PDF Annual Review - Sense Scotland

This publication is available in various formats on request.
Annual Review
2012/13
“…it is the most valuable service I have come across!”
A parent whose family is supported by Sense Scotland.
www.sensescotland.org.uk

Welcome to Sense Scotland
Sense Scotland works with children,
young people and adults who have
complex communication support
needs. We operate throughout
Scotland and support people
to live independent lives.
Our Strategic Objectives
• We will support service users and families
to be active and involved
• We will lead in the provision of high quality
service provision and service development
throughout Scotland and internationally
• We will grow in order to provide more
services to more people
• We will be the employer of choice,
recognised for our commitment
to staff development and training
• We will harness the views of those
we serve and support them to organise
and campaign
Families are facing
challenging times
In an extract from a short film about this
Annual Review, Sense Scotland Chair, Roy Cox,
and Andy Kerr, Chief Executive discuss the
highlights of the year. You can view
the film on our YouTube channel.
Roy: The main challenge we faced was to
maintain the quality of our services. We
achieved this by enhancing our governance
procedures, allowing us to check and monitor
that we continue to provide valued support.
The main concern for parents is to maintain
the funding that will enable us to provide
the high quality services that they deserve.
Andy: Sense Scotland, and the whole sector,
are facing a substantial squeeze on funding
combined with welfare reform. But we
continue to innovate and respond to these
challenges, for example we are developing
our approach to ensure even greater
personalisation of the services we provide.
• We will work and grow sustainably
Our Values
• Be open and honest
• Recognise individual worth
• Build relationships through trust
• Act on the basis of individuals
aspirations and needs
• Be accountable
2 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Blue - C100 M94 Y0 K0
Green - C100 M0 Y31 K23
4 Colour Coated
Overcoming challenges
Andy: We are focussing on quality and have
set up our Quality Assurance programme.
We’re investing in new roles to support that
quality effort and we’ve invested massively
in training, for frontline staff, supervisors
and for our managers. At a time when others
are reducing investment in training, we’re doing
the opposite.
This investment in our staff and their skills
will allow us to provide a huge range of quality
services for people with complex communication
support needs.
Festival of Celebration:
This years’ Service User Conference
celebrated people’s achievements
throughout the year.
Delegate feedback:
“It’s a wonderful
opportunity to have our say
and have our voices heard.”
Celebrating our successes
Roy: Looking back over the last year, my favourite
occasion was the Staff Awards. It’s always
an emotional time for me, as it shows their
dedication to the people we support. We were
also especially pleased to welcome the Deputy
First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who helped
present our awards.
The other satisfying thing for me was our Service
User Conference. This event and the Service User
Consultation Group provide the people we support
a real platform to share their views, celebrate
their achievements and to communicate what
it is that they want.
Andy: I’m very proud and privileged to be the
Chief Exec and leader of Sense Scotland. The
Annual Review aims to give just a flavour of the
many wonderful and fulfilling experiences shared
by the people we support, their families and our
staff. I hope you enjoy reading this review.
Cover art by Amir,
who is supported by
Sense Scotland.
From ‘Pressings’ exhibition.
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
3

Beyond expectations
Award winning project
breaks the mould
A group of young adults had
support during the summer and
Autumn holidays in Dundee as
part of our Better Breaks project
thanks to the Scottish Government
Short Breaks Fund.
The aim was to give the participants new
challenges which could take them beyond
both their own and their carer's expectations.
The young people experienced pursuits
including nature walks, barge trips, canoeing,
cycling and abseiling. There was also the
chance to get creative with music recording
sessions, fashion design and a day of visual
arts at Dundee Contemporary Arts. As well
as being popular with the young people,
the team supporting the project gained
national recognition as Sense Scotland’s
Team of the Year.
4 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Family Feedback:
Di Di, a young man,
who uses a wheelchair
became a star participant
in the abseiling activity.
Photographs of this
adventure were shown
to his grandmother.
She said she would cherish
this for the rest of her life,
as she never ever thought
she would see him doing
something like this.

