Finance Score: 6

Governance Score: 6

Support Score: 13

Good reserves management: +3
Fundraising costs low: +3

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3

Grant maker support: +13

Overall GiG Score: 25

SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA ASSOCIATION

Sense exists so that no one who is deafblind or has other complex disabilities is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Across the country, we support children and adults to communicate and experience the world. We provide information and advice, offer a wide range of flexible services and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

Reserves management has been consistently within official guidelines
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
Fundraising costs are low relative to funds raised
A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers including the Government
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Established: 40 years

www.sense.org.uk

Clare.O'Donovan@sense.org.uk

0300 330 9260

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

How you can help

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E		Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/03/23		£86,527	£90,245	£-3,718	£5,580	£50,761	£47,636	6.3	2,485	2,000
31/03/22		£82,519	£78,214	£4,305	£4,858	£45,426	£41,781	6.4	2,557	1,900
31/03/21		£75,228	£70,333	£4,895	£4,010	£32,550	£28,742	4.9	2,555	1,400
31/03/20		£69,874	£69,472	£402	£16,271	£31,663	£28,019	4.8	2,446	1,800
31/03/19		£66,882	£64,810	£2,072	£15,928	£34,928	£31,708	5.9	2,304	2,000
31/03/18		£88,472	£87,052	£1,420	£17,785	£42,574	£38,094	5.3	3,306	0
31/03/17		£88,206	£86,348	£1,858	£16,561	£35,031	£31,235	4.3	3,349	0
31/03/16		£84,686	£84,052	£634	£15,996	£34,289	£30,675	4.4	3,266	0
31/03/15		£82,965	£81,147	£1,817	£15,224	£33,152	£25,235	3.7	2,526	0
31/03/14		£81,808	£82,618	£-810	£16,906	£40,426	£32,909	4.8	2,558	0
31/03/13		£80,007	£78,107	£1,900	£14,844	£46,017	£38,993	6	3,223	0
31/03/12		£78,354	£75,606	£2,749	£14,703	£41,865	£34,032	5.4	3,130	0
31/03/11		£82,261	£78,864	£3,397	£14,070	£35,557	£27,891	4.2	3,264	0
31/03/10		£81,021	£77,148	£3,874	£14,634	£22,046	£14,385	2.2	3,233	0
31/03/09		£78,035	£74,945	£3,091	£13,323	£28,378	£17,016	2.7	2,361	0
31/03/08		£74,381	£69,840	£4,542	£12,356	£28,278	£17,957	3.1	2,966	0
31/03/07		£69,395	£65,725	£3,671	£11,388	£20,102	£10,515	1.9	2,894	0
31/03/06		£64,210	£61,216	£2,993	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/05		£44,429	£42,278	£2,150	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0
31/03/04	*	£53,353	£52,455	£898	£0	£0	£0	n/a	0	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 7.7%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 6.2%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 2%
Highest pay band: £150,000-£200,000
Liabilities/Assets: 15%
Liabilities/Income: 10%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 94%
Reserves/Spending: 6.3 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 2 months
Quick Ratio: 0.6

Asset Split ?

What it does

Accommodation/Housing
Amateur Sport
Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science
Disability
Education/Training
General Charitable Purposes
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

Who works here?

2,485 employees
2,000 volunteers

Who it helps

Children/Young People
Elderly/Old People
People With Disabilities

How it operates

Other charitable activities
Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides services

Where it operates

Northern Ireland, Throughout England And Wales,

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

National Lottery Community Fund	£1,394,418
Sport England	£1,352,155
DCMS	£1,020,241
Pears Foundation	£645,234

