A staggering one in seven people in the UK are neurodiverse.
When the parents of children with multi support needs and disabilities were left in a vacuum of provision for their families when the Raeden Centre closed in 2011, tenacious parents and therapists came together to create a place where these families can come together.
SensationALL supports families in the North East of Scotland providing a place to belong where they can feel empowered, safe and supported – throughout their lives. Growing from a voluntary service in 2011 to a registered Scottish charity which now has 630 registered individuals – with new families approaching the service weekly – provides a much-needed support service.
Around 70% of SensationALL’s attendees are children or young adults under the age of 21 with complex conditions, however the charity provides inclusive, therapy-based services and social opportunities to ALL ages, ALL conditions and ALL members of the family.
The JEllie Foundation donated £11,500 to SensationALL in 2022, to coincide with the charity’s 10th anniversary celebrations. The donation supported, and match funded, the £10,000 raised at the annual Ball.
For SensationALL funding officer Lisa Grainger, the donation has taken the pressure off their running costs.
“The donation has meant that so much to us at SensationALL. It’s been phenomenal, just amazing, for us and it makes a huge difference because it’s an unrestricted donation meaning we can use these funds as we need them from paying our professional therapists to supporting our services. It was a totally unexpected donation which is completely transformational for us and everyone at SensationALL is over the moon.”
The support sessions at SensationALL are tailored by their experienced practitioners to the needs of individual and crucially the charity does not require a formal diagnosis to access their services.
Lisa continues, “Around half of the attendees at our sessions have autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Many have learning deficits, developmental delay or neuro development conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome and dyslexia.”
SensationALL delivers activity sessions are specially designed for individuals who need a tailored environment where they can develop their skills (communication, behaviour, self-regulation, emotional awareness and general development) while making friends and having fun.
Activities are varied and tailored to age and interests with outdoor activities and games, soft play and a sensory room for all. There are also smartboard, group board games and cookery and bakery activities which the teenagers enjoy. Whatever the age, the activities are designed to empower attendees to reach their full potential by teaching coping techniques and strategies to improve resilience and self-esteem.
SensationALL also delivers advisory service to parents and carers to help them overcome the challenges of caring for someone with a complex condition.
“Support for the whole family is important to us, from our ‘tea and tips’ sessions for parents and carers to relaxation yoga and sensory play,” says Lisa, “We’re so grateful to those who have donated to The JEllie Foundation for the tremendous support for our work.”