Fundraiser spotlight

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As a registered charity, SensationALL relies on the efforts of fundraisers and donors to help fund our vital services, many of these fundraisers are also families who benefit from the sessions and support and one wonderful example is the Forrest family…

7-year old Jamie has Autism and Epilepsy as well as speech and language issues. His mum registered with SensationALL a few years ago looking for support to help the family navigate their neurodiversity journey. Since registered they have attended soft play sessions and sensory groups that have helped Jamie’s sensory development and given him a safe place to play. They’ve also enjoyed our relaxed events like the Santa’s Grotto at the Old Schoolhouse and even got tickets for Disney on Ice through SensationALL. Jamie’s mum, Natasha, has also attended parent/carer support groups where she was able to access a supportive community of other parents who face similar experiences.

This year, to show their gratitude, Natasha, John, and Jamie decided to take on the Aberdeen Kiltwalk and have already raised over £500 for SensationALL! Natasha explains why they wanted to do this for us:

SensationALL made a huge difference to our family right from the first session we attended (a messy play during the Easter holidays) when we had just received a diagnosis but were battling for support and a school placement. Jamie had fun playing freely in a safe environment and we had a chance to offload our thoughts and worries to staff and other parents in attendance. This gave us hope. 

Jamie has attended a few of the Christmas events. Getting to see Santa with no pressure, no queues and no judgement. He’s also had a fun play session at the Halloween party events. He loves the soft play, again it’s a safe and quiet place for him to have some fun. It warms my heart when staff pay attention to him and play with him. Its very hard taking him to public soft plays, due to safety concerns and sensory issues.

The park in westhill is where he eventually had the courage to use a swing properly, as it was low enough for him to do it. it’s also fenced in and safe.

Jamie faces many challenges. SensationALL bring a positive to Jamie’s life by making him feel involved and valued. We would like to support them by doing this [walk] together. Although, this is a ‘wee wander’ [4-miles], it will be challenging for Jamie, but we are going to do this as a family.

Everyone at SensationALL is incredibly proud of Jamie and his family for taking on the Kiltwalk a go! There are still spaces to sign up and join our team of “SensationALL Striders” which includes a few members of staff or you can sponsor them here!

Feeling inspired to get involved? There are so many ways you can support us through individual fundraising.

Whether it’s taking on a challenge event, organising a bake sale, or creating your own fundraiser, every penny helps us continue providing vital support to neurodivergent children, young people, and adults with additional support needs.

find out about fundraising here

Celebrating Neurodiversity: How SensationALL supports our community 

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16–20 March 2026 marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences.

This week, schools, universities, organisations, and communities are encouraged to recognise the skills, talents, and unique perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, while building a more inclusive environment that values diversity and supports everyone to reach their full potential. 

In Scotland, it’s estimated that 10–15% of the population is neurodivergent, representing hundreds of thousands of people. Additionally, research suggests that 1 in 6 people in Scotland (around one million) live with a long-term neurological condition, like autism or ADHD.

A safe place for ALL 

At SensationALL, we provide support for people of ALL ages and conditions and their family members removing the barriers of a formal diagnosis. Currently, we interact directly with over 480 individuals each year across 800+ sessions, but the demand we face is much greater. With over 1,900 registered service users and close to 200 named on our waiting lists actively seeking a space in one or more of our services, it’s clear that we need to do more. 

As a charity who receive no statutory funding, we rely entirely on grants, donations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising efforts to keep our services running. Like many charities, we are navigating an increasingly competitive funding landscape, with reduced funding available and rising demand leading to higher rejection rates. 

Inclusive, supportive, and safe 

Our groups are different to mainstream or public recreational activities because we create a safe, welcoming environment where our specially trained staff support attendees so they can: 

  • Recharge and express themselves freely 
  • Build genuine friendships 
  • Reduce loneliness and isolation, reducing mental health risks 
  • Connect with a community of people who accept them as they are 

We carefully match each person to a group that suits their needs. Sessions are designed to help people with sensory processing or emotional issues to build skills that will improve confidence, social interaction and resilience. 