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Sport England - Sense Get Out There Cornwall
£13,706	25/08/2023	This project will provide at least thirty physical activities, in at least sixteen community locations over twelve months. This will enable 30 unique young people with complex disabilities, between ....more This project will provide at least thirty physical activities, in at least sixteen community locations over twelve months. This will enable 30 unique young people with complex disabilities, between 11 and 18 years living in Cornwall to take part in a range of activities, with support from 20 volunteers and two specialist physical activities coordinators.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Connect and Play Project
£1,294,587	21/03/2023	Funding will be used for a new national early intervention and play programme for children aged 0-8 with complex disabilities and their families. The project will be facilitated by expert ....more Funding will be used for a new national early intervention and play programme for children aged 0-8 with complex disabilities and their families. The project will be facilitated by expert practitioners and volunteers offering face-to-face and digital activities including sensory play sessions peer support for carers family days and workshops.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association
£17,600	13/02/2023	Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Family Centre - Woodside
£2,551	22/10/2022	The project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with complex disabilities locally. It will combat loneliness and isolation.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Centre Louth
£7,123	22/10/2022	This project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with disabilities and promote inclusion, celebrating their work in the community.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense College Centre, Dereham
£1,827	22/10/2022	We will deliver professional music workshops, using technology to break barriers. It will focus on combating loneliness and isolation and mental wellbeing for people with complex disabilities.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense-Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham
£1,951	22/10/2022	This project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with disabilities and promote inclusion, celebrating their work in the community.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense College Loughborough
£2,116	22/10/2022	The project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with complex disabilities. It will combat loneliness and isolation in the region.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense College Centre - Bedford
£2,085	22/10/2022	The project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with complex disabilities locally. It will combat loneliness and isolation.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Touch Base South East, Barnet
£2,152	22/10/2022	The project will provide professional dance workshops promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with complex disabilities. It will combat loneliness and isolation.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Glenside Centre
£2,589	22/10/2022	The project will provide professional dance workshops, promoting positive mental and physical wellbeing for people with complex disabilities locally. It will combat loneliness and isolation.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association
£176,000	22/06/2022	Towards project costs for developing a model of local arts hubs as shared, inclusive places for disabled and non-disabled people to co-create artistic programmes for the whole community
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to Sense
£75,000	08/06/2022	Creation of a hub in Loughborough supporting people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities
National Lottery Heritage Fund - Grant to SENSE, THE NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AND RUBELLA
£64,420	03/05/2022	Sense & National Trust Partnership : Internal Garden
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£150,000	25/03/2022	Loughborough Hub
Garfield Weston Foundation - Major Grants award
£250,000	03/12/2021	A new Sense Hub at Loughborough
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£80,000	03/12/2021	Pears DCMS Volunteering Futures Fund
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Rothwell Centre
£3,762	23/10/2021	We would like to provide an inclusive arts programme to create opportunities and positive role models for people with complex disabilities locally, as well as to change attitudes towards disability.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Padgate Resource Centre
£1,998	23/10/2021	We would like to provide an inclusive arts programme to create opportunities and positive role models for people with complex disabilities locally, as well as to change attitudes towards disability.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Centre Aldeby
£843	23/10/2021	We would create an inclusive arts programme providing opportunities and positive role models for people with complex disabilities, and changing attitudes towards disability.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Centre Dereham
£1,835	23/10/2021	We would like to provide an inclusive arts programme to create opportunities and positive role models for people with complex disabilities locally, as well as to change attitudes towards disability.
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to Sense
£175,000	09/12/2020	WF Covid-19 Support Fund
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Sense UK
£28,620	30/11/2020	This project will deliver online events and groups for children with sight or hearing impairments experiencing poor mental health and isolation due to Covid-19. This will result in improved skills ....more This project will deliver online events and groups for children with sight or hearing impairments experiencing poor mental health and isolation due to Covid-19. This will result in improved skills and children being able to manage their emotions.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to Sense Touchbase Pears
£5,629	24/10/2020	We plan to organise and run an activity holiday for deafblind children in the area.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£510,361	15/09/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£260,234	11/09/2020 12	Learning Hub at Disabled Children's Partnership
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£9,880	07/09/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
Sport England - Specialist Partner Investment
£945,486	18/08/2020 35	Funding under Sport England's Funded Partners funding programme for a Revenue project titled Specialist Partner Investment. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with ....more Funding under Sport England's Funded Partners funding programme for a Revenue project titled Specialist Partner Investment. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£55,000	03/08/2020 8	Digital Arts and Wellbeing programme
National Lottery Community Fund - Covid-19 Keeping Connected
£99,831	31/07/2020 6	Sense will bring specialist staff off furlough to support adults aged 18+ with complex disabilities. They will increase the number of beneficiaries able to access their day centre in Caerphilly. The ....more Sense will bring specialist staff off furlough to support adults aged 18+ with complex disabilities. They will increase the number of beneficiaries able to access their day centre in Caerphilly. The centre provides opportunities for beneficiaries to learn develop their communication and living skills promote independence and develop social networks and friendships. The project will be providing IT and sensory packs for beneficiaries and an ongoing outreach support programme across South East Wales offered within people’s homes. Additional training and support will be offered to staff to enable them to deliver new virtual services. £99831 over six months will cover staff equipment PPE learning and development Bydd Sense yn dod â staff arbenigol yn ôl o ffyrlo i gefnogi oedolion 18+ oedd sydd ag anableddau cymhleth. Byddant yn cynyddu nifer y buddiolwyr a all gyrchu eu canolfan ddydd yng Nghaerffili. Mae'r ganolfan yn darparu cyfleoedd i fuddiolwyr ddysgu datblygu eu sgiliau cyfathrebu a byw hybu annibyniaeth a datblygu rhwydweithiau cymdeithasol a chyfeillgarwch. Bydd y prosiect yn darparu pecynnau TG a synhwyraidd i fuddiolwyr a chaiff rhaglen allgymorth barhaus ei chynnig ar draws de-ddwyrain Cymru mewn cartrefi pobl. Bydd hyfforddiant a chefnogaeth ychwanegol yn cael eu cynnig i staff i alluogi nhw i gyflwyno gwasanaethau rhithwir newydd. Bydd £99831 dros chwe mis yn talu am staff cyfarpar PPE dysgu a datblygu.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Major Grants award - COVID19 response
