Sensory Action Alliance
It is an alliance of organisations representing different sectors who have pledged to make two small but widespread and impactful changes to improve the lives of those with sight and/or hearing loss.
What is the Sensory Action Alliance?
It is an alliance of organisations representing different sectors who have pledged to make two small but widespread and impactful changes to improve the lives of those with sight and/or hearing loss. Pledges will be published here and reviewed annually.
We will support Sensory Action Alliance members to consider ways they could improve access and the steps needed to achieve their pledges.
Why do we need a Sensory Action Alliance?
In Essex over 350,000 people are living with sensory loss. ECL is working towards making the community we live in more accessible and inclusive. Barriers for people with sensory loss can stem from various factors, including limited access to transportation, technology, building facilities, and everyday tasks which often cause people to stop going out, lose confidence and independence and become excluded from society.
ECL’s Sensory Action Alliance is supporting businesses and organisations to become more accessible allowing people who have a sight loss, hearing loss or combined sight and hearing loss, to maintain dignity in every aspect of daily life.
The benefits of being a member
- Publicly demonstrating your integrity and commitment to improving access for all.
- Opening your business up to thousands of potential new customers.
- Equalities Act 2010 and NHS Accessible Information Standard compliance.
- Reduce missed appointments and improve your CQC rating.
- Networking and training opportunities with other alliance members.
- Ongoing support from the ECL Sensory team and partner organisations for information, guidance, and advice.
If you’d like join us in the UK’s very first Sensory Action Alliance and help us to build a sensory friendly Essex, please contact us.
Email: sensorytraining@essexcares.org
Call: 03330 133 262
SMS: 07921 387 754
At A1 Homecare, we strive to provide a wide range of home care services to encourage independence in our service user’s daily lives such as personal care, meal preparation, housework, laundry services and many more. We work closely with other professionals to ensure our service users are receiving the best quality of care.
Pledge 1
Look at accessibility to our staff and service users.
Pledge 2
We will agree to train 10% of our staff as Sensory Champions.
03/05/23
Abbey Field Medical Centre provides the highest quality healthcare to patients in the Colchester area. Our doctors, nurses and all our other staff are dedicated to offering a professional service and our website help us to keep all our patients up to date with news and information about our practice. We have recently undertaken Sensory Champion Training and have now become part of Sensory Action Alliance.
Pledge 1
Provide sensory awareness training to all our staff and make them sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To have our loop system at all sites checked to ensure it is working effectively.
07/12/22
Ablecross Care Services is a client-focused, specialist domiciliary care company and a temporary employment agency, providing a wide variety of support services nationwide, whether for private service users, those referred through social services, or to supply healthcare staff to care homes and hospitals. Ablecross Care Services is proud to offer unbiased, economical healthcare services.
Everything about Ablecross Care Services stands for quality. Whether it’s the service we provide or the staff we employ, we want to ensure that our staff can offer the very best service in their work, no matter how small the task.
In order to do this, we look at every detail and make sure we perform it to the highest level. From assisting with personal care, cleaning, and cooking to more sensitive roles working with dementia patients, our staff are consistently professional, friendly, and efficient.
We aim to provide you with the same standard of care that we would expect for our own families. This means valuing each person’s unique qualities and seeing them as an individual, not as a list of care needs.
We work alongside families and individuals to tailor our services to help our customers stay in control of their own care for as long as they are able to.
We provide a broad range of services including:
- Personal Care
- Medication Management
- Incontinence Management
- End of Life Care
- Live-In Care
- Dementia Care
- Home from Hospital / Reablement
- Night Services (Waking and Sleeping Night services)
- Social Support (shopping, cooking, companionship/sitting service)
- Light Domestic Support
- Check-in Visits – (A skilled care advisor can be there in as little as two hours to check in on you or a loved one).
We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), so you can rest assured that your loved one is safe and has everything they need.
We are a member of the UK Live-in Care Association, Homecare Association, ROSPA, and many more.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of our staff as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To make the documents used for our organisation more accessible.
07/01/2025
Admirals Reach Care home has four communities; residential, dementia nursing and general nursing at present with a total of 128 occupancy.
Pledge 1
To raise the profile of sensory impairments.
Pledge 2
To ensure that the voice of those with a sensory impairment is heard.
15/08/2023
Aerobility is a leading disability charity, based at Blackbushe Airport near Camberley on the Hampshire Surrey border. Aerobility uses the challenges of flight and exposure to aviation as a tool for improving the lives of those with a disability.
Whatever the age or whatever the disability, he it physical, learning or mental, or an injury acquired in conflict -Aerobility gives everyone the chance to fly and participate in aviation orientated activities.
Aerobility operates adapted aircraft, supporting equipment and specialist instruction to ensure access for all. The charity also acts as a representative body for disabled aviators working with regulators and the aerospace industry to promote access and awareness.
The charity advocates for equal participation in aviation, striving to eliminate physical and financial barriers that hinder access for people with disabilities. With a diverse range of services including flight training and educational programs, Aerobility engages with over 600 individuals with disabilities annually.
The organisation, supported by a small staff at Blackbushe and dedicated volunteers, extends its operations nationally, including a presence at Tatenhill in the Midlands and various temporary airfields across the UK, aiming to expand its reach and impact nationwide.
Pledge 1
To regularly review the documents and website for accessibility.
Pledge 2
To train the majority, if not all, of the staff members in disability awareness.