To ensure everyone can thrive we: 

  • Keep group sizes small (an average of 6-8 per session) 
  • Considers the person needs of attendees not just age so we can meet their behavioural and sensory needs  
  • Operate waiting lists to accurately gauge demand for each service and support level 

Sadly, despite our best efforts to grow services, waiting lists are increasing faster than ever before and many are left waiting for support they can’t access anywhere else. 

Lifelong support for individuals and families 

At SensationALL, we believe everyone deserves equal access to meaningful social opportunities. For many, our groups are their only opportunity to make friends and feel a sense of belonging. 

We also support parents and carers, helping them feel informed, confident, and connected. Our families report: 

  • Improved mental health and wellbeing 
  • Stronger family dynamics 
  • Loved ones developing better self-regulation and social skills 

Our approach creates a supportive environment for the whole family, enabling individuals to thrive at every stage of life. 

Help us do more 

We are working hard to expand our timetable and create more spaces, but we need your help. The funding climate is tough for all charities, so donations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising support means more than ever!  

Every pound you contribute will enable us to reach more people and provide the vital services our community relies on. 

You can make a difference: 

  • Fundraise for SensationALL – there are so many opportunities coming up, why not do the Kiltwalk for us in 2026?! 
  • Dontate to SensationALL or support our fundraising campaigns 

Together, we can ensure that every neurodivergent individual and their family in the north east has the support they deserve to thrive. 

Filling the gap in statutory services

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As a third sector organisation, SensationALL was founded to make a real difference to hundreds of families and individuals across the northeast living with neurodivergent conditions or additional needs who need practical support and access to social opportunities that are suited to their sensory and behavioural needs. However, this year more than ever we are struggling to keep up with the mounting costs of continuing services in light of the challenging funding climate.  

Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, we are facing both a rise in operational costs and a fall in funding. This is at a time when lengthy waits for NHS assessments are resulting in increasing numbers of families being referred to us for pre-diagnostic support, adding to the strain on our services.  

In the last year, we delivered over 600 sessions which provided more than 520 different people with specially designed social groups and activities to suit their sensory and behavioural needs. However, demand is increasing faster than funding, and we urgently need to generate more income to expand the existing timetable.

Currently, we have over 1400 registered individuals with more people contacting us every week as SensationALL’s Chief Executive, Katie McNutt, explains:  

“People seeking assessment for conditions like Autism and ADHD are facing lengthy waiting times to be seen by professionals and charities like us are filling the gap by offering practical support.

Over a third of families approaching us are being referred to us by professionals in the NHS, social work or education sectors, but there is no statutory funding available to us to cover the cost us intervening when they cannot.”

Our charity has been filling a gap in statutory services in the northeast for the last 13 years, stepping in to offer support when statutory organisations are unable to intervene due to no formal diagnosis being in place.

But even people with a diagnosis find there is a severe lack of social activities and support groups for neurodivergent people where they can make friends, build confidence and importantly, be themselves without judgement in places where their additional needs are accommodated.

Furthermore, parents and carers are in desperate need of practical advice so they can feel better equipped to support their loved-one to overcome challenges their conditions present in everyday life (from sleep to restricted diets to sensory processing issues and accessing education). 

In June, a shocking report was published by The Scottish Parliament; “Neurodevelopmental Pathways and Waiting Times in Scotland”, which outlines a concerning picture of neurodivergent care in Scotland: 

  • Over 42,000 children in Scotland are waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment, and in some regions this figure has increased by over 500% since 2020. (Statistics as of March 2025) 
  • Increased awareness of neurodivergence in adults has also led to a surge in demand for adult assessments, and over 23,000 adults are waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment in Scotland which has increased by over 2200% since 2020. 
  • The average longest waiting time to receive an assessment is 182 weeks (three and a half years).
  • Increased demand for support has led to increased pressure on the third sector, which provides a range of pre and post diagnostic support for neurodivergent people in Scotland. 

These statistics prompted a response from The Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland and the Child Heads of Psychology Services, who have created a proposal of a “new four-level neurodiversity pathway structure” which calls for a national approach to be taken to commissioning specialist third sector organisations providing support and services at all stages of the diagnostic journey”.

Specific examples of the support given by in the response include “establishing and maintaining peer support networks, and employability training” which mirrors much of what we are already doing without consistent funding.  

