A video of the heartwarming moment is now captivating online viewers.
Renowned country singer Nathan Carter has taken to the stage for a very special performance of his single ‘Wagon Wheel’ – alongside Aoife, who is disabled and is a huge fan of his music.
The two performed live together at a gala celebrating the 40th anniversary of the disability charity Sense in Northern Ireland and a video of the heartwarming moment, which took place last Friday, 27 February, is now captivating online viewers.
Nathan set the crowd alight as he delivered three songs at the Sense Northern Ireland 40th Anniversary Gala held at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast.
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And he performed his hit number ‘Wagon Wheel’ alongside Aoife, 31, a disabled person with complex needs from Belfast, who has been part of Sense Northern Ireland for more than a decade. Aoife, who attends Sense day services in Carrickfergus, loves singing, country music and Nathan’s songs.
This spectacular duet was just one highlight of the gala, which marked 40 years of Sense Northern Ireland supporting disabled children and adults with complex needs and raised £36,000 to further improve the charity’s services for young people.
The Smith Brothers group gave a moving rendition of You Raise Me Up/ Hallelujah. Other talented performers showing off their skills at the event included Jamie and Alex, who both stay in Sense supported living in Belfast, and Dean, who attends Sense day services in Carrickfergus.
Jamie, 28, danced with Nathan on stage and later said meeting the music star was “like winning the lotto”. Meanwhile, Dean, 21, who has been supported by the charity for 14 years, performed a British Sign Language version of ‘Ordinary’ by Alex Warren, a song which reached number one in more than 30 countries.
Alex, 39, who has lived at a Sense residential service for two years and has gained a sense of freedom and improved confidence through the charity’s support, took part in a Q&A session with Sense Ambassador and Q Radio presenter Ibe Sesay, before performing a comedy act.
The money raised at the gala event will help improve services delivered by Sense Northern Ireland, specifically its transitions programme. This programme helps support young people aged 14 to 23-years-old as they transition from childhood to adulthood – a pivotal point in people’s lives. The programme helps disabled people to learn skills, and provides workshops for parents, across Northern Ireland.
There are around 52,000 disabled people with complex needs in Northern Ireland, one in five of them in Belfast. The charity strengthened its offering in the capital last year by opening a landmark new community in Belfast to transform the lives of disabled people in the area.
Sense Hub Belfast, the first centre of its scale in Northern Ireland from national disability charity Sense, provides vital services and a lifeline of support for disabled people with complex needs and their families.
Located on Annadale Avenue, the hub hosts a wide range of activities and services including an adult day centre and inclusive arts and sports programmes, to specialist play sessions for disabled children under 12, helping them to communicate, develop and connect with family and friends.
Aoife said: “I have been coming to Sense for nearly 12 years – I really enjoy talking to the staff. I like Nathan Carter’s songs and it was so fun performing with him.”
Nathan added: “Being part of Sense Northern Ireland’s 40th anniversary was one of the highlights of the year. It was great attending and singing with Aoife, she was absolutely amazing!”
Martin Walls, Head of Operations Northern Ireland at Sense, said: “Sense Northern Ireland is delighted to be celebrating its 40th anniversary, at a time where our services are needed more than ever before.
“40 years ago, there was limited support in Northern Ireland for disabled people with complex needs and their families. Now, our services are reaching more people than they ever have – we are supporting thousands of disabled people with complex needs and their families across Northern Ireland, including through our new Sense Hub Belfast.”
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