We are thrilled to announce an exciting 18-month project in collaboration with researchers from the University of Nottingham! Our Voice & Participation Group is leading the way in creating a series of ‘Safe Space Health Cafés’ for people with learning disabilities at our day centres.

Our hosts Laila and Isobel with health professionals at our first Safe Space Health Café

The sessions will be focused on health topics identified by the Voice & Participation group as important. This builds on their valuable work around health inequalities and barriers to accessing health services. Health professionals will be invited along to the ‘cafes’ and there will be an opportunity for discussions, access to information/resources and signposting to other support.

Our first Safe Space Health Café took place at Reach Southwell, with 15 clients and three learning disability professionals joining the session. Laila and Isobel, members of the Voice & Participation Group, led the session.

During the session, health professionals introduced their roles and explained how they support individuals with learning disabilities. Clients had the opportunity to ask questions about their health and how to get support.

Topics discussed included:

• Annual health checks
• Digital flags (to alert health professionals that a patient has a learning disability)
• How to get a referral to specialist services
• The role of a community learning disability nurse.

Clients, staff and health professionals chatted over tea and cake and were signposted to helpful information and resources.

Looking ahead, we plan to hold Safe Space Health Cafés in Newark and Mansfield. Ideas for future discussion include men’s and women’s health, screening, dentistry and health conditions such as dementia.

For more information, please email safespace@reachuk.org. We are excited about the journey ahead and the positive impact these cafés will have on our community!