Life is a journey
Matthew’s journey
Matthew is nearly 17 years old
and in 2012 celebrated his tenth
year with Sense Scotland’s
Children and Young People’s
services. He has also started
attending our One Giant Leap
transitions project. Beverley,
who works with him reflects
on his time with Sense Scotland:
“It’s nice to see those transitions. I’ve seen
him grow from a wee boy to a young man.”
Matthew is very clear about the things he
enjoys at TouchBase:
“Dancing and music…going for a walk.” And
he loves to talk to his friend Katie who works
in the TouchBase café. His Dad Andy said:
“Since Matthew has been involved with
Sense Scotland his welfare and the standard
of support has been excellent…they shape
the service around Matthew.”
“No one comes to our house asking for Matthew
to go out and socialise. The service Sense Scotland
provides goes a long way to alleviating social
isolation. We want him to be fully integrated into
society and be as independent as possible.”
6 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Ross, who we support in Ayrshire,
works at our TouchBase centre
in Glasgow. Mum Ann said:
“Ross has been supported from
being quite a quiet person to being
more confident… He enjoys it and
talks about it. If it hadn’t been
for Sense Scotland coming in,
he wouldn’t be where he is today.”
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
7

Taking centre stage
Home: a personal story
In May 2012, our performance
group premiered a new production
called ‘Home’ at the Platform
Theatre in Glasgow. It focussed
on what home meant to the
group. Jon Reid, our Creative
Arts Tutor and director of the
play explained:
“The performance explored home as a place
of sanctuary and safety, a scary new venture,
a place of staff and routines, a lonely place
and a place of warmth and family. It’s
a fantastic journey the group have been on.”
The actors communicated through a variety
of ways, including signing, gesture and
vocalisations.
Actor Yvonne talked about the group’s work
on ‘Home’:
“Ian and Anne dance, Eilidh and Ian do the
burglar scene. It’s the first play I’ve been in...
It’s about us, acting ourselves in a house.”
Asked what she enjoyed about the experience
most Yvonne said:
“...being with other people.”
8 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Audience feedback:
“Enjoyed immensely. Found it very atmospheric,
uplifting and moving.”
Thanks to:
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
9

Time and space
‘It is Is it’ turns Kelvingrove
into a living artwork
In April 2012 we supported
a group of young artists to explore,
share and respond to the vast
range of spaces and objects found
at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art
Gallery and Museum as part of
the Glasgow International Festival
of Visual Art (GI). The collective
happenings and exhibition were
titled ‘It is Is it’.
Shireen was one of the studio group which
had their work displayed at Kelvingrove.
They created artworks based on their rituals
and collections, which in Shireen’s case was
a series of intricately rolled coloured threads,
presented in small bottles and mounted
on a number of pins.
Mum Belle talked about the film featuring
the artists, shown in Kelvingrove as part of
the exhibition: “Shireen was looking at it and
laughing. She explained to me exactly what
she was doing, ‘she was rolling’ and then
she was putting it in the bottle. She clapped
because she was so proud of herself. So it was
great, fantastic!”
The final public event involved a group which
had been discovering and rediscovering
Kelvingrove via ‘live happenings’ which
mapped individual movements and sounds,
through time and space.
You can view a short film about It is Is It on
our YouTube channel.
Participant Feedback:
“This was a joyful and
inclusive experience.
I enjoyed it so much.”
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
11

