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About

We’re Sense Ability Matters, but you can call us SAM

We’re here for anyone in South Tyneside or Gateshead who has a sensory impairment, is disabled, or lives with a long-term health condition.

Our name is new, but our team is not. We used to be known as Vision & Hearing Support, and before that we were Sight Service. We updated our name in 2024 to reflect that we’ve grown to support anyone living in the area who is disabled or living with a long-term health condition, and not just those with a sensory impairment.

Between us is a wealth of lived experience and expertise meaning you’ll be taken care of by someone who understands how best to support you and your needs. Learn more about our team below.

How SAM can help you

Sense Ability Matters’ vision is for the region to have a disabled and sensory loss community that is informed, empowered and resilient.

We’re working to achieve that by:

Empowering our community by giving them the tools they need to live independently and make positive decisions.
Helping our community overcome adversity by increasing resilience and wellbeing.
Ensuring our community is informed by providing first class information, advice and guidance.
Influencing positive change locally, regionally and nationally for our community through strong stakeholder and relationship management.

Each person receives tailored support, uniquely designed to provide what they need, at the right time for them.

Our services include:

Rehabilitation
Enablement assessments
Personalised support plans
Information and advice
Community and peer support
Group activities
Employment support
Digital support

Our services help our community to stay independent, maintain their mental wellbeing, avoid preventable deterioration of their physical health and reduce social isolation.

Get in touch with our team for a chat about how SAM can help you or someone you know.

What our service users say

""Having a stroke and being blinded was a massive shock in my lifetime, I felt very lonely and depressed. Your charity is such a massive and worthwhile charity that made my life worth living again. I don't think I could have survived without it." "

By a service user

Meet the SAM team

Sarah French

Chief Executive

We’re Sense Ability Matters, but you can call us SAM

How SAM can help you

What our service users say

Meet the SAM team

Meet our Trustees