A CHARITY'S seasonal project to provide activities for the people it supports while at the same time helping the less well-off turned into a Christmas gift bonanza.

Staff at Positive Futures services in Fermanagh, which support people with a learning disability, acquired brain injury or autistic spectrum condition, started a six-week programme of activities to assemble and parcel food hampers and presents for older people and children in need.

However, word quickly spread, seeing its office soon packed with donated items ahead of Christmas.

Speaking ahead of distributing the donated gifts, Pauline O’Hagan, who runs the organisation’s Brighter Futures project for children with a disability, said: “We started the Christmas project because quite often, our children [whom we support] are seen by society as people in need of support.

"We wanted to show how, given the right support, they too can make a significant contribution using the skills they have while at the same time creating a better Christmas for older people and families who are finding things financially tough.

“One week, we focused on older people, the next on children, and the third on pets. We didn’t expect it to take off the way it has – you can hardly move in the office for gifts that local people have donated."

She continued: "The children and adults in our three local services – our Brighter Futures project, our Lakeland Family Service and our Lakeland Supported Living Service – are working hard to get everything wrapped and delivered as Christmas approaches.”

The charity’s Chief Executive, Agnes Lunny, added: “We’re so proud that in spite of the very difficult circumstances in which we are all now having to live and work, our staff and the people we support have found the time to think about other people who are less well off than them and who also need support.

"We’re grateful to all the local people who donated food items and presents to make our project such a runaway success."