He  learned about the experiences Reach offers, such as cooking classes, to help learning disabled people become more independent. The challenges Reach faced throughout the covid period were also discussed as well as the charity’s upcoming seaside trip.

Reach began in Southwell in 1999 and has since grown across the county with centres in Southwell, Newark and Mansfield, as well as social enterprise hubs at other locations. Per week, more than 2,600 hours of support are provided by Reach to local communities across Nottinghamshire.

Ben said: ‘It was a pleasure to visit Reach this morning and learn more about the various classes they offer to help those with learning disabilities live more independent lives. The cooking classes in particular were a joy to watch and the sausage rolls smelled amazing!

“I also gained a very valuable insight into the problems Reach and their whole sector have experienced throughout the Covid pandemic. I look forward to taking this insight away and using it to inform future policy debates on the charities sector and the issue of adult learning disabilities.”