Chris Law MP visits north-east Scottish sensory loss charity to learn about its vital work
North East Sensory Services logo
Chris Law has visited the headquarters of a north-east Scottish charity in his constituency to learn about its vital work helping people with sensory loss.
The MP for Dundee Central toured North East Sensory Services (NESS) in the city, meeting staff and some of the people who benefit directly from the extensive services it provides. During his visit, he explored the charity’s resource centre and heard first-hand about the challenges facing blind and deaf people in his constituency and beyond. He also had a meeting with NESS’s interim chief executive Alan Bell, who briefed him on the charity’s impact, as well as meeting other key staff.
Chris Law MP speaking to NESS service users and staff.
NESS supports thousands of blind and deaf people, and those with visual and hearing impairments, across Dundee, Angus, Moray, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire. The charity’s main objective is to help people with sensory loss live as independently as possible, reducing the risk of isolation and helping them overcome the many challenges they face.
Among the lifeline services it offers in Dundee are its Young People’s Sensory Service for children, which increases their confidence, independence, and social skills. It also runs an ICT for All service providing people with tailored training and support in the use of accessible technology and digital devices, again reducing the risk of isolation, as well as an employment service for those of working age or transitioning from school.
NESS is the sector leader in Scotland for delivering joint sensory services, which is of particular benefit to elderly people who often encounter age-related sight and hearing issues at the same time. Founded in 1879, it supports more than 6,250 people with sensory impairment and their families across the north-east of Scotland, of whom more than 1,700 live in Dundee. The charity provides a range of specialist support services, working with people of all ages, and manages the sight loss registers in Dundee, Moray, and Aberdeen.
Alan Bell, interim chief executive at NESS“We were delighted to welcome Chris to our resource centre in Dundee and share with him the life-changing work we do to support people with sensory loss across the north-east. His visit gave him valuable insight into the everyday challenges faced by those living with sight and hearing loss, and he had the opportunity to speak directly with some of the people who benefit from our services.
With many of our staff and volunteers living in the area and being among his constituents, it was a real highlight for them to meet their MP and talk about the transformative impact of their work. Our resource centre not only provides essential information and guidance, it also offers a welcoming environment where lasting friendships are made. We’re very grateful to Chris for taking the time to visit NESS.”
Chris Law MP“It was real privilege to visit NESS and hear first-hand from both the staff and volunteers about the wide range of services they provide, and equally from those who face some of the real challenges of sight and hearing loss. It’s truly humbling to listen to their experiences and realise how transformative the services and information provided are. It was also particularly important to understand how those with sight and hearing impairment support each other. NESS offers a hugely vital service and needs our support in every way we can. Thank you again for this opportunity.”
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