On Friday 5 June, we were delighted to welcome Josh Dean MP, Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford, to our newly redeveloped Grove Cottage centre.
During his visit, Josh toured our building with Grove Cottage Trustee Richard Smith and met members of our fundraising, nursery and operations teams. He spent time with adults attending our Feel Good Friday club and visited our nursery, where he met some of our youngest members and learned more about the support we provide to families across East Hertfordshire and beyond.
As someone with a keen interest in Special Educational Needs (SEN), Josh discussed local SEN provision with our team and heard about the important role we play in supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and complex additional needs. We also spoke about the growing demand for our services, including waiting lists for some clubs and activities, and the ongoing need for fundraising to ensure we can continue supporting local families.
Richard Smith, Grove Cottage Trustee, said:
“Josh last visited Grove Cottage shortly before our old building was demolished. A lot has happened since then, and it was wonderful to welcome him back to see the significant transformation that has taken place and the opportunities our new facility now provides for our community.”
We were pleased to welcome Josh and share the impact our services have on the lives of local families.
Josh Dean MP said:
“It was a joy to visit Grove Cottage and see first-hand the incredible difference they’re making for families in Bishop’s Stortford. It is fantastic to see this modern, accessible facility now fully in action. The new space will make a meaningful difference to so many people.
Grove Cottage plays a vital role in supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, particularly at a time when demand for specialist services continues to grow. I was especially impressed by their commitment to early intervention through their nursery provision, ensuring that children can access support as early as possible, regardless of diagnosis.
As Grove Cottage marks 60 years of supporting brighter futures in our community, it is clear that its work remains as important as ever and I am proud to support the charity. I will continue to champion the need for strong local SEN provision so that every family can access the help they need, when they need it.”
