Press release: Richard Kramer joins Sense as Deputy Chief Executive
02 April 2013
National deafblind charity Sense has announced that Richard Kramer has joined the organisation as Deputy Chief Executive.
Richard comes from Turning Point, which is a national health and social care provider, offering more than 250 specialist and integrated services across England and Wales.
Richard will lead the Policy and Communications Directorate at Sense, which covers public policy, communications and public awareness, information, advice, legal services, engagement, volunteering, arts and wellbeing, safeguarding and quality assurance. As Deputy CEO, he will also lead the strategic development of the charity.
Richard said today:
"I am honoured and thrilled to take on this new role and look forward to working closely with the CEO, Gill Morbey and with staff, the trustees and volunteers. I have long admired the essential work undertaken by Sense in reaching out to deafblind people and giving them a voice. This is why Sense and I are a perfect fit as the organisation's values reflect my own.
"It is an exciting time to join as Sense has just published its new ambitious strategy and looks to support a greater number of people. I look forward to starting my journey with them and making my contribution."
Richard, who takes over from interim Strategy Director, Sir Paul Ennals, has had a number of roles at Turning Point since 2002, including Director of Strategic Development, Director of Policy and Director of Connected Care. He has also been Head of Campaigns for Mencap and Parliamentary Manager for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Media enquiries
James Gosling, PR Manager. Tel: 020 7520 0979
Out-of-hours 07770 580 843
Notes to editors
Sense is a national charity that has supported and campaigned for children and adults who are deafblind for over 50 years. There are currently around 250,000 deafblind people in the UK.
Sense provides specialist information, advice and services to deafblind people, their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. We run services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and employ 2,000 people most of whom work in services directly with deafblind people. Our patron is HRH The Princess Royal.
Deafblindness is a combination of both sight and hearing difficulties. Some of these people are completely deaf and blind, but others have some remaining use of one or both senses.
Causes of deafblindness include premature birth and exposure to rubella during pregnancy, which can cause babies to be born deafblind. Sense therefore supports MMR which has proven to be the most effective vaccination programme against rubella. Some genetic conditions such as Usher syndrome can also result in deafblindness. People can also become deafblind at any time through illness, accident or in older age.