Why you're donating

Deafness, blindness, deafblindness and complex disabilities can affect anyone at any stage of life. Sense exists to support those who are deafblind and have complex, to ensure no one is left our of life and are able to fulfil their potential.

This is how your money could be spent:

• £25 could help pay for colourful, textured sight and sound tubes. These tubes contain jingling bells, so a child who is deafblind can explore different sounds and sensations.
• £50 could help pay for a set of five light-up sight and sound tubes for a child who is deafblind to help stimulate their vision and hearing.
• £100 could pay for a visit from a Sense Children and Family Support Worker who can give invaluable advice and support to the whole family when they need it most

Sense's services and support goes beyond what I've experienced first hand. You can find out more about Sense and the incredible support given by Sense's hero staff, by visiting www.sense.org.uk.

About me

My name is Adam and I joined Sense in March 2019. Having dealt with my deafness by myself for many years, I told my then line manager that my deafness was my problem and I would take care of it myself. To which his reply was "you now work for a deafblind charity, you don't have to handle it by yourself anymore", or words to that effect. Those words were both a lightbulb moment and a relief. This is my story.

When I was in primary school, and after some time from my teacher and parents, they worked out that I was deaf. I'd mastered the art of lip reading to cover my hearing loss. An operation helped my hearing for the time being.

In my early thirties, I began losing my hearing again and subsequent tests showed that my left ear was effected. I now wear a hearing aid and have come to terms with my hearing loss, and I am very aware of those who have far more complex needs than I. 

Thank you to my friends at Sense who have helped me to understand deafness and supported me through some difficult times, which in turn have opened my mind to helping others with complex needs.

I am running the TCS London Marathon in October 2022, raising vital funds to continue supporting our services users, especially in these difficult times. Given the choice between running and cycling, I'd choose cycling. However, I am enjoying the health benefits of running, and this is why I run:

Experiencing Sense first hand

I have visited Sense's centres at TouchBase South East and Sense TouchBase Pears in Birmingham and seen how the centres enrich the lives of the service users. The centres cultivate learning skills for life, sport and creativity to name just a few of the services. 

Christmas 2019 - I along with a group of volunteers took a group of adults away on a 'Turkey and Tinsel' holiday. The holiday was so much fun, with outings, a day of Christmas every day, humanity and well organised by the leader.

Recently, I have volunteering with The Buddying Team, taking out a group of children and young people who belong to the East London Buddying Project. 

Seeing the joy, building individuality, skills and potential that these examples bring through the support given, gives hope that we can be an inclusive society.

I along with a team of four, took three holiday makers away on an action adventure holiday. That holiday was the best fun I'd had in decades. Raft building, archery, abseiling and leaps of faith.

Coming up

With the support of my colleagues I'll be putting together some fundraising activities including a quiz based on the senses and a mystery box auction.

Follow me on Instagram - @adamoriley. Tick the box for me to stay in touch with you, if you plan to donate here, I'll send you a message about upcoming events you can get involved with. 

If you only donate once a month, think of Sense next time.

Thank you for reading my page and the story of Sense. Help me support those who rely on Sense's services. You can do this by making a donation by clicking on that donate button now!