North East Sensory Services has secured £85,000 to support children in the north east

A charity which supports young blind and deaf people across the north east has received two major funding boosts.

North East Sensory Services (NESS) has secured £75,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Young Start Fund which will be used over the next three years for its young people’s service. A further £10,000 has been awarded from the Scottish Children’s Lottery Chance to Connect Fund.

The organisation said its Young People’s Sensory Service – which helps more than 100 children in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray – would have a major positive impact on youngsters in the area.

The funding awards follow similarly successful bids previously to the BBC’s Children in Need, the MacRobert Trust, the Adam Family Foundation and the Adamson Trust.

Caroline Rutherford, NESS fundraising manager, said: “This money will help young people with sensory loss across the north east at a time when it’s most needed.

“The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown have posed new challenges to children with hearing and visual impairments, but this kind of investment helps us change that.

“We work with more than 100 children across the north east to ensure they can participate in society in the same way as their peers.

“Through a tailored programme of activities, our skilled and dedicated staff encourage our children to expand their experiences and perform beyond the limits of their current comfort zone. That results in increased self-esteem, independence and initiative, all leading to a greater sense of their own potential.

“All donations big and small help us continue this work, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us financially.”