01/05/2024
Age Concern Southend provides vital support and guidance to older adults in Southend and the surrounding areas. Located at the Haven Community Hub on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, they offer over 30 classes and activities, a 65-seat café, a charity shop, and numerous additional services. They also operate a dedicated Dementia Day Centre and a Saturday Centre, offering engaging activities and much-needed respite for unpaid carers.
Pledge 1
To create and print second versions of posters and information sheets with a yellow background and bold black font (either in Calibri, Arial or Aptos font and of large print) to increase accessibility within the access to information act.
Pledge 2
To train one of our team members as a Sensory Champion through ECL's Sensory Champion Training program. This team member will share their knowledge with the rest of our team, ensuring that the practices learned are consistently applied across the hub.
05/11/2024
We believe everyone deserves to age well, and it is our mission to support and empower people in later years. We have been empowering people in later years since 1950 and we provide excellent support services which are free and easily available.
Our services include providing advice and information about pensions, benefits, housing, blue badge applications and keeping you safe from cybercrime and fraud.
Our popular community friendship services offer volunteer friendship, peer linking and groups and activities.
Our emotional support services provide crucial wellness support for people living through loss, bereavement, mental health struggles and end of life care and our specialist team are available to guide people through a dementia diagnosis and provide ongoing support to people and their carers through our specialist groups and services.
Pledge 1
To provide sensory awareness training to at least 10% of staff members.
Pledge 2
To work towards making our website and digital communications accessible to customers with sensory impairments.
8/11/2023
BASIS is dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages within the visually impaired community. Through a wide range of services, including equipment demonstrations, befriending programs, eye clinic liaison, and social activities, BASIS supports people in building independence and making choices that enhance their quality of life. Their mission is to create an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive with confidence and autonomy.
Pledge 1
To ensure that every sight impaired person will have the skills to live the lives they choose to live.
Pledge 2
To raise awareness of the challenges facing those experiencing sight loss.
04/10/2024
We know how important your hearing is and how important it is for you to choose the right people to look after it. At Boots, we spend time getting to know you, and what you care about so that we can find the right solution for you.
Pledge 1
To train all workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To work closely with both staff in store and ECL to provide a complete service with hearing tech.
12/06/2024
The Burnham Surgery is a rural practice based in Burnham on Crouch, Essex. It's an ARU GP training practice, which covers several small villages with very little public transport networks.
Pledge 1
Train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that any documentation is available and easy-to-access to patients with sensory loss.
09/02/2024
Chelmer Medical Partnership is a three-site practice formed from Humber Road Surgery, Tennyson House Surgery and Melbourne House Surgery.
The partnership provides a GP service to approximately 32,000 patients in the Chelmsford area.
The partners and staff have a shared belief in the delivery of high quality care. Patients’ interests are kept very much to the fore and there is a strong commitment to develop patient services.
We are passionate - we only employ staff who are passionate about patients care and everyone at Chelmer Medical Partnership aims to go the extra mile.
We have intuition - we always want to do what is best for the patient.
We feel that communication is key and always listen to what patients have to say.
We’re determined - practices are currently under enormous pressure but through hard work, innovation and dedication we’ll thrive.
Pledge 1
To ensure that a minimum of 10% of the team will be trained as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To review accessibility of documents used in our department.
15/08/2023
Chelmer Medical Partnership is a three-site practice formed from Humber Road Surgery, Tennyson House Surgery and Melbourne House Surgery.
The partnership provides a GP service to approximately 32,000 patients in the Chelmsford area.The partners and staff have a shared belief in the delivery of high quality care.
Patients’ interests are kept very much to the fore and there is a strong commitment to develop patient services.
We Are Passionate - we only employ staff who are passionate about patients care and everyone at Chelmer Medical Partnership aims to go the extra mile.
We Have Intuition - we always want to do what is best for the patient. We feel that communication is key and always listen to what patients have to say.
We’re Determined - practices are currently under enormous pressure but through hard work, innovation and dedication we’ll thrive.
Pledge 1
To ensure that a minimum of 10% of the team will be trained as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To encourage users to share feedback to in order to improve accessibility.
15/08/2023
Chelmer Medical Partnership is a three-site practice formed from Humber Road Surgery, Tennyson House Surgery and Melbourne House Surgery.
The partnership provides a GP service to approximately 32,000 patients in the Chelmsford area. The partners and staff have a shared belief in the delivery of high quality care.
Patients’ interests are kept very much to the fore and there is a strong commitment to develop patient services.
We Are passionate - we only employ staff who are passionate about patients care and everyone at Chelmer Medical Partnership aims to go the extra mile.
We have intuition - we always want to do what is best for the patient. We feel that communication is key and always listen to what patients have to say.
We’re determined - practices are currently under enormous pressure but through hard work, innovation and dedication we’ll thrive.
Pledge 1
To ensure that a minimum of 10% of the team will be trained as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To review accessibility of documents used in our department.
15/08/2023
Volunteers at Chelmsford Talking Newspaper read and record a version of the Essex Chronicle each week. Real people with real voices – not computerised. We make a 90 minute recording onto USB mp3 sticks of the local news and events. We also include family announcements, to help to keep track of old friends and colleagues.
Pledge 1
We will improve the audio quality of recordings by review our recording equipment, techniques and training.
