Purple Reach

Purple Reach Purple Reach is a Norfolk based disability consultancy that believes in the social model of disability.

Purple Reach is a disability consultancy service working with businesses and the community to make the world more inclusive and to enable disabled people to achieve their potential. We are here to work with businesses and third sector organisations to help them better their understanding of disability. Purple Reach is here to help you through services including: Consultancy, Training, Mystery Shopping and Access Auditing.

This year's Learning Disability Week theme is: "Do You See Me?"It's a simple question, but an important one.Because many...
15/06/2026

This year's Learning Disability Week theme is: "Do You See Me?"

It's a simple question, but an important one.

Because many people with a learning disability still face barriers that affect everyday life, from employment and social opportunities to independence and access to support.

Many people who want to work struggle to access paid employment.

Some spend very little time out in the community due to isolation, lack of support or inaccessible environments.

Others continue to face systems that don't properly meet their needs or listen to their voices.

Learning Disability Week is a reminder that inclusion isn't just about awareness.

It's about making sure people are genuinely seen, heard and included in society, workplaces and communities.

At Purple Reach, we believe accessibility and inclusion should never be treated as an afterthought.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to feel valued, involved and supported in ways that work for them.

Image: Purple background with the words "do you see me?" right aligned and in white writing. Underneath this text are the words " learning disability awareness week" the writing is also in white and right aligned.

Every day, donated blood helps save lives.For people living with certain health conditions, recovering from surgery or r...
14/06/2026

Every day, donated blood helps save lives.

For people living with certain health conditions, recovering from surgery or receiving ongoing treatment, access to safe blood supplies can be essential.

World Blood Donor Day is an opportunity to recognise the importance of blood donors and the difference they make to individuals, families and communities around the world.

It's also a reminder of the importance of awareness, education and ensuring healthcare services remain accessible and inclusive for everyone who relies on them.

If you're able to donate blood, it could make a bigger difference than you realise.

Image: light purple background. On the left are a 1 big half outline of a droplet of blood with the top section of the droplet outlined in red and the bottom section filled in red, just directly next to on the right handsome is a smaller version of the droplet in the same design. To the right and just slightly above the droplets are the words "world blood donor day" in black and red writing.

Empathy isn't about having all the answers.Sometimes it's simply being willing to listen, ask questions and recognise th...
12/06/2026

Empathy isn't about having all the answers.

Sometimes it's simply being willing to listen, ask questions and recognise that other people's experiences may be very different from our own.

For disabled people, that can mean being listened to when discussing access needs, being included in decisions that affect them, or being asked what support would actually be helpful rather than having assumptions made on their behalf.

Small things matter.

Taking the time to understand someone's perspective can lead to better conversations, better services and better experiences for everyone involved.
On Empathy Day, it's worth remembering that understanding often starts with listening.

Image: graphic has a purple background, at the top of the graphic are the words"Empathy Day" purple background. scrabble pieces spelling the word empathy. They are on a wooden style surface.

Many organisations want to improve accessibility and inclusion.The challenge is often knowing what to tackle first.Shoul...
10/06/2026

Many organisations want to improve accessibility and inclusion.

The challenge is often knowing what to tackle first.

Should you review your website?
Do staff need training?
Would an access rider be useful?
Are there barriers within your service that you haven't spotted yet?

Sometimes an outside perspective can help identify improvements and create a clear plan for moving forward.

At Purple Reach, we work with organisations to help them better understand accessibility, remove barriers and create more inclusive experiences for the people they support.

If accessibility is something you've been meaning to look at but haven't known where to begin, we'd be happy to have a conversation.

Book a free consultation via our website to discuss how we can help.

Image: At the top of the graphic is a picture of 2 women, one has long blonde hair and the other has short dark hair, is wearing glasses and has a scarf, there is also the side profile of a man wearing glasses and they are all looking at something on a table top, just in shot is also another person's hand. Underneath the picture is a purple background with the words "not sure where to start?" in white writing and just underneath are the words "accessibility support for businesses and organisations" also in white writing.

Today is World Brain Tumour Day.For many people, a brain tumour can affect far more than physical health. It can impact ...
08/06/2026

Today is World Brain Tumour Day.

For many people, a brain tumour can affect far more than physical health. It can impact communication, memory, concentration, fatigue levels and day-to-day activities in ways that aren't always visible to others.

That's why awareness matters.

Understanding some of the challenges people may face helps create more supportive workplaces, services and communities.

Not every disability or health condition is immediately obvious, and a little patience, understanding and flexibility can make a significant difference.

Today is an opportunity to learn more, raise awareness and show support for those living with or affected by brain tumours.

