History of SENSE
SENSE is the original network of professional nutrition consultants who work on a self employed basis.
We aim to help and promote self-help of all self- employed or freelance nutrition professionals. Established in 1996 for Self Employed Nutritionists’ Support and Enlightenment.
How SENSE Arose
by its Founder Dr Margaret Ashwell OBE
I find it difficult to believe that it was 30 years ago that we had our first SENSE meeting. I became self-employed in March 1995 and, although I had plenty of contracts to keep me busy in those early days, I missed the friendship and teamwork of the small group I had left behind in my last employed position. I did not know many nutritionists who were self-employed, but the more I asked around, I realised there were more than I had imagined and I put feelers out to them about starting a networking group.Â
I can remember dreaming up the acronym SENSE whilst relaxing with a gin and tonic in the bath one day. SENSE stands for Self-Employed Nutritionists Support and Enlightenment. I knew that we needed to help each other with all the issues that confronted any self-employed person (the Support element) whilst staying up to date with the latest news and issues in nutrition science and policy (the Enlightenment). Many years later, whilst on holiday in Bulgaria, I was delighted to discover a gin called SENSE. Hence my favourite photograph.
I was fortunate, at the outset, that Christine Hawkins, who had acted as Executive Secretary of the Association for the Study of Obesity so admirably since the 1970s, agreed to help with the administration and that Dr Alan Howard made a donation from The Howard Foundation to set up the organisation. At the inaugural meeting, Sigrid Gibson, Mabel Blades and Sian Porter offered to join me on the Committee and then, with a minimum of bureaucracy, we were off!
It was always our intention that the two meetings to be held each year should contain some element of enlightenment i.e. discussion of topical nutrition issues, and some element of support i.e. advice which is relevant to all those who are self-employed. Our inaugural meeting in February 1996 was held in a side room of the Royal College of Physicians during the lunch break of a larger nutrition meeting. Since 1996, our activities have developed with the times and we now network through social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook and use hybrid facilities to expand the audiences for our popular meetings. We have had some wonderful committee members who have all worked extremely hard, and when Christine decided to retire after many years, we were fortunate that Kathryn Styles could step into her shoes.
Published papers about SENSE:
1998 Dr M Ashwell. Nutrition & Food Science Number 2 · March/April 1998 · pp. 87–89.           You know it makes SENSE! DOI:10.1108/00346659810201041
ABSTRACT
Summarises the reasons behind the formation of a network and support group for self-employed nutritionists (SENSE). Discusses the pros and cons of self-employment and shows how the formation of SENSE is one way in which a con can be turned into a pro. Gives points of contact for potential members and potential users of the services that SENSE members offer.
KEY WORDS
nutrition; self -employment; support; enlightenment; consultancy; independence
- For full paper please visit Emerald Publishing: (https://doi.org/10.1108/00346659810201041 )
- SENSE members can view a copy of the author-accepted manuscript by logging in
2016 Dr M Sadler, Dr M Ashwell, Dr J Buttress, A. Govindji, J. Harland, C. Stirling-Reed, K. Tonks and F. Wilcock. British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin, 41, 180–187. Developments in nutrition: 20 years back, 20 years forward. DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12208
A published conference report of the SENSE meeting on the occasion of the 20th year of SENSE. Edited by Dr Michele Sadler, the topics addressed were:
- Dietary reference values: From the UK to beyond – Michele Sadler
- Health Claims and Regulatory Developments -Janice Harland
- Food Trends and Market Changes -Karen Tonks
- Government dietary advice and the future of healthy eating advice – Judy Buttriss
- Sugar: What has changed and where are we heading? – Azmina Govindji
- Obesity – Margaret Ashwell
- Popular Weight Loss Diets – Fiona Wilcock
- Maternal and Infant Nutrition – Charlotte Stirling-Reed
For full paper please visit Wiley Publishing: (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nbu.12208 )
For more information regarding either paper, contact Dr Margaret Ashwell