Pledge 2
We will seek to widen our distribution channels. We will research and develop podcasts for Alexa and mobile apps etc. We will work with other recipient groups.
23/01/2020
We are a 66 bedded care home that has a residential dementia and nursing community. We ensure that we practice with professionalism, kindness and compassion.
Pledge 1
I agree to train 10% of staff across 3 floors.
Pledge 2
I agree to train around equipment that has previously been put in place.
02/05/2023
Based in Chelmsford, Essex, CHP is a locally managed and governed housing association, registered as a Community Benefit Society Established in 2002 to deliver its core social purpose of meeting housing need by providing homes for rent and sale, CHP owns or manages over 10,500 homes and provides services for over 25,000 customers across the eastern region. In the financial year 2019-2020 CHP completed over 32,000 repairs and modernised nearly 1,000 homes. The organisation let 961 properties in the 2019-2020 financial year and built 375 new homes. Most of its new homes are for affordable rent whilst others are for shared ownership and open market sale.
Pledge 1
We pledge to train our employees to understand sensory loss/impairment issues so that we can tailor our services and customer engagement to meet customer needs, and to raise awareness and create an open dialogue in the workplace.
Pledge 2
We pledge to find out more about the sensory needs of our customers and use this in how we communicate and work with them.
Pledge 3
We pledge to make our website and digital communications accessible.
11/03/2021
Colchester + Ipswich Museums care for six incredible venues: Colchester Castle, the Natural History Museum and Hollytrees Museum in Colchester and in Ipswich, Ipswich Museum, Ipswich Art Gallery and Christchurch Mansion. Our unique mix of fascinating displays and exhibitions, interactive technology and hands-on activities, means there is lots for families discover. We believe everybody should have the opportunity to create memories at our museums.
Pledge 1
Enrol Visitor Services staff from both Colchester and Ipswich on to the ECL Sensory Champion training.
Pledge 2
Ensure we are an accessible service to visitors with sensory impairments, encouraging users to share feedback in order to inform future improvements.
21/04/2023
In 2017 several practices across North East Essex took the bold and decisive step to dissolve the traditional practice Partnership model by joining together to form one of very few ‘at scale’ Partnerships in the UK – The Colte Partnership was born.
This collaborative decision was taken with a fundamental emphasis on the sustainability of better patient access, improved patient outcomes and excellent patient satisfaction. The challenges faced cannot be underestimated, considering the ever-growing strain on primary care brought about by continual population growth, a depleting workforce and significant financial constraints.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that all patients and staff are supported to meet their individual sensory needs.
22/07/2024
CSK Support 24 is a Health and Social organisation. We specialise in caring for people in the community and supported living. We have a few branches around the country and our aim is to deliver care to people who are in need.
We have been recently awarded a contract by our local authority to provide care to service users with sensory impairment. We aim to provide best care to our service users and that is the reason we are signing up for the Sensory Impairment training.
Pledge 1
To ensure the staff have been enrolled for training.
Pledge 2
To ensure our managers are attending networking meetings so that their equipped with knowledge and skills.
22/05/2023
Cygnet Hospital Colchester is a 54 bed service providing a range of intensive support and rehabilitation services for men with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders or mental health needs.
The aim of our services is assessment, stabilisation, treatment and engagement, with a view to supporting service users in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs.
Our services are recovery-focused, with the aim of preparing individuals for a move to rehabilitation or step-down services, and ultimately, back into the community wherever possible.
Pledge 1
To Train 10% of staff as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that all patients and staff are supported to meet their individual sensory needs.
8/11/2023
The East of England Citizens’ Senate is a source for informed patient and public involvement locally, regionally and nationally. It provides the health and social care sector with insight, information and views about services, innovation and proposed redesign or service change from the perspective of patients, carers and the public.
Pledge 1
We pledge to increase sensory awareness (sight, hearing and deafblindness) within the community of patient and public involvement across all patient and public involvement activities.
Pledge 2
We pledge to support inclusion (sight, hearing and deafblindness) within the community of patient and public involvement and across all patient and public involvement activities.
14/12/2022
East of England VI Socials organises events by and for young, working-age visually impaired people from across the East of England, including Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and surrounding areas.
Their in-person gatherings are held in Cambridge, Peterborough, and Norwich, while online socials cater to visually impaired gamers, crafters, and offer a general social space for quizzes, game shows, and casual catch-ups.
They also maintain a Discord server, East of England VI Socials, which provides a supportive online community for all attendees to stay connected and continue conversations.
Pledge 1
To improve our online offer.
Pledge 2
To continue to organise things run by and for visually impaired people.
11/11/2024
The Adult MH Wellbeing team provide short term, early intervention support to adults living in Essex aged 18-65 who are experiencing symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety, low mood, emotional difficulties, stress and who are not already receiving a service from secondary NHS mental health teams. We cover the whole of Essex and we offer information, advice and social prescribing; occasionally providing direct work with the adult with the aim of connecting people to find ways to understand and better manage their mental wellbeing.
Pledge 1
To ensure mental health awareness is promoted to people with sensory impairments within Essex.
Pledge 2
To ensure we are an accessible service to people with sensory impairments, delivering the right kind of support co-produced with the person.
13/05/2021
We are a busy medical centre spread across 3 sites in Colchester (Abbeyfields, Greenstead and Elmsted Market) We have 5 partners and a list size of just under 20,000 patients. We provide primary care services to our patients but also rent out some of our facilities to other healthcare providers to offer a range of services to our patients and community.
