Fifth Sense, a charity that helps to raise awareness of people affected by smell and taste disorders, is hosting an open meeting in Mansfield.

Established in 2012, Fifth Sense is the first charity to provide direct support, advice, and a signpost to potential diagnosis and treatment for those affected by such conditions.

Everyone is welcome to the open meeting in the CREATE building at West Nottinghamshire College’s Derby Road campus, Mansfield, on 20th February, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Keith Barnes, who is organising the event, urged anyone living with a smell or taste disorder to join the supportive community to share experiences and find others who might understand what they are going through.

At the open meeting there will also be resources and practical advice for managing daily challenges as well as the chance to build friendships and connect with people who understand the disorder.

Among the speakers will be Fifth Sense volunteers, staff, and Dr Nicole Yang. Her research at Nottingham University is at the forefront of the intersection between flavour and health, with a primary focus on the development of an innovative training tool for people with flavour perception impairment — a condition that significantly impacts overall quality of life, but currently lacks a cure.

Fifth Sense is working to improve knowledge and understanding amongst professionals through education and training, and is determined to support research to improve knowledge and understanding of the disorders and accelerate the steps to treatments and potential cures.

A spokesperson said: Our strategy is to address the lack of understanding within society of the role that the senses of smell and taste play in our lives, a major reason for the lack of appreciation of the impact that disorders of these senses can have on those affected.

“We seek to play a leading role in educating society on the importance of the senses of smell and taste to our lives.

“Through this, we can engender better awareness of the profound consequences of smell and taste disorders, demonstrate the need for better education among the medical profession, greater availability of medical services, and the need for further research into such conditions and their treatment.”

To book free tickets and register for the Mansfield event, go to https://fifth-sense.eventcube.io or contact community development officer Sally Connick at [email protected] or call 07766 556060.

For more information about Fifth Sense, go to www.fifthsense.org.uk