We are thrilled to announce that Lornajane Barenburg has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer, taking up her position as of Monday, 10th August 2026.
Having worked in the third sector for many years, most recently at Grampian Opportunities as well as previously being head of Barnardo’s children services LJ brings a wealth of experience of working with families across the social care and health sectors.
LJ describes herself as a values driven leader and with more than 20 years’ experience across health, social care and the third sector when she has successfully led organisations through growth, change and transformation. Through both employment and voluntary trustee roles LJ has gained experienced in strengthening governance, improving sustainability and creating cultures where people feel supported, valued and able to thrive.
As a parent of an autistic adult son, Lorna brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role at SensationALL. She understands first-hand the importance of finding welcoming, inclusive environments where individuals and families feel understood, respected and empowered.
LJ said “My role is clear: protect what makes SensationALL special, strengthen what supports it, and help create opportunities for every individual and family to thrive.“
Known for her collaborative, approachable leadership style, Lorna believes in listening carefully, building strong relationships and creating opportunities for people to flourish. She is passionate about ensuring SensationALL continues to be a trusted place for families while building strong foundations for its future growth and sustainability Lorna leads with warmth, transparency and a healthy sense of humour. She is committed to working alongside staff, families, partners and supporters to ensure that everyone connected with SensationALL will continue to feel they belong and can achieve their full potential.
Under LJ’s leadership, we look forward to entering an exciting new chapter of growth and community impact. We invite volunteers, service users, members, partners and all other stakeholders to join us in welcoming LJ to the team.
If you would like to reach out directly or learn more about the charity, please feel free to contact us – info@sensationall.org.uk
At SensationALL, we make sure that volunteering is mutually beneficial. We get so much from our amazing volunteers, so we want to ensure that their experience is equally as valuable.One of our volunteer story’s, Katie, shows just this. From starting as placement student in our pre-school group to now being a valued member of staff, Katie has embodied the SensationALL spirit and used her volunteering experience to take on a role which is not only rewarding, but will support her in her future career.
Katie told us a bit more about her volunteering journey . . .
“I was first introduced to SensationALL through my university when I was assigned a placement within the Pre-school group. Before this, I had very little experience working with neurodivergent individuals, but after more than a year and a half of volunteering, I am incredibly grateful to have been introduced to such a wonderful charity.
“Following my first Pre-school session, I spoke with the volunteering team to find out how I could become more involved. I was placed within the Girls Group, a social group for teenage girls, where my volunteering journey truly began. With each session, I became more familiar with the service users, building trusting relationships and helping to create a safe and supportive environment. Watching the girls grow in confidence and become comfortable sharing their experiences each week was immensely fulfilling.
“Not only did I witness the positive impact SensationALL and volunteering had on the service users, but I also benefited enormously myself. Volunteering with the charity while navigating my own neurodivergent journey was invaluable and made my own experiences much easier to understand. Alongside this, I developed a wide range of skills that will continue to benefit me in the future.”
From volunteer to valued team member
“Seeing the positive impact volunteering had on both the service users and myself only strengthened my desire to continue supporting the charity. After around a year of volunteering, an opportunity arose to work for SensationALL as a Youth Worker, and I was delighted to accept. Being able to progress within the charity while contributing to such an important cause is something that still makes me excited to go to work every day.”
Katie told us what impact volunteering has had on her . . .
“Volunteering has had a profound impact on my life, both professionally and personally. Watching individuals find a place where they feel safe, welcomed, and understood and seeing their confidence and self-assurance grow, is something incredibly special. I believe that to truly understand how service users think, feel, and experience the world, it is vital to hear directly from them and witness those experiences first-hand. Doing so has been deeply eye-opening and has given me a far greater appreciation not only of neurodiversity, but also of the importance of creating a more inclusive and understanding society.
“I would encourage anyone considering volunteering or anyone searching for a sense of purpose to get involved with SensationALL. Seeing the positive impact the charity has not only on service users, but also on its staff and volunteers, is truly rewarding.”
Getting involved in volunteering
SensationALL creates volunteering opportunities that allow you to grow and progress. We want you to get the best out of your experience while providing us with much needed support. If volunteering sounds like something you would like to be involved with, get in touch at volunteering@sensationall.org.uk
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 the team who organises SensationALL’s fundraising activities…
Behind every fundraising event, appeal and social post at SensationALL is a passionate team working hard to ensure our services can continue to make a real difference.
As a registered charity, we are wholly reliant on donations and grants to cover the cost of running our activities and support groups.
Read more about the trio responsible for fundraising, volunteering and marketing – they are a busy bunch!