A year with Sense Scotland
April 2012
Sense Scotland host Hustings
for local election candidates
at TouchBase.
It is Is It exhibits
at Kelvingrove.
May 2012
Home premieres
at Platform Theatre.
Dundee music night
raises £600.
June 2012
We launch our new logo.
Sense Scotland host Carers
week event - with information
and relaxation sessions.
Chris and Rebecca climb Mount
Kilimanjaro raising £3,938 for
Sense Scotland who support
Rebecca’s big sister Ruth.
New charity shop opens in Ayr.
Kingdom: A play by Lori Duncan
who we support in Dundee
shows at the Little Theatre.
Supported by
The Robertson Trust.
July 2012
Creative Scotland support
our Youth Music Initiative
to increase opportunities
for young people to access
our music programme.
Blue - C100 M94 Y0 K0
Green - C100 M0 Y31 K23
4 Colour Coated
Olympic Torch at TouchBase:
As part of the build-up to the
2012 Olympics, Andrew Macintyre
one of the official torchbearers
visited TouchBase and met
a group of young people.
12 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

August 2012
TouchBase Glasgow extension
programme begins. Made
possible through a Scottish
Government grant from
the Enterprise Growth Fund
and a Legacy gift from
a Sense Scotland donor.
New Dundee Charity Shop.
September 2012
Sense Scotland host DbI
Outdoor Network week
in Cairngorms.
October 2012
Festival of Celebration - Annual
Service User Conference.
November 2012
Sense Scotland hosts major
European seminar – with
funding from the European
Commission to participate
in a major project looking
at indicators of disability
equality in Europe.
‘People in my Life’ Gordon, who
we support through services in
Dundee gathered his artwork
together for an exhibition.
December 2012
Carol Concert - Christmas
carol concert at Glasgow City
Chambers was an evening
of music and celebration as
schools and Sense Scotland’s
Touchbeats spread seasonal
cheer with beautiful singing
and musical soundscapes.
January 2013
Funding for Sensory Mapping
project: Year of Natural
Scotland supports new project
to create tactile, sensory
artworks mapping areas
of the natural environment
across the North East, East
and West regions of Scotland.
February 2013
Our annual LUV Fete raises
over £800 for Children
and Young People’s services.
March 2013
Italian Scottish Fashion Show
Dinner at Gosford House, East
Lothian raises over £500 for
Sense Scotland. Thanks to the
Italian Consulate for organising.
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
13

Expanding horizons
Ardlui Holiday
for One Giant Leap
Ardlui, our short breaks resource
in Helensburgh hosted the first
One Giant Leap holiday, a long
weekend of parties, day trips,
great food and great company.
One Giant Leap
is funded by
One Giant Leap aims to improve transitions
for young people who are moving from
school to adulthood and is highly valued
by its members. The weekend break offered
activities including a curry and Mama Mia
sing-along, swimming pool and the Sealife
Centre visits. It was a packed holiday.
A favourite event was the Saturday night
party, from a weekend where friendships
and independence grew even stronger.
Parents Brian and Marie Gallagher said:
“Danielle had a wonderful time. She loves
spending time with her One Giant Leap
friends.” …and Danielle added:
“Thank you One Giant Leap.”
The holiday was funded by Mr Derek Stirling
and the Jennie S Gordon Memorial Fund.
14 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

A new home in Fort William
Towards the end of 2012 we supported three
people to live independently in new homes
in Fort William.
Funded by Highland Council the specially
renovated house provides each person
with a fantastic home, on the doorstep
of a thriving local community.
We have already been supporting one individual,
Katie, in her own home in Glenfinnan for more than
seven years. Her new flat is right next to the shops
and a range of activities which she enjoys.
Highland Health and Social Care worked closely with
ourselves, the tenants, their families and carers to
ensure the move to their new homes ran smoothly.
Mark with interactive arts installation
by Sense Scotland artist in residence Ewan Sinclair.
Funded by Creative Scotland.
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
15

Print from
‘Pressings’
exhibition.

