Digg Community Spotlight: Enjoy a Day Out with a Difference at High Rise Lisburn
- Caroline O'Neill
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
Every Visit to High Rise Helps Local Families
I’m Marie Marin, Chief Executive of Employers For Childcare, and I’d like to introduce the Digg community to our charity’s family adventure centre, High Rise Lisburn. More than just a place for fun, High Rise is a social enterprise where every visit supports local families in need.
What Is High Rise Lisburn?
High Rise is an inclusive, accessible family adventure centre offering activities for all ages and abilities. Conveniently located near Sprucefield, it boasts:
• Ireland’s highest Vertical Drop Slide
• The adrenaline-pumping Leap of Faith
• The breathtaking Stairway to Heaven
• A Clip ‘n Climb arena with 24 climbing walls, reaching up to 8m high
Clip ‘n Climb is designed for children aged 4+, but adults can also join the fun—no prior climbing experience is required!
Beyond climbing, High Rise features:
• A soft play area with slides, tunnels, and rope bridges for younger adventurers
• Two interactive sensory rooms for guests with additional needs
• A café serving delicious, affordable home-cooked meals and snacks
• Event space for corporate groups, school trips, birthday parties, and more
A Truly Inclusive and Accessible Experience
When creating High Rise, we were determined to make it a place for everyone, ensuring families could enjoy time together regardless of their needs. We consulted with families of children with additional needs to design an environment that fosters inclusion.
How We Support Guests with Additional Needs
• Weekly ‘Inclusion Zone’ sessions on Sunday mornings (Clip ‘n Climb & soft play) for children with autism, ASD, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome, or sensory processing disorders
• Smaller Inclusion Zone parties at quieter times
• Two interactive sensory rooms designed for children and adults with additional needs
• On-site Sensory Assistant to support guests
• Autism NI Impact Award accreditation
• Specially trained staff - from Autism NI and Guide Dogs
• Changing Places accessible toilet
• Ear defenders available to borrow at reception
More Than an Adventure Centre – Supporting Local Families
What sets High Rise apart is its charitable mission. As part of Employers For Childcare, all profits go directly toward supporting families.
The Impact of Your Visit
• In 2024, the charity identified over £12 million in financial support for families as all profits are used to fund the charity's work
• Since reopening in 2022, High Rise has donated over £1,000 to schools, charities, and sports teams and others
• We provided £15,000 worth of free soft play entry to families in need
• We host free weekly information and advice sessions for parents
• We offer weekly free soft play sessions, on Thursdays and Fridays during term time to help families access high quality play opportunities
Every single visit helps our charity continue its work, making a difference to families locally. Last year, when our charity helped a family, we were able to identify almost £1,500 in financial support they didn’t know they were entitled to. This is money back in parents’ pockets and in the local economy – all thanks to guests of High Rise!
What Guests Are Saying
Our dedicated staff are at the heart of the High Rise experience. In our latest survey, 94% of visitors rated their experience as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“The venue was spotless, staff plentiful, friendly and confident. We ranged in age from seven to 84, and we all loved it – we’ll definitely come again and have already recommended it to others!”
“Really impressed with High Rise, fantastic layout and wow - the staff. Can honestly say you made our night. First-class customer service. Can’t wait to visit again.”
“High Rise, without a doubt, is the best facility in the country in terms of staff awareness and training in Autism. Every time we have been, all the staff have been fantastic with both my children. Thank you so much for training your staff in additional needs - it really does mean the world to families like ours!”
Thank You for Your Support
To everyone who has visited High Rise, bought a gift voucher, booked a party, or brought a school or youth group - thank you. Every visit helps us continue our work, ensuring families receive the support they need.
So next time you are looking for an energetic blast for either adults or children, look no further than High Rise and enjoy a day out that really makes a difference!