Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association

Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association

Trade name	Sense
Formerly	The National Deafblind and Rubella Association
Industry	Non-profit
Headquarters	101 Pentonville Road, N1 9LG, London, UK
Key people	James Watson O'Neill (CEO)
Revenue	GBP £69.87million (2020)
Number of employees	2,446
Website	https://www.sense.org.uk/
Footnotes / references Sense annual report and accounts: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/289868/accounts-and-annual-returns

Sense is a charitable organization based in the United Kingdom.[1] The charity exists to support people who are deafblind or who have a hearing or vision impairment and another disability[2] and campaigns for the rights of disabled people in the UK.[3] It operates in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.[4]

The charity's full name is Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association but its operating name is Sense. It was previously called The National Deafblind and Rubella Association.[5]

Charitable services

The charity offers a range of services for disabled people including residential services, advice and information and arts and sports activities.[4] It also offers education services to young people with complex learning disabilities.[6] It also provides a residential holiday scheme for disabled children.[7] Sense also supports people in the UK affected by Usher syndrome.[8]

Campaigning and advocacy work

Sense also campaigns for the rights of disabled people to take part in life.[9]

Children's play campaign

This activity included a 2016 campaign that highlighted that many disabled children were excluded from playgrounds and other children's play activities.[10] This included an inquiry into children's play activities in the UK and a report called The Case for Play.[11]

Sense Sign School

In 2020, the charity ran an educational campaign called Sense Sign School to increase understanding of British Sign Language (BSL).[12] This campaign promoted free online lessons in BSL taught by a teenager living with CHARGE syndrome.[13]

Campaigning on exclusion and social isolation

In 2021, Sense campaigned to highlight the exclusion and social isolation of disabled people during the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] The charity was also involved in highlighting the abuse of a woman and her deafblind sister for removing a face mask.[15] Sense also published a report about exclusion and social isolation among disabled people that highlighted the barriers faced by disabled people in everyday life.[3]

Governance and regulation

Sense is a charitable company registered with the Charity Commission.[5] It is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission,[16] Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)[17] and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW[18]).

Royal patronage

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal is the patron of Sense.[19][20] In December 2020, Princess Anne was thanked for her work by a disabled teenager supported by Sense.[21]

Guinness World Record

Sense is notable for holding the world's largest tactile signing lesson. This took place in London on 2 October 2018 and involved 390 participants.[22]

References

1. "SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION - Charity 289868". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
2. "SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION - Charity 289868". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
3. "Fears disabled people will be left behind after the Covid pandemic". ITV News. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
4. "SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION - Charity 289868". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
5. "SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION - Charity 289868". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
6. "Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)". Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education). p. 2. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
7. Ofsted (2019-09-20). "Ofsted: Sense The National Deafblind and Rubella Association". Ofsted. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
8. "'My vision is like looking through a straw'". BBC News. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
9. "SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION - Charity 289868". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
10. "Disabled children 'shut out of playgrounds'". BBC News. 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
11. "Disabled children are 'facing barriers' to accessing play". The Independent. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
12. "Thousands sign up for Birmingham teen's BSL lessons". BBC News. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
13. "Disabled student teaching sign language to thousands with free video lessons". ITV News. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
14. "Lockdown 'even harder' for new mum with disabilities". BBC News. 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
15. Media, P. A. (2020-07-25). "Deafblind woman and sister verbally abused for lifting mask on train". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
16. "Care Quality Commission: provider information". Care Quality Commission. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
17. Ofsted (2021-03-04). "Ofsted: Sense The National Deafblind and Rubella Association". Ofsted. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
18. "SENSE, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association | Care Inspectorate Wales". careinspectorate.wales. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
19. "Court Circular: October 5, 2021". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
20. Emma.Goodey (2015-10-02). "The Princess Royal". The Royal Family. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
21. Miller, Frederica (2020-12-02). "Princess Anne thanked by disabled teen for vital support during 'very challenging time'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
22. "Largest tactile signing lesson". Guinness World Records. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2021-11-13.