Katie explains how the charity would welcome this approach which would bring more much-needed sustainable funding:

“This year we are finding it harder than ever to secure grants from private organisations and as we have no consistent local authority funding, we are unable to grow the services to meet demand from new people approaching us. Sadly, this is a reality that many charities are facing. 

This year we must raise at least £520,000 to cover the operational costs of running at current levels but to tackle the urgent demand for more services will require a significant increase income.”  

A key part of our growth strategy is the ambitious and exciting redevelopment of The Old Schoolhouse, our headquarters in Westhill. We are eagerly awaiting the decision of a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council for the building extension, which will double the current footprint but will cost around £1 million in construction costs which we will have to fundraise for over the next couple of years.

The upgraded facility is desperately needed and will greatly enhance local services available to hundreds of families across the northeast – we are eager to engage with stakeholders who can support the project. 

The Old Schoolhouse

If you are interested in supporting SensationALL, please donate to our cause below, or if you have any other queries get in touch at info@sensationall.org.uk.

Sensory Ball 2025

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Like most charities, SensationALL relies on the donations and financial contributions of funders and supporters in order to achieve our charitable purpose of improving the lives of people with neurodivergent conditions and complex support needs.

The highlight in our fundraising calendar is the annual ball and this year, we have added a sensory theme to not only enhance the guest experience but give guests an insight into how it feels when you are affected by sensory processing issues.

Around 10% of the UK population is estimated to have sensory processing issues. These people can be severely challenged by everyday things that the majority of people take for granted including social interactions, noisy environments, the feel of clothes or the texture of food.

As so many of the children and adults using SensationALL’s services struggle with sensory processing issues, we want to give our guests an insight into what this means by weaving a sensory theme into every possible part of the night. This will be a charity event with a difference as we challenge people’s expectations in a fun (and enjoyable!) way, for example…

The food may be presented in an unusual manner; there could be surprising changes in the room’s lighting; entertainment might start when you least expect it and so on!

All of the evening’s features are designed to encourage guests to think about how difficult life can be when your brain struggles to interpret sights, sounds and textures.

Our host for the evening, Sam Stephen will guide you through the different elements. Watch this clip for a sneak peek at our plans.

The Sensory Ball takes place on Friday 14th March at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.

Limited places are still available – £100 per person or £1000 per table of 10

Thanks to our key sponsors The JEllie Foundation, DeepOcean and Oilenco, the event will include an arrival drinks’ reception followed by a decadent yet surprising three-course meal.

The evening’s entertainment has been designed to surprise and delight featuring world-renowned act, The London Essentials with their immersive musical experience, plus dancing until late to local band Starsky.

There will also be an auction and games to raise vital funds for SensationALL’s work across northeast Scotland supporting individuals of ALL ages. Donations of auction items are much appreciated!

Get in touch – events@sensationall.org.uk

Full event information

Socialising when you are neurodivergent

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The world isn’t set up for neurodivergent people.

Some may think that is an overly generalised statement but, the reality is that modern life is fast paced, highly stimulating and demanding, which is incredibly difficult for everyone but especially for those with additional support needs. Life today comes with a never-ending list of societal expectations, pass your exams, go to University, build a fulfilling career, have successful relationships, become a parent, contribute to your community (we could go on!😉). If you have a neurodivergent condition such as Autism or ADHD, then living up to these expectations can be an up-hill struggle.

The numerous unwritten rules of how to engage in social settings are a minefield for neurodivergent people and they can find building friendships or personal interactions particularly challenging!

For example, a neurodivergent person may struggle to interpret conversational cues so doesn’t understand or see the point of ‘small talk’. Or someone who finds reading body language tricky so is oblivious to another person trying to instigate a conversation and comes across as rude or abrupt when they give one-word answers (or walk away while the other person is mid-sentence!).

And nowadays these situations occur during online interactions too! The expectation that everyone will have a social media presence to document their every move and thought is an additional pressure. Communicating via the internet might be less intimidating than face-to-face interactions for many neurodivergent people but, they are still expected to do this within the ever-changing parameters of digital etiquette which can be difficult to monitor.

