Party conference season, which is now thankfully over, may be seen as something for political anoraks only, but I have always found it a useful opportunity to catch up with organisations and charities looking to raise awareness and campaign for their objectives.

My new role as Deputy Speaker means I cannot engage in Party Political campaigning, but that does not mean I cannot meet representatives from organisations like Guide Dogs and the RNIB to talk about the issues their members are facing.

Last week in Birmingham I tackled the challenge of walking along a virtual High Street, whilst wearing glasses which mimicked the impact of glaucoma.

Over half a million people in the UK have glaucoma, that’s 2% of all of us over 40.

It was incredibly challenging to navigate the ordinary features you might expect on a High Street, from hanging baskets to bollards and post boxes.

Whilst the ones I faced were only made of foam, and didn’t hurt when I walked into them, our street scene is not the set of Eastenders, and it is easy to see how real life objects would really hurt if you walked into them.

With an ageing population the number of people living with glaucoma is expected to rise by 44% up to 2035.

It is why research into the condition remains so critical, but also why thought needs to go into how we design our town centres, to make them accessible and safe spaces for people with a range of disabilities.

We know that 16 million people in the UK live with some level of disability, and we need to make sure their right to access is understood and acted upon.

This week in Parliament we have been debating education, farming and I was in the Chair for much of the Renters’ Reform Bill Second Reading debate.

Much of the correspondence I have had from constituents has centred on the rights of older people when it comes to renting property, and also pet owners.

Guide Dogs has some alarming statistics about the number of their users who had been refused rental properties specifically because they had a Guide Dog.

Under the Equality Act it is, of course, against the law, including for landlords, to treat disabled people less favourably because they rely on an assistance dog, but it still happens.

But on a more cheerful note I was thrilled to meet therapy dog Loki recently, who goes into Southampton General Hospital to cheer up patients.

He was enormous, a Great Dane, but it would be hard to find a happier and more charming dog.

He also has a day job, working to support family mediation in Southampton, which can play such a crucial part in helping families navigate break ups.

I know from my time in the DWP how much emphasis is now placed on the importance of mediation, so it was great to hear how it works in practise.