A disability charity has announced a new Belfast premises offering specialist support and activities for disabled people and their families.
Sense announced they have purchased the MS Society’s Belfast Resource Centre on Annadale Avenue, with plans to transform it into ‘Sense Hub Belfast’ by the new year.
Promising “a thriving community space” for people with complex disabilities, Sense will also collaborate with the MS Society who will continue to provide services at the premises for people with multiple sclerosis.
With nearly half a million pounds of investment, Sense Hub Belfast aims to tackle loneliness amongst disabled people, which the charity says over two-thirds (68%) of disabled people in Northern Ireland.
The range of commissioned and charitably funded services will include a new adult day centre, arts and sports activities as well as play sessions where disabled children can learn to communicate, develop and connect with their families.
With around 52,000 people with complex disabilities living in Northern Ireland, including one in five in Belfast, the Sense Hub Belfast is predicted to support over a thousand people by 2026.
Among those looking forward to using the new hub is Jamie (25) from Belfast, who is blind and has learning disabilities.
Although living in Belfast, he currently has to travel to Carrickfergus for his day service.
“The new hub means my service will be closer to my house. That’s brilliant because I really enjoy it,” he said.
“I can’t wait to learn to bake cakes in the kitchen and develop my computer skills in the tech suite. That will be cool”.
For more information visit: www.sense.org.uk/sense-hub-northern-ireland/
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