A community project that has been providing much-needed help through the coronavirus pandemic is also creating career opportunities.

Kirkby-based 2020 Vision Community Enterprise Ltd offers meals at home, shopping, cleaning, gardening, dog walking, benefit applications, aids and adaptations, befriending, escorting, and mobile mechanic services.

It has recently taken on volunteers and supports people with learning difficulties who find looking for employment hard, as well as anyone who feels they are isolated due to their needs and the Covid-19 pandemic.

A spokesman said: “Our aim is to then support them in finding paid jobs, either within our company or outside of it.”

One example of how 2020 Vision Community Enterprise Ltd is helping local residents remain positive by offering volunteer positions is the story of Christopher Roe.

The 31-year-old has Asperger’s Syndrome and has been unemployed for five years.

He saw a post on the group’s Facebook profile through his sister’s Facebook page and decided to get in touch to see if he could help promote its services.

Christopher had previously volunteered in a soup kitchen and found he enjoyed that kind of work best.

He saw a post for the group’s new food delivery service, 2020 Vision Community Kitchen Ltd, soon to be based in Kirkby, and decided he would like to be a part of that enterprise.

Due to his severe asthma, Christopher has been shielding for more than a year, but he is now helping the business by making door-to-door leaflet deliveries.

The leaflets list all of 2020 Vision Community Enterprise Ltd’s services and have menus for the Community Kitchen printed in large text for elderly residents.

“It is so nice to actually be able to leave the house and know you are helping people,” he said.

“It’s been great to get out in the fresh air and I’m enjoying the exercise.

“Before I did this, I was basically sat in the house every single day! It was driving me mad.

“I’m so grateful to 2020 Vision for giving me this opportunity.”

Christopher added that he wanted to help the business grow and is encouraging others who have free time to do the same. Eventually he would like to work in the community kitchen.