Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026

Ellis’ Room is inspiring new support for neurodiverse children across our hospitals

Following the launch of Ellis’ Room at Prince Charles Hospital in December, staff and families at the Paediatric Emergency Department are already seeing its impact and exploring how similar support could be developed across Cwm Taf Morgannwg.

Funded through community fundraisers and CTM NHS Charity the room was created to support children who may find busy hospital environments overwhelming, particularly those who are neurodiverse or have additional learning needs.

Using interactive projection technology, the space transforms a clinical setting into an engaging and calming environment where children can interact with projected games and visuals while clinicians carry out assessments.

For many neurodiverse children, emergency departments can be highly sensory environments. Ellis’ Room helps reduce anxiety, allowing clinicians to examine and treat children in a calmer setting while helping families feel more reassured.

As organisations across the UK mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, the project is also encouraging teams at Cwm Taf Morgannwg to think differently about how hospital environments can better support neurodiverse children and their families.

Staff in the department say the room is already making a difference. Children who may previously have struggled to tolerate examinations are able to engage with the immersive environment while clinicians check observations or assess injuries.

One parent shared the impact the room can have for families, saying: “Knowing this facility is available I’m no longer in fear of taking my child to hospital. I can't put into words the difference this will make! Thank you!”

Another parent described a recent visit to A&E, explaining: “We went to A&E last night and my son was extremely overwhelmed, having a meltdown and harming himself. It was breaking my heart and we almost had to walk out without treatment. The nurse took us into the immersive room, with snow falling, and my son immediately calmed down. He sat by the wall, happy and settled, which meant he could be treated properly.”

One member of CTM UHB staff described the room as “a great resource for children who are scared of being in hospital, not just those with additional learning needs.”

Another member of the team said the immersive space can help clinicians assess children in a more relaxed way, explaining that “the distraction from the interactive games allows us to carry out examinations.”

Staff have also highlighted how the environment benefits parents and carers as well as children, with one colleague noting that “when a child feels calmer, parents feel reassured, which helps create a better experience for everyone.”

Inspired by Ellis

The project was inspired by Ellis Cummings, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of three. After experiencing how challenging hospital visits could be, Ellis’ parents Rob and Gemma, began fundraising to create a similar immersive environment to one Ellis used at his school.

With strong support from the community and backing from Cwm Taf Morgannwg NHS Charity, the idea quickly grew into a project that is now helping many other families.

Rob and Gemma said: “As parents, we know how overwhelming hospital visits can be for children like Ellis. When we started fundraising, we just hoped to make things a little easier for him. Seeing the room now helping other children and families means a huge amount to us, and we hope it can inspire more projects like this so that even more children can feel calmer and better supported when they come to hospital.”

As part of wider work to improve experiences for children with additional needs, teams are now exploring ways to build on the project, including developing immersive content to help prepare children for procedures such as scans or theatre visits.

Abe Sampson, Head of Charity & Income Generation for Cwm Taf Morgannwg NHS Charity, said the project demonstrates the impact communities can have when they come together:

“Through the determination of Ellis’ family and the generosity of supporters, we’ve been able to create a space that helps children feel calmer and more supported during what can be a very stressful visit to A&E.

We’re keen to build on the success, including a new sensory room fundraiser at Royal Glamorgan Hospital and conversations with families in Bridgend about how we can improve experiences for children at Princess of Wales Hospital.”

The Charity is currently supporting a community fundraiser to create a sensory room at Royal Glamorgan Hospital, providing another calming environment for children who may struggle in busy clinical settings. You can support the campaign here.

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we hope the success of Ellis’ Room will encourage more conversations with families and communities about how hospital environments can continue to evolve to better support neurodiverse children.

If you or your family have used Ellis’ Room and would like to share feedback or experiences, the CTM NHS Charity team would love to hear from you. We are also keen to connect with families and young people who may be interested in helping shape future projects and improvements to support neurodiverse children across our hospitals.

You can get in touch with the Charity team at ctm.charity@wales.nhs.uk.

20/03/2026