Lisa Grainger, Fundraising & Marketing Manager
What does your role at SensationALL involve? I lead our fundraising team and work closely with Louise and Danielle to generate much‑needed funds from grant giving organisations, individual and corporate donors and through our own events. As well as this, I oversee all our marketing activity, including branding, our website and social media platforms.
What do you like most about SensationALL? I love how adaptive SensationALL is to the needs of the people who use our services. The team are always reviewing whether services are right for each individual and ensuring everyone has a positive experience. The support offered to each person truly is personalised which I think is incredible.
How long have you been at SensationALL? 8 years this June (not sure where the time has gone!!) and during that time my role has grown alongside the charity.
Favourite fundraising event? I really enjoy the Kiltwalk. I’ve done both the Wee Wander and the Mighty Stride with my family over the years, and it’s always such a fantastic day. The route is beautiful and the whole event has a real party atmosphere.
A fun fact about you! I’ve become a bit obsessed with gardening (although I don’t really know what I’m doing!) and even went to the Chelsea Flower Show a couple of years ago. I love being in the garden, even if things don’t always grow as I planned!
Louise Murray, Fundraising & Volunteering Coordinator
What does your role at SensationALL involve? In my role no two days are ever the same! It includes organising fundraising events and supporting people with their own fundraising, as well as looking after our amazing volunteers who support us across a wide range of roles.
What do you like most about SensationALL? I love that SensationALL prides itself on creating opportunities for everyone. Hearing about the difference we make to so many families reminds me daily that I’m part of something really special.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I’ve been with SensationALL for 3 years.
Favourite fundraising event? I love our quiz nights. It’s always great seeing familiar faces from our regular teams, and I really enjoy the friendly competition between rounds. Our quizmaster is an incredible volunteer who puts so much effort into making the evenings special for everyone.
A fun fact about you! I spent a year teaching English in primary schools in central France before moving into marketing roles. My French is definitely a bit rusty now, though!
Danielle Dyce, Funding Officer
What’s does your role at SensationALL involve? My role is a new addition to the fundraising team and my main focus is on generating income from grants. I spend a lot of time researching new funding opportunities as we receive no statutory funding for any of our services. I’m also involved in events and support our marketing and communications, making it a really varied role – which I absolutely love.
What do you like most about SensationALL? What I love most is that everyone can be their authentic self at SensationALL – from our beneficiaries to our staff. It’s incredibly rewarding to work for a charity that makes such a meaningful impact on the lives of hundreds of people every year.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I joined SensationALL in August 2025.
Favourite fundraising event? I’m really excited to get involved in preparing for this year’s Annual Ball. It’s our most glamorous event and a brilliant opportunity to highlight the stories of our beneficiaries and why our work matters so much. This year’s Masked Ball will highlight the impact of masking on neurodivergent people and the mental toll it can take – I can’t wait to see our guests embrace the masquerade theme.
A fun fact about yourself! When I was 19, I studied abroad in Lithuania and became the first Scottish student the school had ever had. I was also recognised for attending the most parties while I was there – doing Scotland proud, if you ask me!
If you want to help the team raise money for SensationALL they’d love to hear from you – events@sensationall.org.uk
Get to know the people behind the scenes at SensationALL…
Elaine and Ellie are our fabulous Service Coordinators who keep all the administrative functions of the charity running smoothly! They are the people who answer your email enquiries, book you onto sessions and take care of lots of other things including IT, health & safety and everything else to keep our buildings running smoothly!
Elaine Green, Service Coordinator
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? I am one of the Service Coordinators, concentrating on training (parents/professionals/employers), Learning Pathways Plus (LPP) sessions for individual neurodivergent schoolchildren, and organising the ‘Tea & Tips’ sessions (1-2-1 chats with a practitioner for parents). I also carry out some of the H&S tasks such as weekly fire alarm testing, fire extinguisher checks, the stocking of First Aid kits, plus building, garden, car park and play park inspections.
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? I am in awe of our Service Team – their knowledge and compassion is amazing and when you see them working with our attendees, I just think they are awesome. I work in the Administration office and everyone in there is so kind and helpful, with a great sense of humour. It’s a pleasure to go into work each day and I am immensely proud of the work that we all do.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I’ve been here for just over 3 years now.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? I love the vibration plate! If I have a couple of minutes whilst boiling the kettle, you’ll probably find me on the machine getting a good shake down! I also love standing on a Bosu balance ball – it feels like I’m doing some exercise.
A fun fact about yourself! I am also a Wedding Ceremony Officer, as well as a Match Day First Aider at Pittodrie. In my spare time, I volunteer with the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance and as a Community Cardiac Responder in Westhill.
