A CHARITY which provides vital community support work has adapted to deliver its services from home.

Natural Ability works with people with learning disabilities to provide outdoors opportunities such as day farming and gardening, as well as running an independent supported living service, to help clients be part of their community.

And despite lockdown preventing the charity’s workforce of around 50 people unable to provide face-to-face support, its volunteers and staff have adapted to uploading videos, making resource packs and dropping off gardening supplies to keep the service going.

Nicola Crawford, Natural Ability's chief executive, said the Independent Supported Living (ISL) team has worked around the clock to support people in their own homes.

“Our ISL service, where we support people in their own homes, has been fundamental and we had to ensure it was not impacted by the virus in any way,” she said.

“It’s been a whole charity effort with everyone all working to keep safe.”

The charity created a virtual service where activity supporters have kept in regular contact with people and encouraging people to work from home.

Nicola added: “We are passionate about ensuring that our services remain open and accessible to the people we support.

"Closing the service was never an option for us, it was all about how we can adapt.

“When we go back to face to face service it will be different.

"As a charity, we continue to deliver what we need to deliver to ensure people are not forgotten about.

“But for now we have brought the community spirit into people’s homes throughout the lockdown period.”