SensationALL, the charity that supports people with neurodivergent or complex conditions across north-east Scotland, has revealed that a total of just over £36,300 was raised at its SensationALL Sensory Ball.
The event, which took place at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday and was sponsored by the JEllie Foundation, DeepOcean and Oilenco, offered guests a unique evening of indulgent food, fantastic entertainment and meaningful sensory experiences.
Suz Strachan, clinical consultancy manager at SensationALL, said:
“To highlight the fact that most of SensationALL’s attendees struggle with sensory issues, we weaved a sensory theme into every possible part of the night to give our guests a deep insight into what this means.
The amazing chefs at The Chester Hotel were creative with the food presentation (starter served to look like a dessert and vice versa), adding different elements like scented dry ice and unexpected textures all to challenge expectations. We even changed the room lighting with each course of the meal. Everything was designed to make diners think about how it would feel when your brain processes information differently and the impact it can have on all aspects of life.”
The night featured entertainment from world-renowned, London Essentials who performed at the tables to provide another interactive sensory surprise.
Claire Muir, owner of Little Black Dog Media and parent of a SensationALL service user, attended the event:
“It was fun but emotional, surprising and inspiring – and definitely a night to remember. My senses were challenged and my eyes were well and truly opened to what my son goes through on a daily basis. It was an incredible insight into what it’s like for SensationALL attendees who experience everyday situations differently; those that the majority of people take for granted and breeze through – social interactions, noisy environments, the feel of clothes or the texture of food, for example.”
Katie McNutt, chief executive, explains further:
In Case You Missed it:
“The majority of the people who access our services will experience some form of sensory disruption, usually due to a neurodivergent condition such as Autism or ADHD. At SensationALL, we not only provide fun play activities and social groups but our specialist team of staff empower individuals by teaching vital coping skills. With our assistance they feel better equipped to manage their sensory input and feel more resilient and confident in the wider world.
We’re facing an overwhelming demand for our services and desperately need to raise more money to expand our timetable. The funds raised on Friday at the Sensory Ball will go towards the cost of running sessions and support for people of all ages – with or without a formal diagnosis. But sadly, this amount is a drop in the ocean and we need to urgently increase our income if we are going to accommodate the 190+ people on waiting lists”
The charity also shared it plans to extend and redevelop its Westhill headquarters, announcing a fundraising campaign to raise around £1 million to double the footprint of the building. This will transform the current facility, creating new activity spaces kitted out with state-of-the-art sensory equipment and enable them to double the number of sessions held there. Anyone interested in supporting the appeal with fundraising or volunteering are encouraged to get in touch.
