There are a range of local and national organisations, and community groups, which offer sensory support. You can find out more about them on this page.
If you, or someone you know, needs care and/or support, you should contact adult social care. You can get a sensory support assessment, which means we'll work with you to find out what your care and support needs are, and how best to meet them.
Check out our noticeboard for the latest announcements and information.
Sensory drop-in clinic
A sensory drop-in clinic takes place every month for adults who are partially sighted, blind, D/deaf, or hard of hearing. Family and carers are also welcome.
The clinic takes place on the first Friday of each month, at the Live Well Centre (Dundas Arcade, Middlesbrough town centre).
Pop in any time between 10am and 12pm for free refreshments, and the chance to chat with service providers and like-minded people. BSL interpreters will be available to help us meet everyone's communication needs. There will be monthly activities like cooking demonstrations, physical activity sessions, mindfulness, and more, as well as assessments and signposting to support services.
Daily living advice
- Register for the Ofgem Priority Services Register which gives you priority in a power cut, advanced alerts about engineering work taking place, priority support in emergencies, identification and password schemes so you can be sure those who visit you are genuine
- Apply for a Blue Badge for disabled parking
- Apply for a Disabled Persons Railcard
- Apply for a blind (severely sight impaired) TV licence
- Middlesbrough Independent Living Services can support you to live at home safely and independently for longer
- Living Made Easy offers impartial advice on daily living aids and adaptations
- Sarabec Hearing Products offer specialist hard of hearing and Deaf equipment
- Information about claiming benefits is available on GOV.UK.
- Middlesbrough Matters directory of support
- If you're getting a service from the council and you want to give feedback or make a complaint, you can use the online complaints form, call the Complaints Team on 01642 729814, or email complaints@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Getting support
If you, or someone you know, needs care and/or support, you should contact adult social care. A relative, friend, or other health care professional can help, or do it for you. We'll work with you to find out what your care and support needs are, and how best to meet them. Find out more about how social care can help.
Vision rehabilitation
Vision rehabilitation is a form of reablement which can help if a change in your level of vision is affecting your daily living. Vision rehabilitation can help you become more independent and improve your wellbeing. It can also stop you needing extra care and support. Vision rehabilitation can involve anything from developing skills in the kitchen, like preparing meals and making a cup of tea, to getting out and about using public transport to go shopping or take part in social activities.
The amount of vision rehabilitation you get will depend on your circumstances and sight condition.
Under the Care Act 2014, councils must provide vision rehabilitation for residents with eligible care and support needs. Contact Adult Social Care to find out more.
Health and wellbeing
- Help with health and wellbeing - addiction, healthy eating, mental wellbeing
- Seasonal support from the Staying Put Agency helps you to stay independent and safe at home throughout the seasons, for example with support from the winter warmth service
- The Live Well Centre offers local health and wellbeing services
- Community deaf services for deaf or deafblind people aged over 18 years who mainly use British Sign Language to communicate and who have mental health problems (Tees, Esk, and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust)
- British Blind Sport has information about how to stay active from the comfort of your own home
- Shout 85258 is a free, confidential service where you can get mental health support by text
- SignHealth has BSL signed videos about health matters
- Sign Health has BSL videos about domestic abuse
- If you, or someone you know, is being abused or neglected, you can get help from the adult social care team. You can also get details of support for victims of domestic abuse online
Carers
- Carers advice from Middlesbrough Council
- We Care You Care supports all carers living in the South Tees area
Community activities and social groups
- Age UK Teesside supports older people, and is dedicated to promoting wellbeing and independence for over-50s, helping them to live a fulfilling and enjoyable later life
- Join a Living Well with Sight Loss course to meet and share experiences with others, increase your confidence, and get practical advice, information and resources
- The CHILD Deaf Youth Project (CDYP) provides a range of educational and social activities, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, where young people can interact using their first / preferred communication methods
- The RNID (The Royal National Institute for Deaf People) runs different groups throughout the week at the North Ormesby deaf centre. To find out more, contact the RNID by calling 0808 808 0123, texting 07360 268 988, or emailing contact@rnid.org.uk
Community support
- RNIB is a national charity supporting people with sight loss with a wide range of information, advice, and connections to local groups and activities
- RNIB Sightline is a directory of services supporting blind and partially sighted people
- RNID is a national hearing loss charity, supporting deaf people and those with hearing loss or tinnitus
- Staying included (Middlesbrough Independent Living Services) helps you to stay connected to your community, meeting new people and taking part in activities, as well as helping you to live safely and independently at home
- Rekindle - digital inclusion (Middlesbrough Independent Living Services) can support you with using digital technology like computers and smartphones, and getting online
- Our street wardens respond to anti-social behaviour and provide a reassuring presence in communities - you can contact them by calling 01642 228500 (seven days a week, 8am to 10pm)
- The Victim Care and Advice Service supports victims of crime in Middlesbrough. Their service is confidential, and offers regular contact with victims, advice and guidance, practical assistance, and advocacy for most vulnerable victims. Visit the Victim Care and Advice Service website or email info@vcas.uk.
- Citizens Advice gives people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem. You can also get help locally from Middlesbrough Citizens Advice
Emergency support
If you are in danger, contact 999.
- The Emergency SMS service lets you send text messages to the emergency services (police, ambulance, fire brigade, or coastguard)
- Relay UK helps Deaf, hard of hearing, and speech impaired people to call 999 in an emergency
- British Sign Language emergency video relay service - in an emergency, contact 999 through the 999BSL website or the 999 BSL app, and you'll be connected to a BSL interpreter who will contact the 999 operator and relay the conversation
- The North East Ambulance Service has BSL videos about how and when to call 999, and what happens when you do