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From award recognition to hands-on collaboration, our relationship with the Deaf & Sensory Network shows how Markel supports the not-for-profit sector beyond insurance.
Published on 12 December, 2025
Our relationship with the Deaf & Sensory Network (DSN) began when they were nominated for the Community Engagement Award at the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2025. Their commitment to improving the lives of people with sensory loss across Cheshire and North Wales deeply resonated with us, and when they went on to win the award, it was clear their recognition was thoroughly deserved.
But for us, the connection didn’t end there. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the not-for-profit sector beyond insurance, members of our marketing team, joined by representatives from Care Management Matters, the organisers of the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, recently spent a day with DSN at Lavender Lodge, one of their specialist facilities for deafblind residents. Together, we helped restore the home’s much-loved sensory garden, a vital space that engages the senses, encourages independence, and provides moments of calm and joy.
Over time, the garden had become tired and difficult to use. Together with the DSN team, we brought it back to life, replanting, repainting, and refreshing the space to create a safe and welcoming environment for residents to enjoy. By the end of the day, the garden was transformed: vibrant new plants brought colour and scent back to the pathways, and accessible textures and surfaces allowed residents to experience the world around them through touch and movement.
Throughout the day, we learned more about DSN’s incredible work and the impact they have on the people they support. Their dedication, empathy, and innovation are exactly what the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards were created to celebrate, and seeing their impact first-hand was both humbling and inspiring.
This collaboration represents what Markel’s community partnerships are all about: building lasting relationships, supporting the people behind the causes, and helping to raise the profile of organisations that make a real difference.
Find out more about the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards 2026 here.
Markel Style in action as a team use one of their volunteer days
to support local charity winner of the 2025 MC3SA.
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