I’m part of the holidays team at the deafblind charity Sense. We organise holidays and short breaks for people with multi-sensory impairments and other complex needs. Our short breaks give people the chance to get away from it all, try something new and have a lot of fun. They also give a much-needed break to families who support a deafblind person.
As a holidays and volunteering assistant, I help with the logistics of the programme, everything from organising venues to booking transport and co-ordinating volunteers. I usually start my day replying to emails, and then I might move on to researching new venues and experiences for our next short break.
At around 11am we have a team meeting to discuss progress with the organisation of a youth-hostel city break in Manchester, as well as a horse-riding holiday in Kent for a group of young people with multi-sensory impairments and complex needs.
At Sense, no two holidays are the same and I love this aspect of the job. We build the experience around the needs and interests of the individuals. Activities could include swimming, horse riding, visits to local attractions, canoeing, dry slope skiing, meals out, nights in the pub – the possibilities are endless!
In the afternoon I spend time planning and co-ordinating a volunteer group for our next short break. Our volunteers are a vital part of what we do and without them we could not provide such a person-centred service. Each group includes a leader with plenty of knowledge and expertise, complemented by volunteers who support our holidaymakers one-to-one. This personalised approach means that we can support people to do what they want to do – however simple or complex this seems. Occasionally, holidaymakers might have particular areas of interest, such as life skills (dressing, cooking and so on) or building relationships. Our short breaks are an ideal place to focus on such things in a fun, supportive and engaging way.
The short breaks are amazing experiences for everyone involved. Our volunteers often comment on the range of communication that people use, such as hand-under-hand communication, which is when a person with multi-sensory impairments rests their hand on the volunteer’s hand and uses it to explore their immediate environment. It’s so simple and the results are incredible because that individual is taking control of the situation. You see them gain confidence, interact more with their surroundings and take the initiative to explore.
My favourite part of the job is seeing the results of all our preparations. On our last short break, one memorable moment for me was supporting a holidaymaker to drive a pedal-powered go-kart. We weren’t sure whether he had ever been on one before, but we thought we’d give it a try. I perched next to him and propelled us along, up and down the path, while he giggled at the rush of wind on his face. I was breaking into a bit of a sweat when, after about half an hour, he placed his feet on the pedals and began to push. I was so pleased I couldn’t help telling the other volunteers at dinner.
That pretty much sums up our whole approach to providing holidays and short breaks at Sense. A parent explained it best: “You see the person first and the disability second.”
I never really thought about working in this area but I’m glad it’s something I’ve become involved in. Having studied English literature at university I went on to teach English as a foreign language. My journey with Sense started as a support worker under the Access to Work scheme: two members of staff at Sense were visually impaired and I came into the office to support them with accessing materials. I was then lucky enough to move into the holidays team.
After work, I like to read, explore new places in London and play the guitar. I’m in a band so I spend time writing or rehearsing songs in the evenings. On Tuesdays, I head straight from work to my British Sign Language class. I’ve nearly finished my level one qualification, which is really useful for my job. I’m also learning to cook, and I try to make something new each week – with mixed success!
If you’re interested in volunteering on a Sense holiday or short break, please contact holidays@sense.org.uk
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