Pledge 1
Provide sensory awareness training to all our staff and make them sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To have our loop system at all sites checked to ensure it is working effectively.
03/01/2023
The Essex Alliance is a co-operative group made up of charities, community groups and social enterprises. We work together to ensure the third sector of Essex is kept informed and involved.
Pledge 1
Promote the Sensory Action Alliance and the ECL Sensory Service throughout the voluntary sector.
Pledge 2
To create an accessible communications policy.
28/02/20
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service provide FREE Home Safety Visits for everyone living in Essex. Our Safe and Well Officers are all Sensory Champions and receive on-going training, so can tailor their visit to accommodate specific sensory needs. The Service provides sensory smoke alarms for people with hearing impairments and can provide specific fire plans and safety advice.
Two of our Safe and Well Officers are also training in British Sign Language (BSL) so we have a better understanding of, and communication with our Deaf community. The Service works closely with other organisations to ensure those with sensory needs can access all the resources and support available.
Pledge 1
Our Safe and Well Officers and contact centre staff completed Sensory Champion training earlier in 2019.
In order to maintain best practice, we pledge to review our training, keep it up to date, and also arrange a shadow visit for our Officers with ECL Sensory Service to gain further feedback on the quality of our assessment, communication and information provided during the Safe and Well Home Safety check visit.
Pledge 2
We want to ensure our service is accessible to people with sensory impairments, from the point of booking through to receiving a visit. We pledge to work with ECL Sensory Service to review our systems, processes and information, making changes and improvements wherever possible.
09/01/2020
Essex County Neighbourhood Watch Association manages fourteen Neighbourhood Watch Districts in Essex to raise the profile of Neighborhood Watch to reduce the opportunity of crime by distributing information from reliable sources e.g. Essex Police, The Office of Police Fire & Crime Commissioner, Essex Fire & Rescue, Crimestoppers and Victim Support . We have almost 140,000 members which do include those on WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, However we also ensure that we can give information to anyone who has no need for a computer or the internet.
Pledge 1
We shall train at least one District Co-ordinator to use this service and promote it as a pilot in the Districts of Castle Point and Braintree so we can increase membership of Neighbourhood Watch to anyone who is keen to be part of Neighbourhood Watch where they live who are visually impaired or hard of hearing.
Pledge 2
To extend the sensory provisions to other Districts in Essex when it is proved that we can supply a suitable service to more people in the community to raise the profile of Neighbourhood Watch.
04/03/2022
Essex Library Services is a large public library service run by Essex County Council with 74 libraries and two mobile libraries, spread across the county. We also offer eLibrary services and a Home Library Service, delivered by volunteers, to people unable to get to a library due to age, disability or caring responsibilities. The council is the second largest library authority in the country, serving a population of approximately 1.5 million.
Pledge 1
To ensure our service is accessible to people with sensory impairments we pledge to train the equivalent of one member of staff per library as a Sensory Champion.
Pledge 2
To help make sure our libraries are accessible to people with sensory impairments we will carry out an access audit for one of our main libraries such as Chelmsford or Colchester.
21/01/2021
Established as a charity in 1992, the Museum tells the story of Essex Police.
From the Victorian era to today, our museum has over 25,000 historical artefacts in our collection. Each artefact provides a glimpse into how Essex Police helped to keep our Essex communities safe and catch criminals since 1840.
At the museum we work to preserve the history of Essex Police. We collect, look after and display items relevant to our history with a view to providing Essex communities with an insight into the history of their police service.
Pledge 1
To convert all documents on our website to accessible formats by the end of 2025.
Pledge 2
To introduce sensory friendly hours once a month throughout 2025.
13/01/2025
The Freshford Practice focuses on ease of patient access. The team wishes to remove all barriers to good patient care and be open to all.
Pledge 1
To use our Sensory Champion within our surgery to cascade knowledge to other members of staff.
Pledge 2
To ensure that Loop systems are tested regularly and that staff are aware of the use and functions.
09/02/2024
Game Day Vision is a community interest company dedicated to helping blind and visually impaired adults enjoy live sporting events. Their volunteer sighted guides provide support both at the events and with transportation to and from venues, ensuring a seamless and accessible experience for all.
Pledge 1
To train all of our volunteers and employees to be sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To make live sport more accessible for blind and visually impaired people.
05/11/2024
We are a Supported Living provider, providing specialised and complex care to people in their homes 24/7. We are a growing company with a very person-centred approach, offering bespoke homes with specialised training and staff.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of our work force as sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To provide training around different types of equipment and ensure proper use.
04/12/2024
We are an award winning domiciliary care provider covering both Essex and Suffolk.
We provide support to people living in their own homes by delivering a holistic and person centred service.
Our company values are at the heart of everything we do and these values are Responsive, Empower, Safe, Person Centred, Equality, Caring and Trust (Respect).
Pledge 1
To Train 10% of staff as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To review training and maintain best practice.
8/11/2023
We are a busy medical centre spread across three sites in Colchester (Abbeyfields, Greenstead and Elmsted Market).
We have five partners and a list size of just under 20,000 patients. We provide primary care services to our patients but also rent out some of our facilities to other healthcare providers to offer a range of services to our patients and local community.
Pledge 1
Provide sensory awareness training to all our staff and make them sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To have our loop system at all sites checked to ensure it is working effectively.
