THE Chief Executive of the disability charity Sense has announced he is stepping down after 11 years.
Richard Kramer joined the charity in 2013 as the Deputy Chief Executive, before taking on the Chief Executive role in 2018.
During that time, he has led the charity through a period of growth to support thousands more children and adults with complex disabilities and their families. This has included the expansion of Sense’s network of Hubs across the country that combine specialist services with services for the whole community; the establishment of national programmes for art, sports and wellbeing; its early intervention services for children; and developing its pioneering virtual buddying programme to tackle loneliness.
Justin Molloy, Chair of Trustees at Sense, said:
“The Board of Trustees is very sad to see Richard leave but we understand and totally respect his decision to retire and relocate to Cornwall.
“Richard has been an outstanding CEO and has built a strong and value-based culture with the well-being of employees, volunteers, and the individuals we support at its core. He has driven the charity forward on many fronts and has steered us through Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis.
“He leaves the charity in a very strong position. We thank him for all that he has done for Sense.”
Kramer has spent forty years volunteering or working in the disability sector, from volunteering at a long-stay hospital for people with a learning disability when he was at school, to setting up a youth club for disabled and non-disabled people in North London, to working at charities Mencap, Turning Point and Sense.
Richard Kramer said:
“I’ve had a wonderful and stimulating career at Sense. I have absolutely loved everything about it, working with the individuals we support, and our staff and volunteers. I love our cause, our ambition, and our successes. I would never have dreamed of being the Chief Executive of Sense and it’s been a complete joy and privilege. I have learned so much about myself through the children, adults, and families we support.
“I have thought long and hard about this decision. It feels like the right time for me to step away from Sense. I am moving home to Cornwall. I will have the opportunity to spend more time with my partner. Together, it’s our time to really dance with life.”
Kramer plans to retire at the end of January 2025 and relocate to Cornwall. He has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. He is also a trustee of ENEI and the CareTech Foundation.
Sense is now starting the recruitment process for his successor.