Ellie McKenna, Service Coordinator
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? My role consists of being the primary point of contact for our families and finding support and sessions that are beneficial for them. (and a whole bunch of background IT stuff!)
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? My favourite thing about SensationALL is seeing how much it helps our service users and their families. It’s the only place I’ve ever worked where it feels like I really make a difference.
How long have you been at SensationALL? Almost three years! I started back in May 2023 with way less grey hair!
What’s your favourite sensory activity? Baking! Especially anything involving chocolate but it has to be vegan.
A fun fact about yourself I recently got into running and my first ever competitive race was Edinburgh marathon last year! I then did Tough Mudder two weeks after and 4 other races before the end of 2025.
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
Find out more about the fabulous team people who run our SensationALL services!
Collectively our team of practitioners and support workers have decades of experience working with people with complex needs and a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Chloe Legge, Service Team Lead
about Chloe
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? My role as Service Team Lead bridges service demand, design, and delivery with operations and HR. I collaborate with the operations team, session coordinators, and Clinical Team Lead to schedule and deliver services, recruit and allocate staff, lead our team of practitioners and youth workers, manage appraisals and training needs, as well as have fun in some sessions too!
What do you like most about SensationALL? The shared passion within the team for supporting neurodivergent individuals, their families, carers, and the wider community. The genuine, authentic care shown by the team drives our work and ensures that a needs-led, person-centred approach remains at the heart of everything we do. I feel proud to work for a charity that retains such a strong sense of purpose and fosters an environment built on inclusion, understanding, and lived experience.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I have been at SensationALL for over 3 years now, starting in a Youth Worker position in 2022, and becoming Service Team Lead in 2023.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? My favourite sensory activities are movement-based. I especially enjoy using the balance boards and vibration plates, as well as active games in the soft play room, particularly hide and seek or grounders. I also love making slime!
A fun fact about yourself! I love being outdoors, and when I’m not playing hide and seek or making slime at SensationALL, you’ll usually find me in the mountains or tucked away in a remote coffee shop in some distant corner of Scotland.
Rebekah Moorhouse, Clinical Team Lead
about Rebekah
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? I’m the Clinical Team Lead. My role involves our training delivery and offerings and supporting with the clinical guidance for our team, ensuring high-quality, child-centred practice, and working closely with families to make sure each child’s sensory needs are truly understood and supported. I also help shape how we grow and develop as a service while keeping care, connection, and curiosity at the heart of everything we do.
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? What I love most about SensationALL is the deep respect for every child and adult as an individual. SensationALL means safety, understanding, and possibility to me. It’s a place where differences are welcomed, nervous systems are honoured, and children are supported to thrive in ways that feel right for them.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I’ve been part of SensationALL for 8 years.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? My favourite sensory activity is anything involving deep pressure or heavy work. It’s grounding, regulating, and such a powerful way to help children feel safe and settled in their bodies.
A fun fact about yourself! I love creating calm, cosy spaces and I’m always thinking about how environments can feel more regulating, nurturing, and welcoming. I’m also obsessed with Neuroscience which helps us understand neurodivergent nervous systems!
Fran Duncan, Occupational Therapist
about Fran
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? Presently, I am helping with the Tea & Tips service we offer to parents and carers. I speak with them about questions and concerns they have about their children, many times supporting them with information about self regulation, but also addressing other specific concerns they may have.
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? SensationALL has always impressed me as a charity that helps people who may not be able to get support from our other community or health services, and can do things for them in a more timely manner. I feel it is an important charity for that reason, and also for the way it fosters supportive friendships/relationships among the users and their parents and carers.
How long have you been at SensationALL? Being a close friend of Suz Strachan, I have know about the charity as it was developing and at its earliest stages. I have been involved with it since I moved back to Scotland from the States at the end of 2016, almost ten years now.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? Any type of shoulder massage always hits the spot!
A fun fact about yourself! I enjoy playing my violin both in a traditional Scottish group, and a Folk orchestra.
Marie Massie, Practitioner
about Marie
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? My role at SensationALL is as a service practitioner, therefore I plan and lead some SociALLise services, which aim to meet the needs and provide a positive experience for neurodivergent young people and adults.
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? I enjoy developing positive relationships with our service users and families as well as supporting them to the best of my ability. I value this aspect of SensationALL.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I have been at SensationALL for over 4 years now!
What’s your favourite sensory activity? I enjoy sensory play, preferably with water or orbee’s and I like to encourage relaxation with sensory lights.
A fun fact about yourself! I like go karting and wanted to be a race driver for a long time!
