Get Involved
There are many ways you can get involved with Sense Ability Matters, from volunteering your time, to fundraising, or becoming a member. Your support makes a real difference. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to reach as many people as we do or deliver the diverse range of services that help individuals with sight and hearing loss live confidently and stay connected. Every effort, big or small, helps us continue this vital work within our community.
Here at Sense Ability Matters, our Community Voice Team offer a range of groups to support disabled people, those with sensory loss and long term health conditions. We offer a range of groups and activities across Gateshead and South Tyneside as shown in the table below so don’t hesitate to contact Doreen on 07767802214 to find out more.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 10:00 – 12:00 BSL workshops at New Green Street, South Shields
14:10 – 15:40 Seated Exercise at New Green Street, South Shields
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10:00 – 12:00 Woman’s Weekly Group in Bill Quay, Gateshead
10:00 – 12:00 Digital Skills sessions at New Green Street, South Shields (starts 27 Jan 2026) 13:00 – 15:00 the Men’s Shed Group in Hebburn 13:00 – 14:30 Knit and Natter Group (fortnightly) at New Green Street, South Shields (starts 03 Feb 2026) 13:00 – 15:00 Hard of Hearing Group (fortnightly) at Priory Court, Gateshead 13:00 – 15:00 Reminiscence Group (fortnightly) at Priory Court, Gateshead
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10:00 – 11:30 CHAT (Conversation, Hearing Aids and Tea) Group at New Green Street, South Shields (starts Feb 03 2026)
13:00 – 15.00 Ladies Weekly Group at New Green Street, South Shields 14:00 – 15:30 Social Group (fortnightly) at Bensham, Gateshead
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10:00 – 12:00 Arts and Crafts (fortnightly) at New Green Street, South Shields (starts Feb 05 2026)
10:00 – 12:00 Reminiscence Group (fortnightly) at New Green Street, South Shields (starts Feb 12 2026) 13:00 – 15:00 Social Group at Blaydon Winlaton Family Hub, Gateshead (start date TBC) 13:30 – 15:30 Social Group (fortnightly) at Priory Court, Gateshead |
10:00 – 11.30 Men’s Club at New Green Street (starts Feb 13 2026)
12:00 – 14:00 B-Social mixed social Group at New Green Street
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Membership
Our Sense Ability Matters membership helps us to plan, communicate and consult effectively whilst volunteers deliver services directly to those who need them. Donations and fundraising help us keep the charity running and provide a little more of everything we do – that extra piece of equipment in the lending library, an extra Living Well with Sight Loss course added into the calendar.
We have over 80 individual Members who help to set the Sense Ability Matters strategy and are engaged in our key decision making at Annual General Meetings. Our membership is open to individuals who are eligible for registration as Sight Impaired, Severely Sight Impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing, disabled or living with a long-term health condition. You can also become a member if you have an interest in supporting the charity.
Membership is currently free and provides a regular newsletter, invitations to consultation events, and a vote at our Annual General Meeting.
Volunteering
Volunteers at Sense Ability Matters provide invaluable support for both the charity and those we are working to help.
In particular we are looking for volunteer befrienders and volunteer drivers. However, if you have administration, marketing or other skills that could help us deliver our services, please get in touch.
Fundraising
As a charity, Sense Ability Matters raises money through grants and fundraising. Added to this, we benefit greatly from public donations and fundraising campaigns. Your donations will directly contribute to our services such as equipment for the lending library, replacing our specialist low vision equipment, and events and activities for people accessing our services. We can also use public donations as ‘match funding’ to help us secure grants from funding bodies!