03/01/2023
As a charity, our mission is to ensure that everyone living with an acquired brain injury in Essex can live a fulfilling life. We also help families and carers better cope with their caring roles.
Pledge 1
To ensure our resources are easily accessible for those with sensory impairment.
Pledge 2
To educate staff and volunteers about sensory impairments and how to better help individuals with sight and/or hearing loss.
07/01/2025
NHS Talking Therapies is part of the NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) initiative and has been accredited in the Accreditation Programme for Psychological Therapy Services (APPTS) by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Combined Committee for Accreditation. The service offers free and confidential talking therapy and practical support for adults with common mental health problems including anxiety and depression.
Pledge 1
To complete Sensory Champion Training for a group of therapists in the team.
Pledge 2
To ensure we are an accessible service to clients with sensory impairment by continuing to review and improve our referral pathway and adapting treatment materials.
25/08/2021
We are an independent charity set up under the Health & Social Care Act 2012 and we use your voice to improve health and care in Essex. We undertake high-quality research and engagement to uncover your experience of services and use it to shape health and care.
Pledge 1
Sensory Awareness Training for all staff.
Pledge 2
Provide accessible information for all volunteers.
02/06/21
Hearing Help Essex supports individuals with hearing loss through their NHS Hearing Aid Support Service, offering maintenance, guidance, and advice to help users stay connected.
The Resource Centre provides access to assistive devices like telephones, TV listeners, and alerting equipment, which can be tried on-site or at home.
The Outreach Team further enhances safety by assessing needs and arranging essential alerting devices, funded by Essex County Council, to ensure individuals with hearing loss remain safe and supported in their homes.
Pledge 1
To train our volunteers on how to pair our service users’ NHS Bluetooth hearing aids to their smartphones at their hearing aid maintenance appointment. Service users will be able to use an app to assist in controlling their hearing aids and to stream audio including phone calls and music/podcasts.
Pledge 2
To introduce the use of captions at online meetings.
08/10/2024
Hedingham Medical Centre is a busy GP surgery working over two sites in Castle and Sible Hedingham. The team cares for nearly 10,000 patients and aims to be as accessible as possible.
Pledge 1
To ensure that Loop system is tested regularly and that staff are aware of the use and functions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that any documentation is available to patients with a sensory loss in an appropriate size and coloured font.
09/02/2024
High Chelmer Shopping Centre has long been a cornerstone of the community, dedicated to serving our customers with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity.
We pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and convenient shopping experience for everyone.
Pledge 1
To create information about the accessibility of the centre and make planning trips easier.
Pledge 2
To promote sight and hearing loss services within the centre.
03/09/24
The Hospice of St Francis helps people live their precious lives well. Our free care has many meanings and is defined by each person's need, needs that may change many times. We care for the whole person or family unit for however long we are needed – days, weeks, months or years. It provides specialist palliative care services within the community, in patient unit and for carers/families and bereavement services for children and young people. We have volunteers who support all functions of the organisation and work across West Hertfordshire. We people at home or here at the Hospice through 1:1 appointments or group sessions (anything from physio to nursing support and mindfulness to complementary therapy) in our Spring Centre or through 24-7 care in our beds.
Pledge 1
Agree to train 10% of staff as sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
Ongoing training for staff in terms of appropriate equipment required and the purchase of aids/equipment to meet individual need.
17/06/2021
Suppliers and fitters of carpet and all aspects of flooring throughout Essex, with over 25 years in the industry.
Pledge 1
Create ways to effectively communicate with sensory impaired customers.
Pledge 2
To ensure that steps have a bright contrast for sight impaired customers.
09/02/2024
Kilkee Lodge Residential Home is modern and extremely comfortable purpose built home on two floors.
With many years of experience we at Kilkee Lodge pride ourselves on offering highly professional care for the elderly.
We respect the needs of the individuals and offer a dignified lifestyle in pleasant surroundings with the focus on ability and freedom of choice, rather than disability and rigid routine.
Pledge 1
To ensure 10% of staff receive sensory training.
Pledge 2
Revise Kilkee Lodge customer information to make them more accessible for residents.
15/08/2023
Here at Lime Court, we care for older people, and people that live with dementia. The people that live here are at different stages of their journey.
We aim to enhance people lives, we encourage residents to come out of their rooms and to partake in activities and attend entertainment.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of our staff to be Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that we are meeting all the needs of people that live with us.
21/04/2023
Longfield is a residential care home in the heart of Maldon providing care and support for older people in our comfortable, homely, care home. We care for a variety of people, some of these people have physical disabilities, some have dementia, and many experience sensory loss in some form. We are dedicated to ensuring that every resident at Longfield lives a fulfilling and happy life and that individual preferences are met. Our experienced staff team are committed to providing high quality care for everyone.
Pledge 1
For all staff to be knowledgeable about sensory loss, plus have 10% of the staff team trained as sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To understand the sensory abilities and loss of every resident at Longfield and tailor each person’s care to meet their individual needs.
20/04/2023
The Maeldune Heritage Centre is run by the Maeldune Trust, a registered Charity, in partnership with Maldon Town Council. The Maeldune Trust are the proud custodians of the Maldon Embroidery on display at the Maeldune Heritage Centre.
Our Exhibition Hall displays work of local artists and groups. The Gift Shop showcases a wide range of products specialising in the work of local craftspeople providing unique, unusual gifts for visitors. The Centre is volunteer led.
