Chat and Collect is the answer to lockdown at Dunstable's Disability Resource Centre

Business manager Paul Robson says: “As our retail outlet is closed, we’ve introduced Chat and Collect instead of Click and Collect.

“People can go on to our website and have a virtual tour of what’s available – all sorts of disability aids from mobility equipment and personal hygiene to personal protection equipment.”

He added: “They can phone and talk to an adviser who will chat through their needs and tell them what’s suitable. Then they can come and collect their goods from a table where everything is clean and social distancing is maintained.”

Chief executive officer Melanie Hawman said: “We responded rapidly to the situation because we wanted to protect our staff and clients, the majority of whom are in the vulnerable group.

“We closed our building on March 17 and by the following week had everyone set up and working from home.

“It was a challenge to get sufficient laptops and we had to re-purpose those used by our students.

“We were also lucky enough to get a grant from the BLCF Bedfordshire Coronavirus Emergency Fund .

“Now all our services are up and running and we’re carrying out all our contractual commitments. Our staff have been magnificent – they’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty.”

The DRC is a charity and generates extra funding from a variety of sources, including letting out meeting rooms. But that has all had to stop.

Paul and six colleagues were hoping to get sponsorship for the London Vitality 10km on May 25 but that too has had to be cancelled.

He says: “I haven’t run for 35 years and I’ve been building up to it since February. But I’m determined to do it . . . on the treadmill in my back garden. And I’m hoping lots of people will put their hands in their pockets to help us raise vital funds for the centre.”

If you’d like more information about DRC services, or would like to sponsor Paul, visit https://drcbeds.org.uk