All of this leaves many neurodivergent people isolated and excluded because society is not flexible enough to accommodate anyone who processes information and situations differently. They are forced to work extra hard to process the world around them, often ‘masking’ their neurodiversity, by hiding their stimming behaviour or forcing themselves to maintain eye contact or sit still just to fit in. But that requires a massive amount of energy and many people reach ‘burnout’ as they become mentally, psychologically and emotionally exhausted.

What is the solution?

Well in an ideal world, society would change but sadly, it’s not that straight forward. Awareness of neurodiversity is increasing but, practical steps to accommodate neurodivergent people are slow at being implemented throughout society.

  • More social spaces!

There needs to be a greater understanding and acceptance of neurodivergent people who should be celebrated and included rather than being expected to adjust their behaviour to conform to restrictive societal expectations. There is a shortage of social activities where neurodivergent people can meet others and socialise without sensory overload and where neuro-inclusivity is the norm, not the expectation!

At SensationALL, our mission is to provide safe places for ALL ages to access play and social groups where everyone can be themselves and feel they belong with support from our specialist practitioners.

Our range of social groups, known as ‘SociALLise’, are designed around the preferences and needs of the attendees so they can have fun doing things they enjoy. There are SociALLise groups for primary school ages, teenagers and young adults and we now regularly hold five different sessions each week in Aberdeen and Westhill.

Most importantly, SociALLise is a community! Once you have a place, it is yours for life. Over the years, many youngsters have transitioned from the primary school aged groups right up to the young adult groups and along the way have made life-long friends.

“I love attending SensationALL! I can be myself. I don’t worry about what other people think of me there.”

a SociALLise attendee

  • Practical Support

We believe in empowering individuals by sharing our SensationALL tips and techniques which they can use in everyday life to feel more resilient in overwhelming situations. Sessions are a safe space to share experiences and open up about worries allowing them to understand more about themselves and build self-value and feel accepted. This support allows them to take ownership of their neurodivergent identity as they realise they are not alone.

Our team of practitioners have a wealth of experience in supporting individuals with complex needs and as some identify as neurodivergent themselves they can use first-hand experiences to relate to our attendees.

Supporting SociALLise sessions

Demand is growing exponentially for places in our SociALLise sessions and we have 90 youngsters waiting for places right now! New families are approaching us every week but we need to increase our income before we can create more of these invaluable groups.

Our aim is to have more SociALLise sessions taking place in locations across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire so if you want to help SensationALL support more young neurodivergent people please get in touch! You could fundraise for us or get involved with one of our upcoming events, click below for details.

For anyone interested in using our services or attending a SociALLise session, the first step is to register with us.

We are a Volunteer Charter Champion!

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SensationALL has signed up as a Charter Champion with Volunteer Scotland! When the charity began in 2011, we were initially a wholly volunteer run organisation but, even after staff were employed, the contribution of volunteers remained integral to our service delivery. Over the years, thousands of hours have been donated to us and we consider each volunteer to be an asset who’s contribution cannot be undervalued!

As a result, we are proud to follow the 10 principles set out by the Volunteer Charter and strive for best practice across all areas of volunteering.

>>> Take a look at the 10 Volunteer Charter principles here.

>>>

How does this shape volunteering at SensationALL?

Volunteers can choose their roles

SensationALL wants to ensure that volunteers know they have free choice over the type of role they wish to take on. We have a wide variety of roles which we publicise but we are also open to hearing from volunteers with specific skills and interests which may be beneficial to the charity’s operations.

Our volunteer handyman, Donald, is a great example of this! Donald brings a range of skills and knowledge that help us complete small projects that we otherwise would struggle with. His skills are helping transform the charity for the better.

Furthermore, as a small organisation with restricted budgets, it simply isn’t possible for us to employ staff to fulfil every necessary business role so we rely upon the expertise, knowledge and skills of many professionals who are willing to support our administrative and management processes. Our board of trustees are all volunteers with a wide set of skills and backgrounds so they can oversee our governance and strategically guide us.

Volunteers feel safe, supported and included

Regardless of role, The Charter helps us create an environment where every volunteer is welcomed with open arms and enjoy their experience so they will want to come back time after time.