Pledge 1
To make trustees, staff, and volunteers aware of the Sensory Charter Mark, ensuring they are trained where necessary
Pledge 2
To check the loop system is in working order regularly and to ensure new staff and volunteers are aware of the system and how to use it.
03/04/2023
At Magic Helping Hands, we offer compassionate, professional domiciliary care services to private clients and those referred by social services. We also provide supported living services for a wide range of clients.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of staff as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure accessibility of the documents used for our organisation.
11/12/2024
Maitland House is located on Church Road in Clacton-on-Sea. There are 24 rooms at the home, some of which have sea views from the windows. We provide short-term, respite care and long-term care and support at the home.
As well as the comfortable bedrooms with ensuite facilities, there are large, separate communal lounges, a dining room, a hair salon, and adapted bathrooms. Maitland House has a seaside-themed courtyard garden with beach huts on-site, perfect for enjoying the sunny weather when possible.
Our residents enjoy freshly cooked, healthy meals. Most residents choose to eat together in the dining room, while others choose to eat in the comfort of their own bedrooms.
Pledge 1
To make our documents used for organisation more accessible.
Pledge 2
To train our staff in properly using already installed sensory equipment, like RNIB talking Newspaper.
Maldon and District CVS is the voluntary sector infrastructure charity for Maldon district.
We provide support, information and good practice advice to over one hundred local community groups and charities as well as hosting the local voluntary sector and a range of projects aimed at increasing community involvement.
Pledge 1
Maintain or increase the proportion of staff trained as sensory champions.
Currently 2 of our staff are trained champions. As a team of 8 this represents 25% of our workforce. Champions are encouraged to engage in regular meet-ups and share learning and we will look for opportunities to increase knowledge in the workforce.
Pledge 2
Create an accessible communications policy.
Develop a policy that outlines the expectation that documents and other communications are produced with sensory access in mind. Including but not limited to text only word documents, screen reader friendly social media posts and multiple contact options.
28/02/20
Maldon Books Limited is an independent bookshop, selling a wide range of books for children and adults.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To improve our service for people with sensory impairments.
01/05/2024
Mansion House Residential Home is a small family run home for elderly people.
They provide high quality care and are very inclusive of sensory needs and meeting the needs of people with neuro-diverse conditions.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
Ensure that documents are easily accessible with large print, pictures and/or dictaphone.
22/07/2024
Marsh Farm is a family adventure and entertainment venue. We host events throughout the year, making memories for families.
Pledge 1
Continue to be an inclusive employer.
Pledge 2
Make animal fact signage accessible for families using BSL.
6/8/2024
The Meadows is a shopping centre in the heart of the Chelmsford city centre offering a retail and leisure experience including independent retail offers alongside national brands.
Pledge 1
To ensure that our website is easily accessible by those with sensory impairments.
Pledge 2
To train at least 10% of staff as Sensory Champions.
04/12/2024
The Mercury Theatre in Colchester is a charitable organisation and company providing excellent cultural and community engagement opportunities in Essex. We take pride in offering accessible performances and have made significant strides in developing new talent. Our in-house productions are of the highest quality, and we invite world-class artists and companies to perform while also engaging with our local community. Additionally, our community engagement programme includes outreach and inclusion work for Black and Minority Ethnic communities, from tots to teens, isolated elders, and those with disabilities.
Pledge 1
To train 10 members of staff across the building in level 1 BSL.
Pledge 2
To ensure that 90% of our front-of-house staff receive training on the proper use of the fire evacuation chair.
05/12/2024
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020. The trust provides a range of clinical services and care for a population of over 1.2 million people in central and south Essex across the three main sites; Basildon University Hospital, Broomfield Hospital and Southend University Hospital. The trust also runs services from community hospitals including Braintree Community Hospital, Brentwood Community Hospital, Orsett Hospital and St Peter's Hospital. In total the trust has 1737 beds and employs over 15,400.
Pledge 1
To continue to review Trust services in line with the needs of those patients who have a sensory impairment to ensure they are co-produced and accessible.
Pledge 2
Continued commitment to Improve the trusts compliance and meet the standards as set out within the Accessible Information Standards framework.
29/06/2021
A young trendy cafe in the heart of Chelmsford's Moulsham Street. We welcome anyone to come along. Whether it's a coffee with friends, lunch or a business meeting!
Pledge 1
Implement ways to effectively communicate with those sensory impaired.
Pledge 2
Provide an accessible experience for all customers with sensory impairment.
09/02/2024
Health food store and vegan (plant based) café.
Pledge 1
To highlight stairs within shop and make them more visible.
Pledge 2
To put an accessible chair and table at top of shop, so people in wheelchair can use the café inside.
20/02/2024
We are a non-profit making organisation we sell clothes, bags, shoes. We support children, young girls, with their education and health.
Pledge 1
To make a step in front of the shop more visible.
Pledge 2
To improve our communication with staff and customers and make it more accessible.
20/02/2024
A shop buying and selling new and used vinyl records, music books and turntables.
Pledge 1
To cascade training from our Sensory Champion out to all of our staff.
Pledge 2
To improve our shop experience for those with sensory impairments.
01/05/2024
Modern, spacious and light, Okeley provides a range of respite care and long-term residential care as well as residential dementia care and end of life care.
