About Volunteering at Sense

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.

Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.

About the London Marathon

This year the London Marathon takes place on Sunday 21st April. The marathon started in 1981 and has become one of the most popular marathons in the world. The route takes in many of London’s best landmarks including Buckingham Palace, The Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf.

About the volunteering opportunity

• Help spot our Team Sense runners in the crowd and provide some much-needed encouragement as they whizz towards the finish line.
• Expect lots of cheers, whoops and chants as we show our appreciation to the over 500 incredible runners taking part in this iconic event for people with complex disabilities.
• We’ll provide you with an orange Sense t-shirt for you to wear on the day or bring yours if you have one already. We will also have clappers, cheer sticks and pom poms to make sure we’re the loudest cheer point on the course!
• Wear comfortable clothing and footwear as you will be on your feet all day and be prepared for any weather conditions – layers are best and something to protect you from any potential rain is essential. Only bring what you can carry though, as you’ll need to be mobile within crowds when traveling to and from the cheer point.
• There are shops and take aways nearby or feel free to bring your own food and drink to have at the cheer point.

Once you’ve completed the registration stage, the team will be in touch to give you more specific details about your role on the day and where to meet your fellow #TeamSense volunteers.

Skills & qualities

• Bags of energy and enthusiasm!
• A team player who enjoys interacting with people.
• Respectful of others and their diversity.
• Interested making a difference to people who have complex disabilities and are deafblind.

What Sense offers

• The chance to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds and join a passionate volunteering team.
• To be a part of Sense’s largest fundraising event in the calendar and experience the incredible London atmosphere!

Our values

Everything we do is underpinned by five core values. These values shape the way we work as we pursue our vision of a world where no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.

• We include
• We collaborate
• We find a way
• We challenge
• We celebrate