Three decades on from its formal launch, the charity and social enterprise Sense Scotland continues to grow its pioneering provision for families and individuals coping with communication support needs across Scotland.

In the beginning, it engineered its foundations from the commitment and drive of just seven families who teamed up in a bid to initiate a minor revolution in availability of relevant social care; each had a child who was deafblind.

Today that “minor” revolution has evolved into something more major: now one of Scotland’s leading care agencies, it employs nearly 1,200 staff, attracts more than 500 volunteers, delivers 40 local services and boasts 20 charity shops across the nation. An annual turnover north of £21 million, and support and services portfolio assisting over 1,000 families and individuals cements its position. And it’s eyeing additional new development.

Alongside the prerequisite of sustaining and enhancing service quality, Chief Executive Andy Kerr’s focus is currently on the next 12 to 18 months. 

In that time, Sense Scotland will open two new centres – in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire – building on TouchBase, its innovative facility at Glasgow’s Kinning Park which opened in 2007. TouchBase Glasgow is a community space providing a wide range of person-centred services for children, young people and adults. It is home also to a popular café and an increasingly in-demand business centre used by community groups, businesses and charities.

The organisation’s development is overseen by a dedicated Board of Trustees; it has encouraged a practical vision for Sense Scotland to become the provider of choice.

Now, as the charity charts the route for its strategic plan, dubbed “A New Sense of Direction”, it has initiated a search for more trustees to add to the existing board and expand the envelope of knowledge upon which it can draw. These are guiding roles that demand the ability to offer imaginative and insightful counsel as well as measured thinking and a range of business and social expertise.

Sense Scotland’s efforts have not gone unnoticed; a series of partnerships with the Scottish Government have fuelled and funded plans to expand its work in Early Years provision with the target of contributing to Scotland’s aspiration towards being a fully “inclusive communication” nation.

External validation of its work is evident in rising grades from the Care Inspectorate – the independent scrutiny and improvement body for care services in Scotland – and the award by Quality Scotland last year of the three-star Recognised for Excellence kite mark.

“These are far from settled times for any organisation working in Scotland’s care sector,” Kerr emphasises. “Sense Scotland is not immune to the many challenges flowing from cuts to public services and the UK welfare budget in particular.

“Coupled with the introduction of Self-Directed Support (SDS), rightly giving families and individuals the opportunity to select and choose their personalised support, you could argue that a perfect storm is on its way – if it isn’t with us already.” 

Neither Kerr’s senior team nor the board have stood still in the face of these enormous challenges. There is a revitalised strategy to ensure a sharper focus on three interlocking organisational objectives: Personalisation (delivering SDS), Quality (a culture of continuous service improvement) and Growth/Sustainability (ensuring resources are in place to grow). Securing availability of funds is vital to success. 

Every year the fundraising team sets – and indeed exceeds – stretch targets. The money raised supplies an extensive variety of additional life-enhancing experiences to those receiving support. That might include access to drama, music and the arts, as well as experiencing the outdoors or enjoying a short break or holiday.

Interestingly, the website address for interested applicants provides both resonance for the necessary ethos and an implied challenge to get involved for the greater good of the children, young people and adults supported. It includes the term “make a difference”

What it really means to make a difference

Concentrating on the enterprise aspects of helping Sense Scotland help others is central to the role of Trustee. Collective knowledge and a spirit of driving forward is clearly key. 

Unsurprisingly, then, the current board is a real mix of people. It includes parents and relatives of the people it supports, chartered accountants, solicitors, business consultants, sales managers and general practitioners.

“We’re always looking for diversity from people with a wide range of experiences, knowledge and expertise,” says CEO Andy Kerr.

Roy Cox, chairman of the Sense Scotland board, has an acute understanding of why the charity’s work is so important to families, individuals and wider society; his daughter Cheryl has been supported by the charity since it started in 1985.

“We’ve got people who use Sense Scotland services now who are a part of the wider community,” Cox explains.  “They contribute tremendously to society, just as Cheryl contributes to my life.

“Had she not had these services, who knows what might have happened; everybody I’ve encountered at Sense Scotland is totally dedicated to the organisation.”

Andy Kerr is happy to be contacted by phone if an applicant wants a direct source of information to find out more.

For information on the application process, check www.sensescotland.org.uk/makeadifference