Our purpose-built care home has been carefully designed to enable the special people who live here to lead a fulfilling life, where they are supported by our caring team, many of whom live locally in Chelmsford, Braintree and Witham, to live as independently as possible.
Pledge 1
To provide all team members with Sensory Awareness training.
Pledge 2
To provide extra training for staff with sensory impairments.
15/08/2023
The Pain Toolkit an interactive and simple information booklet, that provides readers or listeners with handy tips and skills to support people along the way to self-managing their pain or long-term health condition.
People can use the Pain Toolkit on their or with the support of their healthcare professional.
Pledge 1
To help and support and empower people living with persistent pain and long term health conditions, learn self management skills.
Pledge 2
To help and support healthcare professionals who support people living with persistent pain and long term health conditions and who want to extra learning self management skills.
8/11/2023
Paradise Lodge Care Home is a small private residential accommodation for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism.
Pledge 1
Management will ensure that both current and new staff attend Sensory Champion training to expand their awareness of unique service user needs and enhance their ability to identify future needs of those with sensory impairments, enabling customers to live independently and meaningfully.
Pledge 2
We will make every effort to communicate with our residents in an appropriate way for their needs, ensuring their understanding.
16/04/2024
Perrywood is an independent, family-owned garden centre and nursery run by the Bourne Family. Our original site is in Tiptree, Essex and we have a second site in Sudbury, Suffolk.
Our vision is to inspire people to get more plants in their lives.
Our every day mission is to offer a memorable garden centre experience; delivering wow customer service and giving employees, customers, suppliers and our local community a reason to smile.
Pledge 1
To create a welcoming atmosphere for all of our customers and allow them to fully enjoy our garden centre.
Pledge 2
To train our shop floor team and make them aware of sensory challenges so they can assist a customer to enable them to fully enjoy the garden centre as much as possible.
06/08/2024
Perrywood is an independent, family-owned garden centre and nursery run by the Bourne Family. Our original site is in Tiptree, Essex and we have a second site in Sudbury, Suffolk.
Our vision is to inspire people to get more plants in their lives.
Our every day mission is to offer a memorable garden centre experience; delivering wow customer service and giving employees, customers, suppliers and our local community a reason to smile.
Pledge 1
To create a welcoming atmosphere for all of our customers and allow them to fully enjoy our garden centre.
Pledge 2
To train our shop floor team and make them aware of sensory challenges so they can assist a customer to enable them to fully enjoy the garden centre as much as possible.
06/08/2024
RMBI Care Co. provides residential care, nursing care and residential dementia support to older Freemasons, their families and people in the wider community. We have been caring for older people for over 180 years and today, we support over 1,000 residents across 17 care homes in England and Wales with a focus on wellbeing and quality outcomes.
Pledge 1
To train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To train staff around equipment to ensure proper use.
04/07/2024
The Princess Alexandra Hospital provides Bilateral hearing aid fittings, routine and complex audiological assessment rehabilitation for adults, routine audiological assessment for all children, audiological rehabilitation for children over three years old, refer to local ear, nose and throat colleagues, perform diagnostic auditory brainstem response testing for neonates from the NHS-P screening team.
Pledge 1
To provide all staff members with sensory impairment awareness training.
Pledge 2
To review accessibility of documents used in our department.
15/08/2023
Royal Society for Blind Children aims to help every young person we work with to find and fulfil their own unique potential.
We are there for you from the point of diagnosis, guiding you and your family on your journey through sight loss.
We can provide you with a combination of support, learning and development opportunities to help you build the resilience, and help with the skills you might need to navigate your own future.
Pledge 1
To continue to listen to the needs of young people and families with visual impairments.
Pledge 2
To continue to strive to ensure that every blind child, young person and their family will have the skills and confidence to live their life without limits.
15/08/2023
Eastham Care Home is a 22-bed residential home providing care for older persons living with dementia and sensory impairments.
Our dedicated team delivers person-centred care that respects each resident's dignity, preferences, and life history. We offer dementia-specific activities, sensory-adapted activities, and communication approaches tailored to varying cognitive abilities.
We actively involve families in care decisions and provide support resources to help them navigate their loved ones' journey with dementia and sensory impairments.
Pledge 1
To adapt all communications—whether written, verbal, or digital—to ensure every resident can access, understand, and engage with important information.
Pledge 2
To train 10% of our staff as Sensory Champions.
26/03/2025
Loganberry Lodge, a member of the Runwood Homes care group, offers a welcoming environment with 143 beds. This facility is dedicated to providing exceptional care for older adults and individuals living with dementia.
Pledge 1
To train staff and make them more sensory aware.
Pledge 2
To ensure all sensory equipment available is used correctly within the facility.
13/03/25
Providing residential care, as well as respite care, the team at Lyons Court work hard to help our residents to remain connected to the community outside the care home. Local church groups from Chelmsford and the wider Essex area come to Lyons Court to conduct services, especially for our residents. The team provides special hymn books in larger print for residents who need a little extra help.
The home is set in a beautiful location, with stunning gardens. One of the lounges is a converted wooden timbered barn, with high ceilings and full-length windows, this magnificent room is a real hub for the home’s activities.
Pledge 1
Training for 10% of our staff with these two training dates that have been booked.
Pledge 2
To continue to develop the staff's knowledge regarding sensory.