Making our voices heard
Watch Hardest Hit Film
Last year we joined families on a day of action
as part of the Hardest Hit campaign which
highlighted the huge impact that welfare
reform is going to have on disabled people
and their families. This year, in October,
as part of the Hardest Hit Coalition,
we put together a film called ‘My Rights,
My Independence, My Life’.
Paul Heneachon from East Ayrshire explained
why he felt it was so important to make the
film: “It’s not until you hear the accounts
of those affected that you truly understand
what welfare reform will mean for real
people. This film will help us tell our story.
I hope it makes people sit up and take notice.”
As the welfare changes continue we will
continue to support people who are affected
to have their voices heard.
Watch the video on our YouTube channel.
Welfare Reform
Read the factsheet on our website Policy
section under ‘DLA and Benefits Changes’
http://www.sensescotland.org.uk/resources/
public-policy
Blue - C100 M94 Y0 K0
Green - C100 M0 Y31 K23
4 Colour Coated
Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
17

Partners in Communication
Launched in 2012, with
support from the Scottish
Government Equality Fund,
Partners in Communication (PIC)
is an inclusive communication
programme run by
Sense Scotland.
It aims to improve the involvement
and inclusion of people with complex
communication support needs
across Scotland.
Led by Sense Scotland’s Paul Hart the group
will improve our own practice by developing
appropriate communication tools and
approaches to better involve and include
the people we work with.
Paul said:
“As well as sharing what we learn about improving involvement
and inclusion of people with communication support needs,
Partners in Communication will provide information and resources
online, run seminars, give presentations to Local Authorities,
other organisations and individuals.”
As a result of the programme people with complex
communication support needs should:
• Have greater influence over
the services they want
• Have more choice and control
over their care and support
• Be able to have their voice heard
and play a more active role in the life
of their communities
Find out more about Partners in Communication
at email: pic@sensescotland.org.uk
Or go to: www.partnersincommunication.info
18 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13
19

A world without barriers
International
Outdoor Network
In September 2012 over 30 people
from Scotland, England, Norway
and Denmark took part in the
first Deafblind International (DbI)
Outdoor Network gathering at
Glenmore Lodge Outdoor Centre in
the Cairngorms. They experienced
challenging journeys along difficult
mountain paths, river crossings,
canoeing over lochs and of course
the chance to socialise and share
their different cultures.
The event organiser was Joe Gibson, Sense
Scotland’s Outdoor and Physical Activities
Co-ordinator. He said:
“This is the first year that we met as the
DbI network. It’s a chance to try different
activities based in the outdoors, to share
different experiences and ideas, and
explore different cultural perspectives
of the outdoors.”
Håkon Lie, Andebu Deafblind Centre Norway:
“…if you are talking about sensory
experiences, then wind and rain, it’s really
something you notice.”
Angus, Support Worker, Glasgow (winner
of Staff Inspiration Award) – accompanied
Marshall:
“When he did finish the walk he was laughing
and that’s a good indicator that he’s thinking,
‘Yeah I’ve done that. It was great. It was
difficult but I did it’…”
To watch a short film on the DbI Network
visit our YouTube channel.
Sense Scotland hosts major
European seminar:
European Commission funding supported
a major project looking at indicators of
disability equality in Europe. 21 visitors from
8 different countries came to Sense Scotland
to consider indicators around the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, to share best practice from each
country and challenge ourselves with new
ideas and approaches.
20 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Murray Farqharson, Dundee:
“It was great crossing the river and
walking in the water. I like to do a lot
of adventurous things, I am in other
words an action man!”

Our thanks to:
Organisations and companies
Wilson Andrews
Mail Marketing
Lloyds Banking Group
Mr. Derek Stirling Esq
Dr. Heti Davies
Mr. George Fairfull-Smith
Clive Harris & His Crew
Italian Consul General
for Scotland
Dobbies
Tesco
Offshoot Design
Beam Global
Resource Telecom
GMB Trade Union
Staff and Volunteer Awards:
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
presented awards for our new
Professional Manager programme.
She said:
“I want to applaud the
investment made by Sense
Scotland in developing
management and leadership
capacity throughout the
organisation.”
To find out more about the awards visit:
http://www.sensescotland.org.uk/whatwe-do/latest-news/staff-and-volunteerawards-2013
Blue - C100 M94 Y0 K0
Green - C100 M0 Y31 K23
4 Colour Coated
22 Sense Scotland Annual Review 2012/13