We take care to make sure all our volunteers feel a part of the SensationALL family and we strive to make all of our opportunities inclusive. The charter reminds us to ensure volunteers feel capable of carrying out their roles and are given opportunities to develop skills through training and mentoring. Using the charter principles also means that we focus on taking on board volunteer views and options and use these to shape the direction of the charity.

We are delighted to be a Charter Champion and excited about how the 10 principles will help us to create an environment where we feel supported by excellent volunteers and our volunteers feel supported by an organisation that truly values them.

If you are interested in volunteering with SensationALL please get in touch – volunteering@sensationall.org.uk

Adult support group

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Thanks to funding from Inspiring Scotland, we have launched a new group for adults aged 18 and over, who self-identify as, or are diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition such as Autism or ADHD.

If you are an adult who has been diagnosed later in life, or if you suspect you have a neurodiverse condition, we know it can be stressful learning how to cope with the challenges that neurodiversity can present. Our support groups have been created to bring you together in a safe, friendly place so you can build networks with others in similar situations. You are not alone!!

Sessions are a chance to meet and socialise with other like-minded adults in a relaxed environment, compare your experiences and perspectives of neurodiversity. Our specialist neurodiversity practitioners will chat about a different topics each week and share their practical advice and knowledge.

We will give you:

  • a safe, non-judgemental place to express yourself
  • an introduction to self-regulation techniques
  • signposting to other organisations and networks that may be of benefit
  • wellbeing and resilience strategies
  • social opportunities to build friendships and peer networks
  • resources to reinforce learnings from sessions

Weekly on Tuesdays, 6.30-8pm

At Belgrave House, Belgrave Terrace, Rosemount, Aberdeen, AB25 2NR

NO FORMAL DIAGNOSIS REQUIRED

Autistic-Adult-support-groupDownload the poster

SensationALL volunteers!

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Volunteers are the backbone of what we do and we wouldn’t accomplish so much without them. Our volunteers mirror our values, and are an invaluable extension of our team. One volunteer who has proved to be priceless is our maintenance volunteer, Donald who the staff have unofficially entitled “Superman”.

Donald started volunteering with us shortly after retiring. He knew about the charity due to the support SensationALL had provided for his Autistic grandson. As someone who likes to be busy, he simply wasn’t ready to ‘do nothing’ so, his daughter suggested he might be well suited to helping with facility and maintenance jobs around our centre, The Old Schoolhouse in Westhill.

Throughout 2022, Donald’s contributions proved to be invaluable to us as he can turn his hand to pretty much anything! He surpassed all our expectations in undertaking DIY tasks such as painting and decorating through to skilled work upgrading fixtures in the building. His efforts to the improve the Old Schoolhouse have not only enhanced the aesthetics but, importantly, increased safety for the children and adults with complex needs who use the building.

He is always eager to complete jobs as soon as they are given and no matter how obscure the request may be; he thinks outside the box to fulfil our ideas. He excelled himself with his carpentry skills when he fitted out our new van with bespoke shelving and storage for transporting our sensory equipment.

Donald’s biggest project to date has been the installation of a soft play frame which transformed our facilities. He roped in his cousin, Sam and the pair used their creativity and initiative to reconfigure the second-hand equipment to fit our space. As always, he tackled the task with positivity and a “can do” attitude and never gets deterred when things have to be adapted to suit our unique needs due to our work with individuals with sensory and behavioural issues.

Donald has undoubtably saved the charity hundreds of pounds in maintenance costs and trades people and we simply cannot express the extent of our gratitude to him for his unwavering dedication and enthusiasm.

Recently, Donald has experienced health issues, including undergoing major surgery. However, he played this down to us saying it’s “no big deal” and that he wanted to keep volunteering. Donald shows no signs of slowing down during his ongoing medical treatment and despite our protests for him to take it easy, he continues to pop in to see what jobs he can do!

Volunteers frequently tell us that they “get out as much as they put in” but we are totally indebted to all our generous volunteers who make a huge difference to our charity.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, there is more information here or get in touch at, volunteering@sensationall.org.uk

SensationALL means the world to me.

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SensationALL’s services and activities for Neurodiverse individuals and those with complex conditions are a lifeline for many. However, our support is not only for attendees themselves, but also for the wider family. In 2022, we created a timetable of informal support groups for parent/carers. The benefit of having this peer support can be huge!

