New landmark disability hub opens in Belfast to transform support for disabled children and adults

Sense Hub Belfast, run by the national disability charity Sense, will deliver specialist services to local people 

11 September 2025 – A landmark new community hub has opened its doors in Belfast, promising to transform the lives of children and adults in the area.

Sense Hub Belfast, the first centre of its scale in Northern Ireland from national disability charity Sense, will provide vital services and a lifeline of support for disabled people with complex needs and their families. The service was officially opened at a launch event with guests including the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt.

Located on Annadale Avenue, in a building previously run by MS Society, the hub will host a wide range of activities and services. These include an adult day centre and inclusive arts and sports programmes, to specialist play sessions for disabled children under 12, helping them to communicate, develop and connect with family and friends.

With around 52,000 disabled people with complex needs in Northern Ireland – one in five of them in Belfast – the launch of Sense Hub Belfast marks a significant expansion of support at a time when demand has never been greater.

The hub’s opening coincides with Sense’s 70th anniversary, celebrating seven decades of breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for disabled people across the UK.

Martin Walls, Head of Operations Northern Ireland at Sense, said:

“We’re delighted that Sense Hub Belfast is now open to the public and ready to support disabled people with complex needs living in Belfast and the surrounding areas.

“The new service – the first of its kind in Northern Ireland – will be a vital community resource that provides tailored support to meet the diverse needs of our people and families. A state-of-the-art, fully inclusive space where people can come together to learn, play, and thrive – this is a vital step towards our goal of a more inclusive Northern Ireland.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:

“Today marks an important milestone for our community and will enable Sense NI to grow their existing services, meaning of course that they can reach out to more people with disabilities in Northern Ireland than ever before, this is very commendable and well worth celebrating. It is an exciting time where disabled people of all ages and their families can come together to learn new skills, try new activities and socialise. The location also puts people with disabilities in the heart of our community where they belong.”

Concluding Minister Nesbitt said:  “I want to thank everyone involved for all their hard work in achieving today’s important landmark for Sense NI.”

MS Society will continue to be based at the site, delivering support and activities for people living with multiple sclerosis alongside Sense Hub Belfast. 

Stewart Finn, Country Director for MS Society Northern Ireland, said:

“The MS Society exists to make life better for people with MS. At the hub we offer vital services that make a real difference to people affected by MS and we’re delighted to be back there following the refurbishment. It’s fantastic to see the building refurbished offering a much-improved modern purpose-built space for our staff and the MS community.

“Our community is central to everything we do, and we are really pleased to be sharing the building with a likeminded organisation. We look forward to continuing this partnership and shared space for many years to come.”

At the official opening on 10 September, guests enjoyed an opening ceremony featuring speeches from the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, Sense Chief Executive, James Watson-O’Neill, and the Head of Operations in Northern Ireland, Martin Walls.

Guests toured the hub and met families who will use it. Celebrity supporters of the charity, including Eurovision Song Contest-winning singer Niamh Kavanagh, also supported Sense Hub Belfast at the opening ceremony.

Case study – ‘Sense Northern Ireland has transformed my disabled son’s life’

Mary Frances Hassard is mum to two-year-old Finn, who has cerebral palsy and is tube fed. He’s been attending the Sense nursery in Jordanstown for almost a year, and the experience so far has been transformative. Parents Mary and Graeme are looking forward to using Sense Hub Belfast and getting involved in new activities as Finn gets older.

Mary says: “Finn is a wee miracle, and his confidence has come along so much since he started going to Sense services. When I used to drop him off at the nursery, he’d cry and scream and not want to leave me because he’s so attached to me, but now staff send me videos of Finn and he’s cackling with laughter and having so much fun.”

The family live in Newtownabbey, just down the round from the new hub. Mary describes Finn as cute as a button, intelligent and very aware; he loves bubbles, music, and noise. Mary says having a space for Finn to be himself and play with other kids his own age is invaluable:

“Finn’s movement is restricted, and he doesn’t get to do things and go to places that non-disabled kids do. Other parents might take their children to the beach or the park to run around and blow off some steam, but Finn can’t do that, and he can’t use the equipment in the playground. Sense provides that space for him to be a kid.”

For more information about Sense Hub Belfast, visit: Sense Hub Belfast – Sense

Ends