Sense Scotland is a disability services and awareness charity in Scotland,[1] formalized in 1985. The charity’s aim is to create a supportive world for people with complex communication support needs where they can live meaningful lives and achieve their own ambitions.[2] Services are located all over Scotland with the charity’s main resource centre and head office based in Glasgow. The charity also provides information about complex communication support needs and participates in disability rights campaigns. Sense Scotland’s work is mainly funded by Local Government through contracts for services provided. It also raises money through donations, legacies, community fundraising, events, retail and corporate partnerships.
On 11 June 2011 Sense Scotland announced that former MSP Andy Kerr had been appointed to the vacant CEO position.[3] He took over from interim CEO Joyce Wilson who held the position after former Chief Executive Gillian Morbey OBE left to head Sense and Sense International in October 2010.[4] [5] Morbey has been instrumental in setting up Sense Scotland and became its first staff member in 1985. She received an OBE in 1995 for her service to the deafblind community.
In November 2011 Sense Scotland was awarded best UK health project at the National Lottery Awards, recognizing the difference that projects (co)financed by the Big Lottery Fund make to local communities, and celebrate the achievements of the people behind them.[6]
The charity offers support services to children, young people and adults with complex communication needs throughout their lives. Sense Scotland’s services include day care, short breaks, supported living, housing support, skills development, arts and outdoor sessions and social clubs.[7]
Sense Scotland provides information to people with complex communication support needs and their families. The charity employs family advisers who pay home visits throughout Scotland and inform people with disabilities on resources available to them. The advisers also inform people on communication development support and possible sources of funding. They also answer questions and concerns about their disability.
Core to the work of Sense Scotland is making sure the people they work with are informed of government policy and help them understand what policies mean to them. The charity is also committed to ensure the thoughts and views of people with disabilities are heard by the Scottish government.
Sense Scotland works in partnership with other organizations. The charity is a member of Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) together with more than 50 national organizations that represent the needs of people who rely on disability benefits.[8] Sense Scotland is also a member of the Disability Agenda Scotland together with Capability Scotland, Enable Scotland, RNIB Scotland, Action on Hearing Loss and Scottish Association for Mental Health.[9] The charity is a major backer of The Hardest Hit campaign organized jointly in 2012 by DBC and UK Disabled People’s Council to fight the cuts to disability benefits.[10]
In April 2008 Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened TouchBase: a £4.5m development that has transformed a derelict warehouse on the South Side in Glasgow into a modern, fully accessible conference, support and community venue.[11] The resource centre is the home of Sense Scotland head office and offers a café open to the public, day care and arts facilities to people with disabilities and a business centre with conference, training and meeting rooms for hire. All income generated through TouchBase Business Centre goes directly towards the charity’s work.[12] [13]
Sense Scotland is mainly funded by Local Government contracts, accounting for 82% of their income, the other 18% is made up of donations (11%), profit from the retail division (6%) and investment income (1%).
The charity organizes fundraising events all year round for individuals and groups to join. In 2010 The Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow started organizing an annual benefit night in aid of the work of Sense Scotland.[14]
Sense Scotland has got a charity retail division that consists of 11 permanent shops and 8 temporary shops throughout Scotland. The charity opened their first shop on Dumbarton Road at Kelvinhall Subway Station in Glasgow in 1986 where it still opens its doors to trade most days of the week.
Sense Scotland shops are predominantly staffed by volunteers and each shop has its own paid shop manager and shop assistant. The shops division is highly dependent on donations of used goods from the public and sells second hand furniture in selected stores. Sense Scotland invites donors of goods to Gift Aid their donations allowing the charity to get extra money by claiming the tax back from the Government.