Many parents tell us how alone and lost they feel so being part of this network helps them cope with the emotional burden of caring for someone with complex needs. The sharing of experiences and empathy they get from the group is invaluable and can result in improved resilience and reduced anxiety.

We thought Mental Health Awareness month was the perfect time to share one of our family’s stories…

Kelly’s daughter Georgia-Rose has a diagnosis of Autism and is currently undergoing assessment for ADHD. Kelly suspected from a very young age that Georgia-Rose might be Autistic:

“She really struggled with her meltdowns which, I originally thought were just bad tantrums but the older she got it became apparent they were so much more! Georgia-Rose is a huge masker – she keeps everything bottled in at school and plays a character to fit into society but, when she gets home the mask comes off and she often explodes. From a young age she has experienced sensory difficulties, certain sounds, textures and smells would trigger her and we didn’t know how to deal with it”.

The family’s first experience of SensationALL was coming to our Santa’s Grotto after a disastrous visit to a public grotto when Georgia-Rose left feeling terrified and sad. Her parents were flooded with guilt for taking her somewhere that caused such upset and were devastated she couldn’t enjoy something magical that most children love.

After seeing our details on Facebook, Kelly brought her girls to our relaxed grotto at The Old Schoolhouse in Westhill which, was designed to offer an simpler, unintimidating situation for Neurodiverse children to cope with. This time, her reaction to Santa was completely different to Kelly’s delight; “the look on Georgia-Roses face was something I will cherish forever! She went straight into the grotto and actually spoke to Santa! It was the most special thing for us as her parents to see her enjoy something that had previously terrified her!”

This positive experience led to Georgia-Rose attending numerous soft play sessions and she completing our self-regulation programme, Chill-OOT. As a result, her confidence and self-esteem has grown massively and she now knows ways to calm herself down when she’s overwhelmed and her parents and the wider family have also learnt techniques to help her when she in these situations. Amazingly, Georgia-Rose is able to tell them how things make her feel in different situations which is a huge positive step and has benefited the whole family.

Kelly says, “before I came to SensationALL I had absolutely no idea how to cope with Georgie’s meltdowns. I had been given advice from professionals and had done endless amounts of reading online but for some reason nothing seemed to work with my daughter and her difficulties. I constantly felt judged as a parent, and didn’t want my daughter to be thought of as a badly behaved kid who wouldn’t listen to her parents or just screams and shouts to get her own way. I felt very alone as a parent and didn’t know where to I could find help from people who just ‘got it’.

I started attending the parent support group every week and it has been the best thing I’ve done for myself in this journey – I had no idea how much I needed it! Being around other parents who face the same day to day difficulties as I do is just priceless! 

I believe its helped me become a better parent to not only Georgia-Rose, but her youngest sister Ellie-Jane too.

SensationALL means the world to me. It’s a place I can go and cry and know that somebody will be there for me with a tissue and a hot cup of tea. The support I receive is irreplaceable, SensationALL is somewhere I can go and won’t be judged.”

Not feeling alone on this crazy journey of parenting a child with additional support needs is the BEST thing ever!

Kelly

Our Family Support Practitioner, Jo, is also a parent of a young Neurodiverse son so she has experienced many of the situations that our families face:

“I know first-hand that being a parent of a child with additional needs can be isolating and lonely. Parents of neurotypical children can try their best to be supportive but, through no fault of their own, they cannot identify with the unique struggles a parent of a child with Additional Support Needs face daily.  

The sharing of experiences allows parents and cares to be heard, and often, for the first time feel accepted and less alone, it is a privilege for me to watch the magic happen in our sessions. 

Usually, our sessions are simply an open forum when, struggling parents can chat, cry and laugh which, releases tension and you see the weight starting to lift as their share their problems. We journey together as a group, grieving the difficult times, proactively looking for practical solutions to ease the struggles. I’m honoured to be part of the SensationALL community for parents.”

WATCH – this video features Kelly as well as some other parents talking about SensationALL…

If you’re a parent, guardian, or carer, more information on support sessions is here or email us to ask for more information.