SWALLOW, the Westfield charity supporting teenagers and adults with learning disabilities, is working extremely hard to keep its members and staff safe and well during this difficult time.

Although they have had to cancel some of their activities to minimise contamination risks, their support workers are continuing their vital work in the community.

Some of SWALLOW's work remains essential for example, providing 24-hour support at SWALLOW's supported housing and also providing outreach support to members who are isolated in the local area.

They are helping them to cook healthy meals and get out and about on walks as well as doing exercises at home (strictly following the advice of Public health England).

SWALLOW are also providing one to one arts and crafts and cookery sessions to help to give carers some respite during these difficult times.

As the SWALLOW Community Café is obviously currently closed, the team are using both food from the freezer and cooking fresh meals from another kitchen to ensure that they can deliver food to their members that are most in need.

Keeping in contact with friends is also enormously important for everyone at SWALLOW and they have been putting friends in touch with one another by using video conferencing and ringing their members on a regular basis to make sure people have everything that they need and to help to alleviate their anxieties and concerns.

The charity is sharing ideas of how to keep busy and has been sending out activity and gardening packs.

There are plans to have a remote singalong by the SWALLOW choir, remote dance sessions and out famous karaoke session "songbirds".

Bev Craney, SWALLOW chief executive, said: "The coronavirus crisis has become an extremely confusing time for everyone, especially those that we support at SWALLOW and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the fantastic team at SWALLOW and all our supporters.

"When the going gets tough, it is our wonderful team that will get us through it. I hope that everyone stays safe and well and please remember the hard working SWALLOW team when you applaud all care workers and NHS workers each Thursday evening at 8pm."