Finance Score: 5
Governance Score: 5
Support Score: 14
  • Deficit on trading: -1
  • Good reserves management: +3
  • Fundraising costs low: +3
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Mainly male board: -1
  • Overall weighted support: +14
Overall GiG Score: 24 ?

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
  • 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

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • The Board is predominantly male

Financial issues to consider:

  • The accounts in the latest year show a significant deficit from trading activities

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
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£47,6366.32,4852,000
31/03/22£82,519£78,214£4,305£4,858£45,426£41,7816.42,5571,900
31/03/21£75,228£70,333£4,895£4,010£32,550£28,7424.92,5551,400
31/03/20£69,874£69,472£402£16,271£31,663£28,0194.82,4461,800
31/03/19£66,882£64,810£2,072£15,928£34,928£31,7085.92,3042,000
31/03/18£88,472£87,052£1,420£17,785£42,574£38,0945.33,3060
31/03/17£88,206£86,348£1,858£16,561£35,031£31,2354.33,3490
31/03/16£84,686£84,052£634£15,996£34,289£30,6754.43,2660
31/03/15£82,965£81,147£1,817£15,224£33,152£25,2353.72,5260
31/03/14£81,808£82,618£-810£16,906£40,426£32,9094.82,5580
31/03/13£80,007£78,107£1,900£14,844£46,017£38,99363,2230
31/03/12£78,354£75,606£2,749£14,703£41,865£34,0325.43,1300
31/03/11£82,261£78,864£3,397£14,070£35,557£27,8914.23,2640
31/03/10£81,021£77,148£3,874£14,634£22,046£14,3852.23,2330
31/03/09£78,035£74,945£3,091£13,323£28,378£17,0162.72,3610
31/03/08£74,381£69,840£4,542£12,356£28,278£17,9573.12,9660
31/03/07£69,395£65,725£3,671£11,388£20,102£10,5151.92,8940
31/03/06£64,210£61,216£2,993n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05£44,429£42,278£2,150n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04*£53,353£52,455£898n/an/an/an/an/an/a

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 ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 40 years

www.sense.org.uk

Clare.O'Donovan@sense.org.uk

0300 330 9260

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramX
UN SDGs
?
How you can help
Listed activities
  • Accommodation/Housing
  • Amateur Sport
  • Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science
  • Disability
  • Education/Training
  • General Charitable Purposes
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
GiG Classification
  • Deaf people
How it operates
  • Other charitable activities
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Provides services
Where it operates
  • Northern Ireland, Throughout England And Wales,
Who it helps
  • Children/Young People
  • Elderly/Old People
  • People With Disabilities

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following 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£845,234
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Wolfson Foundation - Grant to Sense
£75,000 06/06/2024
24
Refurbishment to create Hub in Belfast supporting people with complex disabilities
Youth Music - Sense Kinetic
£28,546 25/04/2024
Sense Kinetic
Sport England - Sense Get Out There Cornwall
£13,706 25/08/2023
24
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 ....more
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 practitioners and volunteers offering face-to-face and ....more
Pears Foundation - Children’s Multi-Sensory Impairment Team
£300,000 01/03/2023
24
The Children’s Multi-Sensory Impairment Team at Sense team provides specialist support to young people up to the age of 25, who have a combination of hearing and sight loss, and their families. These young people need specialist help to ....more
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 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 operate, thereby reducing the burden on public ....more
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 operate, thereby reducing the burden on public ....more
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 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 centre provides opportunities for beneficiaries to ....more
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 œ500,000 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 ....more
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 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 confidence and communication, and make new ....more
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 people aged 16 - 25 with complex sensory and ....more
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 – supporting and learning from each other. The facility will provide opportunities for people to meet, develop and take part in community activities, ....more
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 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 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
‘Touching Lives - Transforming Families’ 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 ....more
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 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 information bank it will help them to develop new ....more
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (9)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 8/9 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 29-79
  • 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
  • NATHAN TAYLOR Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Assistant Head Teacher
  • 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
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

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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