Kirsty Stanton, Practitioner
about Kirsty
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? My focus is on the adult support groups, both in-person and online, and I work in a few of the teen groups too. You’ll mostly find me working at Belgrave House, only occasionally heading out to Westhill. I have ADHD and actually first came to SensationALL as a service user, attending the first in-person adult group back in October of 2023. In spring of 2024 the Youth Worker role for that group became vacant and I thought I would give it a shot! I have worked in that role since May of 2024, and was recently promoted to Practitioner. With the adults in particular I like to use a light touch, allowing service users to shape the group activities towards their needs in the knowledge that they can rely on me to support and advocate for them.
What do you like most about SensationALL / what does SensationALL mean to you? Being neurodivergent myself, I love how aspects of my personality that feel like an obstacle in other workplaces are helpful and accepted here. The potential for peer support and intergenerational sharing of strategies, perspectives and approaches to the particular difficulties faced by neurodivergent people is amazing and I feel so honoured to be a part of that.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? Anything with sound, particularly sound baths! I love how making and hearing music can quiet the brain and make everyone feel present.
A fun fact about yourself! My background is actually in archaeology. I have two degrees in it and spent several years working for companies across the UK. Ask me about the Picts!
Caitlin Tawse, Senior Practitioner
about Caitlin
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? As part of my role at SensationALL as a senior practitioner, I run our ChillOOT sessions focusing on self-regulation and managing emotions, as well as leading our social groups for teens and primary age kids, with some involvement in adult services as well! I am also the organisations mental health ambassador, helping to promote positive mental health in all that we do.
What do you like most about SensationALL? SensationALL is a place that I feel safe and supported, and I love being able to create that environment for our service users. It’s a place you can truly be yourself with no fear of judgement, and my confidence has truly flourished in the time I’ve been here.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I started at SensationALL in September 2021.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? I love making slime, though I’m still working on finding a perfect recipe!
A fun fact about yourself! I studied Psychology and Business at university, and I started at SensationALL during my final year, I’ve been here ever since, apart from taking a year out from 2023-2024 to work at Walt Disney World in Florida!
Hollie Huntley, Practitioner
about Hollie
What’s your role at SensationALL I’m a new service practitioner currently working with three groups (SociALLise+; SociALLise teens; Young Adults SociALLise) as well as supporting two stay and play sessions.
What drew you to SensationALL? As a neurodivergent adult with two neurodivergent children, I felt that SensationALL would be a good fit for me. I spend a lot of time studying at home so it’s nice to be able to balance that with spending time speaking to different service users and staff.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? Summer: sitting in the sun Winter: Sitting under a blanket with a heatpack. Basically i like to be warm.
A fun fact about yourself! I’ve studied counselling and psychotherapy for the last six years and will soon be doing my very own counselling research project which I’m very excited for!
Jo Nicholas, Family Support Practitioner
about Jo
What’s your role at SensationALL and what does it involve? I am the Family Support Practitioner, which basically means I get the privilege of walking alongside parents and carers as they support their children. Living with neurodivergence can feel incredibly isolating, and a big part of my role is helping to lift some of that isolation and remind families that they don’t have to do any of this on their own.
If you’ve spent any time with me, you’ve probably heard some of my go‑to mottos more than once: “It’s not hard because you’re failing — it’s hard because it is hard,” and “You are not alone.” I tell them a lot because I have I had to learn those same lessons as the parent of a neurodivergent child.
I also lead the preschool group here at SensationALL, which I absolutely love. Working with the little ones — and their parents — as they take their first steps into understanding neurodivergence.
What do you like most about SensationALL? My favourite part of working with our parents/carers is something I call ‘watching the light bulb moment’, when they realise for the first time that there are other parents out there walking a similar journey to them, and when they learn more about their child’s behaviour and the how and why of how to support them.
I also have experienced the impact of SensationALL as a parent, as my son is a service user and loves attending sessions and being with others who he can see are ‘like me’.
How long have you been at SensationALL? I have worked at SensationALL for 4 ½ years but accessed services as a family for about 2 years before working here.
What’s your favourite sensory activity? It has to be the power of bubbles! I have watched an individual’s emotions change in a moment just from the introduction of a bottle of soap and water. Those bubbles have healing qualities.
A fun fact about yourself! I have an expert knowledge of Dinosaurs! I have an amazing Neurodivergent son whom I call my walking, talking, encyclopaedia. My son takes every possible moment to educate me on the world of palaeontology!
In addition to these wonderful people we have an enthusiastic team of support & youth workers who assist the practitioners during sessions.
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.
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.