22/05/2023
Spin is the micro mobility unit of Ford Motor Company. The company currently operates dockless electric scooters and bikes in campuses and cities across the United States, Germany and in the UK with the mission of enabling movement for all types of communities. Spin is working with the UK Department of Transport and local councils as part of a national e-scooter trials scheme. Spin is currently operating in Milton Keynes and several locations across Essex (Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Clacton and Colchester).
Pledge 1
Commit to training at least 6 members of staff to have one at each hub across Essex.
Pledge 2
Commit to engaging with local disability groups and access organisations to create a better, safer and less fearful relationship between e-scooter riders and people with sight and hearing loss.
02/03/21
At Spire Wellesley Hospital, we are proud to work within our community to support NHS and private patients who require elective surgery.
We also provide an oncology chemotherapy service. Our purpose is to provide outstanding personalised care for all our patients.
Pledge 1
To train staff within the hospital environment to ensure full access and equality to those with a sensory impairment. Staff to share their knowledge and expertise with each other and to ensure the training remains prominent within the hospital environment.
Pledge 2
To become members of the Charter Mark and book an Access Audit.
8/11/2023
Pledge 1
Train 10% of workforce as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure that any documentation is available and easy-to-access to patients with sensory loss.
09/02/2024
We are a welcoming Church of England parish in New Town, Colchester, dedicated to being a true community focused Church.
In addition to our regular worship services, we serve as a community hub, offering a variety of events and activities that are open to all.
Pledge 1
To use technology to better communicate with those hearing impaired.
Pledge 2
To ensure that services/sermon's are accessible to those with sight impairment.
17/09/24
An award-winning, bright, and cosy home with a warm and friendly atmosphere, Sweyne Court is close to the bustling Essex town of Rayleigh, just 7 miles from Southend-on-Sea, with lovely grounds and delightful views of the surrounding countryside. As a family-owned care home, we take a nurturing, attentive and person-centred approach to the care we provide, offering a range of long-term and respite care options for people who need residential, residential dementia, end of life and day care.
Pledge 1
We at Sweyne Court agree to ensure that a minimum of 10% of our care team will be trained as Sensory Champions.
Pledge 2
Creating a dedicated sensory area for our residents within the care home.
22/05/2023
Dr Thomas Plume (1630-1704) left his books, pamphlets, manuscripts and paintings to Maldon as a lending Library. Over the centuries, further additions have been made to the collection, and we have many unique and fascinating items.
Although we are no longer a lending library, scholars come to study the collections, but the majority of our visitors come to see the Library as a “museum” of sixteenth and seventeenth-century intellectual culture.
Apart from his main focus on the theological issues of his time, Plume was particularly keen on studying the “new sciences”, natural history, geography and travel, and the collections reflect these interests.
We are open from 2-4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 10-12 on Saturday mornings. Entry free, but donations are appreciated.
Please note that entrance is via a spiral stone staircase.
Pledge 1
To provide extra information to people with a sensory impairment.
Pledge 2
To provide accessible information access for people with sensory impairments.
15/08/2023
TopSail offers river cruises aboard two historic sailing barges, "Hydrogen" built in 1906 and "Thistle" built in 1895.
Taking up to 50 guests on a public cruise or private hire party.
Pledge 1
Look and review the accessibility of documents used by customers.
Pledge 2
Review access to below decks for safety reasons (trip hazards) for people with sensory impairments.
15/08/2023
Vibrance is a charity run organisation providing services in Essex and London boroughs.
It provides care to learning disabilities in restricted care homes, day centres and low support environments. It also promotes equality and diversity and inclusion.
Pledge 1
To ensure 10% of staff receive sensory training.
Pledge 2
Revise Vibrance customer information to make them more accessible.
15/08/2023
VICTA empowers children and young people aged 0-29 with a vision impairment and their families. VICTA’s activities, support and advice enable young people and their families to build skills, develop confidence and help each other towards a more positive future.
Pledge 1
To review the accessibility of the website with those we support.
Pledge 2
To make the mobile version of the website more user friendly to navigate for those with a vision impairment.
03/02/2025
Victim Support are a national charity that dedicate in supporting victims of crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. By providing practical support to help victims we help to get lives back on track. Victim support are there for anyone affected by crime not only those who experience it directly, but also their friends, family and others involved. Victim support are a charity and their support is free, confidential and independent. Services include, but are not limited to; Information and advice, emotional and practical help, advocacy, peer support and restorative justice.
Victim support can be contacted for support regardless of whether you have contacted the police, and no matter how long ago the crime took place.
If you have been affected by crime, call Victim Support in Essex on 0808 17 81 694. Lines are open Mon-Fri 8-5 or by Text Relay: 1800101277357557
Pledge 1
Train 10% of staff to become sensory champions.
Pledge 2
To ensure we are an accessible service to people with sensory impairments, delivering the right kind of support co-produced with the service user.
31/08/2022
The Wav Man is a family-run business in Essex, specialising in genuine, low-mileage wheelchair accessible vehicles, many sourced directly from Motability.
With nearly 70 years of experience and a strong reputation, we take pride in offering the cleanest, most reliable vehicles in the area.
Pledge 1
To provide customers with accessible communication methods.
Pledge 2
To introduce videos instead of verbal instructions.
02/09/24
WMCA runs the West Maldon Community Centre which is hired to local residents, charities, organisations and businesses for use.
Pledge 1
To improve accessibility of public areas for people with sight impairments.
Pledge 2
To improve the signage within the centre.
17/09/24