The Association was founded in 1978 following television coverage of an electronically controlled artificial arm that was not at that time available on the NHS. Although the main campaign was designed to bring the myoelectric arm into the UK for children, it also identified the need for a support group.

Originally called The Association for Children with Artificial Arms the charity has developed considerably. In 1988 the name was changed to "Reach, The Association for Children with Hand or Arm Deficiency" when it was realised that many of the members of Reach did not wear prostheses.

Reach now offers support to families whose children have many and varied hand or arm differences.

Read all about our first 25 years in our booklet ‘The First 25 Years of Reach’.