It was lovely to meet Erin and her Mam, and learn about their experiences. They’re both inspiring, joyful people.

Though I’ve campaigned for Labour at elections since 1997, I first became active full-time in late 2010. I was working for a charity supporting children with disabilities and saw first-hand how callously the Tory-Lib Dem government cut vital services. As I sat on a train back from work, I met a couple of young Labour members who invited me to their next meeting. So I got involved to fight for better services, which led to where I am today, running to be Bishop Auckland’s next MP.

It’s so wonderful to see what Heel & Toe is doing, but having only one such organisation for the whole of County Durham, which has a long waiting list, just isn’t enough.

Britain can do better than this, and if I’m privileged to serve our area in parliament I will do all I can to improve how we support people like Erin and her family.

This includes more funding for specialist support in schools and the NHS; better respite services for carers; and services for adults, so reaching the age of 19 doesn’t mean losing that regular support.