Trusts and Foundations
Margaret Murdoch
Charitable Trust
George McLean Trust
Alexander Moncur’s Trust
William. S Phillips Fund
People’s Postcode Trust
Kenrob Charitable Trust
Children’s Aid (Scotland) Ltd
Gannochy Trust
Hospital Saturday Fund
Jeffrey Charitable Trust
Russell Trust
Matthew B Campbell Trust
Radio Clyde Cash for Kids
Robertson Trust
WA Cargill Fund
The Callendar
Charitable Trust
St. Katharine’s Fund
The Gamma Trust
The Highgate
Charitable Trust
Sylvia Aitken
Charitable Trust
The Scott Fund
Jennie S Gordon
Memorial Fund
Appletree Trust
Trinafour Trust
James and Jessie
Shaw Trust
JTH
Margaret Elizabeth &
Alexander Brownlie M/C
Charitable Trust.
Saints and Sinners Club
of Scotland
Martin Connell
Charitable Trust
John M Archer
Charitable Trust
The Peter Brough Bequest
The Miller Foundation
Harold Merton Adams
Charitable Trust
Ann Jane Green Trust
Paul Charitable Trust
Ecton Trust
DC Leggat’s Charitable
Trust
MEB
Andrew Paton’s
Charitable Trust
AM Pilkington
Charitable Trust
Wm Grant & Son
Provincial Grand Lodge
of Glasgow and the West
of Scotland
Strathclyde Police
Benevolent Fund
Leng Charitable Trust
Northwood Charitable Trust
RJ Larg Family Trust
Big Lottery Fund
Creative Scotland
Scottish Government Malawi
Development Programme
Scottish Government
Equality Fund
Scottish Government
Short Breaks
Scottish Government
Enterprise Growth Fund
Grundtvig Life Long
Learning Programme
Esmee Fairbairn
Foundation
The Robertson Trust
Scottish Natural Heritage
Forestry Commission
Paths for All
23

Sense Scotland provides
support to over 500
children, young people
and adults, their
families and their carers,
throughout Scotland.
We specialise in providing
support to people with
complex communication
support needs.
How can we support you?
• Information and Advice
• Support for children
and young people
• Support for adults
• Support to live in your
own home
• Taking a short break
• Parent Enabler Project
• TouchBase
• Arts Programme
• One Giant Leap
• Outdoor Activities
• Partners in Communication
How can you get involved?
• Support our fundraising
across Scotland
• Join us as a staff member
or volunteer
• Use Glasgow’s TouchBase
Business Centre for meetings,
events and office spaces
• Visit one of our 20 shops
across Scotland
Head Office
TouchBase Centre Glasgow:
Sense Scotland
43 Middlesex Street
Glasgow
G41 1EE
Phone: 0141 429 0294
Fax: 0141 429 0295
Text: 0141 418 7170
Contact the above for:
Children and Family Services
West Region
Central Region
Blue - C100 M94 Y0 K0
Green - C100 M0 Y31 K23
4 Colour Coated
To find out more about Sense Scotland:
Sense Scotland
North East Region:
The Gatehouse
Quarry Road
Northfield Industrial Estate
Aberdeen
AB16 5UU
Phone: 01224 695510
Fax: 01224 789945
Sense Scotland
East Region:
Office 7
Castleblair Business Centre
Fullerton Road
Queensway Industrial Estate
Glenrothes
KY7 5QR
Phone/text: 01592 752005
Fax: 01592 751121
email: info@sensescotland.org.uk or visit: www.sensescotland.org.uk
Designed by strutdesign.co.uk | Photography by Sense Scotland | This publication is available in various formats on request.
Sense Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: 147570 and a registered Scottish Charity No: SC022097.
Patron: The Duchess of Sutherland. Honorary Patron: Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore LLD DL.