SENSE NI
SENSE NI
Sense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind or have sensory impairments. We have been supporting people who have sensory impairments to enjoy more independent lives for the last 60 years.
Sense was started by a group of families who had deafblind children after being seriously affected by rubella during pregnancy. Today, a growing number of children are born prematurely with a range of medical conditions that often include sight and hearing impairments. There are also older people who develop sight and hearing loss at later life.
We have a thriving community of active families at the heart of Sense; that is a big part of who we are and what we do.
Services
Sense offers high quality, flexible services across the UK, using skilled staff and a dedicated network of volunteers. We tailor the support we offer to the individual needs of each each person so they can live as independently as possible and participate fully in the lives of their local communities.
Services for deafblind children and young people in Northern Ireland are based at the Manor House in Newtownabbey, County Antrim.
The nursery offers the full range of activities found in any day nursery, plus a range of sensory equipment including bubble tubes, magic carpets and interactive lights which help to capture the attention and challenge young minds.
Active play takes place in our nursery rooms and soft play area. We have times for quiet games, musical activities and messy play.
Out of Schools Club
In addition to the specialist nursery, the Manor House is also the base for an Out of Schools programme that provides children aged from 3 to 12 years with the opportunity to enjoy a range of leisure opportunities in a safe and stimulating environment supported by skilled staff. The club operates term time every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Summer scheme
During the summer break we organise a summer scheme, and children generally attend the scheme for one week during the summer period. Activities include arts and crafts, games and music.
This scheme provides children with the opportunity to relax and have fun and also provides valuable respite for families during the long summer break.