Image: Purple / blue background with the image of a side profile of a head in dark purple with a brain image inside which is a lighter shade of purple. Underneath the side profile of the head are the words "world brain tumour day"

So, who is Purple Reach?Purple Reach is a disability consultancy working with businesses and community organisations to ...
04/06/2026

So, who is Purple Reach?

Purple Reach is a disability consultancy working with businesses and community organisations to help improve accessibility and better understand disability in practical, realistic ways.

A lot of organisations want to make their services more accessible but aren't always sure where to begin or what barriers people may be experiencing.

That's where we come in.

We provide support through services including:

🔹 Accessibility audits
🔹 Consultancy
🔹 Training (whether that’s staff or the management team)
🔹 Mystery shopping
🔹 Advice around accessibility and inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by both professional knowledge and over 30 years of lived experience with disability.

That combination matters because accessibility isn't just about policies or ticking boxes. It's about understanding how people actually experience and access services, spaces and communication in everyday life.

Our aim is simple:

To help organisations feel more confident about accessibility and support them in making meaningful improvements that work for the people using their services.

No complicated language or jargon.
Zero judgement.
Just real conversations and support that is realistic.

Image: Tom is a man who is looking directly at the camera and smiling. Tom has a beard and is wearing glasses and has a beard. Tom is also wearing a blue shirt

Many organisations simply couldn't do what they do without volunteers.Whether they're supporting community projects, hel...
02/06/2026

Many organisations simply couldn't do what they do without volunteers.

Whether they're supporting community projects, helping at events, providing practical assistance or offering their time to others, volunteers make a huge difference every day.

A lot of that work happens quietly behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed.

This Volunteers' Week is an opportunity to recognise the people who give their time, skills and energy to support others and strengthen their communities.

If you know a volunteer who deserves a thank you, why not give them a mention below?

Image - snippet of a page of a book / document with a green highlighter pen highlighting the word volunteer.

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say but struggling to find the words.That's the reality for many people living ...
01/06/2026

Imagine knowing exactly what you want to say but struggling to find the words.

That's the reality for many people living with aphasia, a condition that affects communication that can occur after a stroke or brain injury.

Aphasia affects communication, but it doesn't affect intelligence. Yet many people living with aphasia face barriers simply because others don't understand what they're experiencing.

The good news is that support and technology can make a real difference.

Tools such as speech-generating devices, text-to-speech software and visual communication apps can help people communicate more confidently and independently in everyday situations.

Something as simple as ordering a coffee, sending a message or joining a conversation can become much easier with the right support in place.

This Aphasia Awareness Month, take a few minutes to learn more about aphasia and the challenges people can face.

A little understanding can go a long way.

Image: Graphic has a yellow background. Near the top of the graphic is a circle which has a white frame and in the centre of the circle is the image of a hand holding a black ribbon to represent Aphasia awareness month. Just underneath the circle are the words "Aphasia awareness month,"

Managing menstrual health is often treated as straightforward.But for many disabled people, it isn’t.Things like inacces...
28/05/2026

Managing menstrual health is often treated as straightforward.

But for many disabled people, it isn’t.

Things like inaccessible toilets, products that don’t work for different needs, or information that isn’t easy to access can all create barriers.

And these aren’t small issues.
They affect independence, comfort, and dignity.

Some of the challenges can include:

- Toilets that aren’t set up for accessibility
- Products that don’t suit different needs
- Information that isn’t available in accessible formats

These are things that can be improved.

Because something this basic should work for everyone.

What’s something you’ve seen that makes menstrual health more accessible?

Image: Light pink back ground, with light circle with the words "Menstrual Hygiene Day", there is a slightly smaller circle inside the other circle that has outlines of side profiles of women, they are in dark purple, light purple and a pink/purple colour. Overlaying the image inside the smaller circle are the words " Menstrual Products For All"


A lot of disability awareness training leaves people unsure what to do next.They leave with information.But not always w...
24/05/2026

A lot of disability awareness training leaves people unsure what to do next.

They leave with information.
But not always with confidence.

And without that confidence, very little actually changes.

At Purple Reach, training is designed differently.

It’s practical, honest, and focused on what people can actually do.

- Real situations
- Clear guidance
- Useful next steps

No jargon.
No tick-box exercises.

Just training that helps people feel more confident in their role.

If your team hasn’t reviewed disability inclusion recently, now is the time to do it properly.

www.purplereach.co.uk

Image: 2 women, one has long blonde hair, is wearing black and has a white bracelet on her wrist. The other lady has short dark hair, is wearing glasses and has a scarf and they are both looking at something on a table top, just in shot is also another person's hand. Underneath the image is a white box with the words "Training that builds confidence, not confusion" in purple writing.


Address

Norwich

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Purple Reach posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category