Our Promises to Learners
Our Mission to Empower and Support Young Adults with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism Through Inclusive Education and Real World Experiences
The promises which guide Reach Education and Employment
At Reach Education and Employment, promises underpin all we do. These promises lay on foundations of respect, inclusion, individual empowerment, and a dedication to creating meaningful futures for young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism through our employment education services.
OUR PROMISES TO YOU
1. To Keep You Safe
2. To Support You
3. To Believe In You
4. To Listen To You
5. To Let You Make Your Own Decisions
6. To Allow You To Be Yourself
7. To Treat You Like An Adult
Have a look below for more detail about our promises.
We Promise to Keep You Safe
We promise to keep you safe. Your safety is non-negotiable. As well as being knowledgeable about recognising when something isn’t right, all our staff will be trained on our safeguarding reporting procedures. Our ‘Pillars of Safety’ approach will create an environment where you will be known, where you and staff will feel able to raise any concerns with confidence without being labelled ‘trouble makers’. We will teach you about safeguarding and make sure that you know what to do and who to speak to if you are worried about anything. We adopt an ‘it could happen here approach’ and will investigate and follow through any concerns brought to our attention. You, your safety and your right to live a life with as little fear as possible come first.
We Promise To Support You
Our promise to support you goes far beyond just helping you into work; it is a commitment to walk right by your side as you build independence, connect with your community, and grow more resilient in all areas of life. We promise to adapt entirely to you—fitting our delivery around how you learn best, such as providing information in different formats, utilizing structured checklists, or embedding regular sensory breaks into your day. Whatever you need.
Beyond practical education, our curriculum places a deep focus on emotional maturity, promising you the tools and tailored strategies to understand and manage your emotions effectively at home, in the classroom, and in the workplace. We want everyone at Reach, including our staff, to feel completely confident bringing their support needs to us, knowing we are dedicated to addressing them as quickly as possible. Ultimately, this promise is centered entirely on your voice, how you want to be supported, and wherever you choose to go in your life and career.
We Promise To Believe In You
Everyone deserves someone to believe in them. You are the heart of Reach, we believe in your unique abilities, your strengths, and your dreams.
We will never create activities because they are easy for us. We believe in stretching you beyond what you think you can do, beyond what you think you know and beyond what others may have limited you to.
We will equip you with the real-world knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your work, your life, and your future. Challenge you to go beyond your comfort zone, beyond what you think you know, and far beyond the limits others may have placed on you.
You may sometimes find things difficult, but we will help you set achievable goals and build the confidence and skills to reach them. We will be right beside you to ensure you achieve to the absolute best of your ability.
Our goal is to guide you into a more confident future, celebrating your accomplishments and every single milestone along the way—because to us, even the smallest steps matter.
We Promise to Listen To You
Everybody needs to be heard, and we promise that we will listen to you.
We will hear and acknowledge your voice in whichever way you choose to communicate. If something isn’t working for you then we will work to change it. If something is bothering you then we will put it right.
We will provide many ways for you to make sure your voice is heard. Suggestion boxes, surveys, an open atmosphere and weekly one to ones are all just some of the ways you can express yourself.
But we understand that communication is more than words and we will also be observing your actions, your moods and behaviours. Sometimes listening is more than hearing words.
We Promise To Let You Make Your Own Decisions
We firmly believe that being able to make your own decisions is your fundamental human right. Our promise is simple: we will never make decisions for you—we are here to support to make your own.
We will listen to your views and respect your choices, providing a safe space where you can actively shape how you learn, how you are supported, and how you build your independence and future career. Through your education, we will help you develop the skills to make safe choices in everyday life. When life throws bigger, more complex decisions your way, we will be right beside you to offer the information, guidance, and understanding of different options and their consequences.
You have a mind of your own, and we want you to use it.
We Promise To Allow You To Be Yourself
One of the greatest gifts in life is being yourself. Our promise is to create a safe, inclusive space where every staff member and student is valued, respected, and free to express their unique individuality without judgment. We don't expect you to 'perform'; instead, we are dedicated to building a culture of kindness and belonging where differences are celebrated as strengths, not barriers. We promise to give you the confidence, freedom, and support to develop your own values, cultivating the strength of self-belief you need to show the world your true spirit.
We Promise To Treat You Like An Adult
At Reach Education and Employment, we are committed to treating you with dignity and respect, speaking to you and about you in a way that truly reflects who you are. Throughout our careers, we have seen learners treated in ways that conflict with our values, which is why we completely reject impersonal, condescending labels like "service user" or "beneficiary" in both our speech and our literature; you are an adult, an individual, and a learner—and you certainly don’t "use" us. You will never hear us patronize you with terms like "sweetheart," "darling," "love," or "bless you", because we believe you deserve to be treated as an equal and respected for who you are and who you want to become.
Just like any adult, you may need a helping hand now and again. We firmly believe you possess the ability and the right to work, to control your own life, and to live as independently as possible
Andrew Mallin
Director
I am a finance professional with extensive experience in corporate accounts, client relationships and commercial operations. Originally from the North East of England, I have lived in Yorkshire since 1991 and have a strong connection to the local community.
Alongside my career in finance, I am passionate about equality, inclusion, wellbeing and creating opportunities for others. I co-founded and lead Evri’s LGBTQ+ network, Delivering with Pride, and have played an active role in workplace wellbeing, charity fundraising and Leeds Pride.
As a Director of Reach I am committed to helping people overcome barriers, build confidence and access meaningful opportunities in education and employment. I bring a people-focused approach, believing that everyone should have the opportunity to be heard, valued and supported to achieve their potential.
Christopher Murray
Director of Employment
After a career in careers guidance, technology enhanced learning, educational research, project management, learning and development and merchandising I found myself working at Royal Mencap as a Job Coach on the supported internship programme. Nine months later I was coordinating the educational elements of the programme and then became area coordinator of various supported employment projects across The North and London.
During this time I spent an invaluable 3 years as a Trustee for Leeds Mencap charing both the strategy and safeguarding sub-groups.
In these 10 years I have seen the transformations, independence and joy that employment can bring.
Being valued, being part of something bigger and being known.
Jade Wilson
Director of Education
I am passionate about creating an inclusive, supportive learning environment where every learner feels valued, understood and able to thrive.
One of my favourite parts of this work is seeing students grow in confidence, discover their strengths and take those important next steps towards their futures and careers.
For me, it’s all about the people, progress and providing new opportunities for them. Helping our learners believe in themselves and supporting them to achieve things they may never have thought possible is at the heart of everything I do.
I’m proud to be part of a team that puts learners first in every decision we make.
Visit Us to Discover Our Supportive Learning Environment
We invite students and families to tour our centres, meet our expert staff, and learn about our tailored education and employment preparation services.
Contact our team for enquiries about enrolment, services, or support tailored to your needs.
E-mail: hello@reach-education.org