Our impact
Visual transcript of the impact video
A group of runners run together at an event. Two men and a woman wearing Sense running tops smile and wave as they run past.
Last year, £13.3 million was raised by amazing supporters like you.
A woman wearing a Sense polo shirt smiles as she helps a young boy to band a huge drum with a drumstick. He laughs and smiles as he does so.
For every £1 received, 76p was spent supporting disabled people with complex needs.
A montage of Sense’s work incudes a man climbing up a climbing wall and a woman laughing as she zips down a ski slope with a ski instructor.
1,073 people tried out new inclusive sports and activities for the very first time.
A montage of Sense’s work includes a young girl shaking a musical instrument. Next to her two older woman shakes tambourines, clap and dance. A family do actions with their hands to a song altogether.
5,232 children, young people, and their families learned new ways to communicate, connect, and play together.
A montage of Sense’s work includes a young girl sitting at a yellow piano and a young boy giggling with a Sense member of staff.
360 people joined their first inclusive art or well-being workshop.
A young man and his support worker throw shuttlecocks and balls over a net in an accessible sports session.
517 professionals gained new skills in accessible and inclusive sport.
A montage of Sense’s work includes a young girl and her parents smiling and clapping together, a music room filled with people playing drums, people chatting in a kitchen and a group of disabled adults enjoying games under a colourful parachute.
Thank you to everyone who supported us.
Together, we’re making a real difference to the lives of disabled people with complex needs.
Reflections from James Watson-O’Neill, our chief executive
Every year, we reflect on what we’ve achieved over the last 12 months. This year has been different. Marking our 70th anniversary has meant looking back on seven decades of driving change and providing vital support to disabled people with complex needs and their families.
It has also given us special moments to come together. We’ve celebrated our history, honoured the families who paved the way, and looked ahead to the future, together. In April, we marked our anniversary at Sense TouchBase Pears with our patron, HRH The Princess Royal. In September, we opened Sense Hub Belfast, expanding support for disabled people with complex needs in Northern Ireland and creating a space for people to connect, try new things and make friends. This has only been possible thanks to our generous supporters.
We’re making progress in breaking down barriers, but there is still more to do. Proposed welfare reforms and a broken special educational needs and disabilities system continue to leave disabled people and families without the support they are entitled to.
We will stand alongside them for as long as it takes. Together, we can achieve long term change.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year. As we look ahead, your continued support will help create a world where disabled people are connected and included, no matter what.
2024/25: Our year at a glance
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5,232 disabled children and young people with complex needs, and their families, were shown new ways to communicate, connect and play through our expert support.
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1,900 volunteers played a vital role supporting our shops, services, activities and virtual programmes.
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1,073 disabled people with complex needs tried out new inclusive sports and activities for the first time.
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517 professionals gained skills around accessible and inclusive sport through our Sense Active workshops.
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442 disabled people with complex needs and employers were supported through training, volunteering and work preparation.
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360 disabled people with complex needs accessed inclusive arts and wellbeing workshops for the first time.
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250 siblings and young carers were supported to take time for themselves and form new friendships.
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166 disabled people with complex needs connected, learnt new skills and formed friendships through our virtual buddying project.
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132 disabled adults with complex needs benefitted from our support across supported living, college, residential care and day services for the first time.
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84% of our services were rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission.
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For every pound Sense receives, 76p is spent supporting disabled people with complex needs through our charitable activities. The other 24p is put back to work to raise the next pound so we can support even more people and their families.
Meet Harvey
A partnership between Harvey’s family, his nursery and a Sense multi-sensory impairment specialist enabled this young, deafblind explorer to thrive and feel included.
With tailored sensory support, Harvey’s world was opened up, and his confidence grew. Staff at his nursery learned how to adapt activities so he could communicate, play and stay in education. At home, the same approach ensured he could enjoy the magic of everyday moments with his brothers.
More stories of our impact
Our new hub in Belfast will support more children like Ruby
Supporting Paul through every stage of life
From isolation to advocacy: My journey as a young carer
Representation matters. That’s why I wrote a book where disabled children feel seen
How drumming with Sense has brought Autunm to life
How playing football has built Amin’s confidence and independence
How touch unlocks football for Richard, a deafblind fan
A Sense Holiday helped social butterfly Orla to stretch her wings
Be a part of Sense’s future
We believe that every disabled person with complex needs should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life.
If you’d like to support our work breaking down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs, please consider donating today. Or have a look at the other ways you can get involved with Sense, including partnering with us to champion accessibility across your organisation.
More information
How we spend your money
Our annual reports
Our strategy
Introduction to our plan 2026 – 2029
Our chief officers’ group
Our Trustees
Our Patron and President
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