the pod and are encouraged to visit it during lunch breaks to enjoy some quiet space.

The pod has also been used to manage challenging behaviour as it can reduce crisis episodes, increase communication and social interaction because individuals know they have a place where they can relax or let of steam.

Darren added: “This pod is brilliant and it has changed lives.

“For some of our students the sensory world can be very confusing and cause distress.

“The pod allows us to stop this and control the sensory environment for a short period of time so they regain control.”

Commenting on the National AV award, he continued: “I was really shocked and I couldn’t believe it. The designer Kevin had pushed us to apply, so when I heard the news it was so unexpected.”