£200,000	03/07/2020	Core Costs
DCMS - Loneliness Covid-19 Fund - Sense
£500,000	19/06/2020	Sense will receive 500,000 to support children and families and adults with complex disabilities. The funding will enable them to expand and scale up their Connect 4 Service which helps disabled ....more Sense will receive 500,000 to support children and families and adults with complex disabilities. The funding will enable them to expand and scale up their Connect 4 Service which helps disabled people form social connections and includes buddying services, online activities for young carers, specialist virtual childcare and family sessions and activities sent through the post.
Department of Health - Sense
£344,781	01/04/2020	funding to selected disabilities charities for support in respect of COVID
Vision Foundation - Supporting young people with complex and sensory needs
£15,000	04/03/2020	To pair young blind and partially sighted peole with additional difficulties with a buddy who can help them take part in activities.
Sport England - Specialist Partner Investment
£392,963	29/11/2019 35	Funding under Sport England's Disability Investment funding programme for a Revenue project titled Specialist Partner Investment. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries ....more Funding under Sport England's Disability Investment funding programme for a Revenue project titled Specialist Partner Investment. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£100,000	01/11/2019 24	To develop an inclusive programme of activities at TouchBase Pears
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Sense UK
£10,000	21/05/2019 12	This project will offer children and young people, who have deafblindness, a week’s residential offering accessible activities. This activity will allow the beneficiaries to have fun, improve their ....more This project will offer children and young people, who have deafblindness, a week’s residential offering accessible activities. This activity will allow the beneficiaries to have fun, improve their confidence and communication, and make new friends.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£60,000	20/02/2019 6	Expanding Sense College at TouchBase Pears, Selly Oak
Sport England - Sporting Sense
£212,431	18/04/2018 37	Funding under Sport England's Inclusive Sport funding programme for a Revenue project titled Sporting Sense. This project is a Athletics project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
City Bridge Trust - Grant to Sense
£154,000	14/03/2018 36	£154,000 over three years (£78,500, £55,500, £20,000) for 50% of the f/t Programme Development Manager in years 1 and 2 towards the running costs of the 'Amaze' programme supporting 105 young ....more £154,000 over three years (£78,500, £55,500, £20,000) for 50% of the f/t Programme Development Manager in years 1 and 2 towards the running costs of the 'Amaze' programme supporting 105 young people aged 16 - 25 with complex sensory and communication needs to transition towards adulthood.The grant in years 2 and 3 is conditional on sufficient funds being raised to make the initiative viable.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£100,000	03/01/2018 24	Community liaison and marketing capacity at TouchBase Pears
National Lottery Community Fund - Active Communities
£100,000	30/03/2017 12	This project will run a facility where the community interacts with disabled people â€“ supporting and learning from each other. The facility will provide opportunities for people to meet, ....more This project will run a facility where the community interacts with disabled people â€“ supporting and learning from each other. The facility will provide opportunities for people to meet, develop and take part in community activities, improving their health and wellbeing.
Youth Music - Music is a vibration
£29,858	16/03/2017	Music is a vibration
Sport England - Get Active in Cambridge
£3,653	24/11/2016 9	Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled Get Active in Cambridge. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a ....more Funding under Sport England's Small Grants funding programme for a Revenue project titled Get Active in Cambridge. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
BBC Children in Need - Grant to Sense UK
£84,693	11/10/2016 36	This project will provide support for deafblind children and young people. They will increase their ability to communicate, increase their independence, and be better able to express their wishes ....more This project will provide support for deafblind children and young people. They will increase their ability to communicate, increase their independence, and be better able to express their wishes and make choices about the services they want to use.
Sport England - Sporting Sense
£424,958	27/05/2016 23	Funding under Sport England's Inclusive Sport funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Sporting Sense'. This project is a Athletics project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
Sport England - Sporting Sense
£424,958	27/05/2016 37	Funding under Sport England's Inclusive Sport funding programme for a Revenue project titled Sporting Sense. This project is a Athletics project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£35,000	08/04/2016 6	Sense Touchbase Barnet sensory garden
National Lottery Community Fund - Touching Lives - Transforming Families
£699,783	16/12/2015 60	â€˜Touching Lives - Transforming Familiesâ€™ is a five-year project for families across NI with a child aged 12 or under where the child or a parent is affected by a deafblind or ....more â€˜Touching Lives - Transforming Familiesâ€™ is a five-year project for families across NI with a child aged 12 or under where the child or a parent is affected by a deafblind or multi-sensory impairment. Services offered include support to ensure the family receive a correct diagnosis, 1:1 work with a child and parent, techniques for interaction and ideas to support learning, home visits to assess individual and family needs and tailored support packages. Sense is working with the five HSCTs on the project.
Pears Foundation - Grant to Sense
£700,000	23/09/2015 24	New Sense centre in Selly Oak, Birmingham
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to Sense, The National Deafblind & Rubella Association
£120,000	11/06/2014	Towards the salary of the head of arts and wellbeing to develop programmes and strategies to increase access to the arts for people who are deafblind.
Sport England - Deafblind Active
£250,000	07/06/2014	Funding under Sport England's Inclusive Sport funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Deafblind Active'. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a ....more Funding under Sport England's Inclusive Sport funding programme for a Revenue project titled 'Deafblind Active'. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
National Lottery Community Fund - Being Me! A supported journey into adulthood
£414,687	16/04/2013 60	Sense will provide tailored support for 50 deafblind/multi-sensory impaired (MSI) young people aged of 14-25 across South-East Wales. Using peer support, residential programmes, activities and an ....more Sense will provide tailored support for 50 deafblind/multi-sensory impaired (MSI) young people aged of 14-25 across South-East Wales. Using peer support, residential programmes, activities and an information bank it will help them to develop new relationships and acquire self advocacy, decision and fact finding skills to better understand and influence information about their care. This will help improve their resilience, self-confidence and independence during their transition to adulthood.

