A leading Aberdeen charity is celebrating after winning two prestigious awards.
North East Sensory Services, (NESS), which is based in Aberdeen, with offices in Dundee and Elgin, has won the Elevator Alick Buchanan-Smith Enterprising Communities Award, just a week after winning the Trend Life With Style Community Award.
The Elevator award, which is organised by Elevator and main sponsor RBS Ahead for Business, aims to recognise the achievements of local organisations which operate solely for the benefit of their community. Judges were impressed by the outstanding support NESS gives to the community, and how the organisation goes beyond its remit and provides genuine value to people with sensory impairments in the North-east.
The Trend Life With Style award also recognised the contribution of NESS to the community of the North-east, and in particular by the outstanding support the organisation gives to people of all ages with a visual or hearing impairment.
NESS exists for people who were born deaf or blind, for those who have lost all their sight and/or hearing or have developed serious vision and/or hearing problems. Providing information, equipment and support, both practical and emotional, to deaf and blind people, NESS is the first fully integrated joint sensory service in Scotland.
NESS provides a combination of publicly funded statutory joint sensory social work services in Aberdeen city and Moray, and ‘added value services’ across Grampian, including a Young Person’s Sensory Service, PEEP, a group for mothers and babies and Connect, Inform, Support, providing activities and assistance to people aged 65 or older.
As well as advice, practical support, benefits advice and the provision of aids and equipment to improve the quality of life, the NESS office at 21 John Street has a drop-in duty social work service, a library, gym, café and a technology centre.
Graham Findlay, chief executive for NESS, said: “At NESS, we work hard to ensure that the services we provide to the local community for visually and hearing impaired people is tailored to suit individual needs. Our social work and rehabilitation services work closely with our clients to provide both practical and emotional support, and our added value services are tailored to help people to lead more independent lives.
“Winning both awards not only gives NESS the recognition it deserves, but also acknowledges the commitment of every member of staff and each of our 100 volunteers in their dedication to serving our community, as it is their hard work which improves the lives of so many people.”