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Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (10)

Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 29-78

BENJAMIN FRANCIS COOPER Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Researcher

BRIAN SYMINGTON Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Retired

DR JUSTIN MOLLOY (Chair) Appointed: 2013, Occupation: Scientist

MARK NICHOLAS CAMMIES Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Management Consultant - Nhs

MARK WESTWELL Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Non-Executive Director

MYTHILY KATSARIS Appointed: 2017, Occupation: Lawyer, Other trusteeships: SENSE INTERNATIONAL, KAMAL INDIA FOUNDATION UK,

NATHAN TAYLOR Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Assistant Head Teacher

SAEED AHMED Appointed: 2021, Occupation: Business Change Manager

SIMON TERRY JONES Appointed: 2019, Occupation: Foundation Secretary

VIVIENNE HELEN HOSKINS Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Managing Consultant

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 26/07/1984, number: 289868
Registered at Companies House on 15/06/1984, number: 01825301

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Event History

25/05/2016 - Asset transfer in from THE MONDAY CLUB FOR THE BLIND
08/01/2020 - Asset transfer in from COVENTRY SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND
11/12/2020 - Asset transfer in from THE KERTES FOUNDATION
09/11/2021 - Asset transfer in from DUNSTABLE AND DISTRICT DISABLED SPORTS
27/03/2024 - Asset transfer in from THE OTTERHAYES TRUST

Other Regulators

Care Quality Commission
Ofsted (Office For Standards In Education)
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW)

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Investment
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

20 returns made; AR04: 2 days late,

Recent reorganisation events:

Asset transfer in from COVENTRY SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND on 08/01/2020
Asset transfer in from THE KERTES FOUNDATION on 11/12/2020
Asset transfer in from DUNSTABLE AND DISTRICT DISABLED SPORTS on 09/11/2021
Asset transfer in from THE OTTERHAYES TRUST on 27/03/2024

Main office

SENSE
101 PENTONVILLE ROAD
LONDON
N1 9LG

Objectives

3 ObjectsThe objects for which the Charity is established (the Objects) are to:3.1 primarily support and promote the interests of persons who are deafblind or have multi-sensory impairments;3.2 and to support persons who, by virtue of having a learning disability or one or more mental or physical impairments, or sensory impairment(s), require care and/or communication support(together, the beneficiaries).

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources