Our history
2023
In 2023, Natural Ability proudly moved into our new home, West Orchard House, marking a significant milestone at the start of January. Throughout the year, we successfully secured several grants enabling us to begin the refurbishment of both the ground floor of the main building and the separate Coach House, transforming them into our new centre-based day service, The Orchard.
The first space completed was a dedicated area for our Day Farmers, giving them a space to truly call their own. We listened carefully to their needs and designed a multifunctional space that included a learning and practical area, a map to track their walks, a cosy coffee nook, and even storage for their muddy boots! Next, we unveiled The Hazel Room, which serves as the central group area for The Orchard, complete with a small social snug where attendees can relax and connect. Shortly after, our sensory and wellbeing room was completed, and with three rooms ready, we proudly opened The Orchard for two days a week. By the end of 2023, we were nearly at capacity and excitedly prepared to open for a third day!
Our new location didn’t just enhance our services—it helped elevate our visibility within the community and attract potential employees. In a sector where recruitment is often a challenge, we saw a positive shift, with our workforce growing to over 50 members in 2023.
Having a space of our own also allowed us to bring the people supported by Natural Ability together for special celebrations. We hosted events for the Queen's Jubilee, Halloween, and transformed the building into a festive wonderland for Christmas. From parties and dancing to movie nights, we embraced the joy of the season, complete with a magical snowfall as we gathered around the Christmas tree to sing carols.
It was a year of growth, community, and celebration, and we look forward to the opportunities 2024 will bring!
2022
CHARITY OF THE YEAR
One of our Day Farming attendees had a generous uncle who nominated Natural Ability to be considered for EGGER’s Charity of the Year. After meeting with the EGGER team, we were thrilled to be selected! EGGER has committed to supporting and partnering with Natural Ability for the next two years, an exciting opportunity that will help us continue to grow and enhance our services.
SEARCHING FOR A NEW HOME
As part of our growth strategy, we set out to diversify and expand our services. Recognising the need for additional centre-based offerings, we began searching for the perfect location. West Orchard House quickly stood out as a potential home for our expanding vision. We then undertook extensive due diligence and developed a comprehensive business plan to ensure it was the right fit for Natural Ability, laying the groundwork for an exciting new chapter.
CHRISTMAS WAS BACK ON!
After two years of festive lockdowns, we were thrilled to bring Christmas activities back in full swing! We kicked off the celebrations with Christmas Jumper Week, followed by a festive Christmas card competition. The highlight was our lively Christmas party, and we capped it all off with a magical afternoon at a private screening of Elf at The Forum Cinema in Hexham. Everyone indulged in popcorn and hot chocolate, and enjoyed the perfect festive afternoon.
2021
While 2021 continued to present challenges with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we were fortunate to experience some positive milestones. Thanks to LA6 Community Grant funding, we were able to support our Day Farming service in an exciting and unique way. Each participant had the opportunity to try something new and unforgettable—activities they had never experienced before. From kayaking and steam train journeys to indoor skydiving and even a thrilling helicopter ride, these moments created lasting memories.
The year was further brightened by a summer outdoor celebration at one of our Day Farming venues, The Garden Station in Langley on Tyne.
2020
In 2020, Fiona Carlile took on the role of official Registered Manager of our ISL service. With the growth of our team, we also introduced the new role of HR Advisor. At the same time, we developed and launched an ambitious three-year strategy.
However, the world soon faced an unprecedented challenge with the onset of COVID-19. As the pandemic unfolded, our Day Service and Head Office were forced to close, while our ISL staff became the frontline heroes the nation applauded every week. Together, our frontline staff and head office team worked tirelessly to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, implementing COVID Plans, Winter Plans, enhanced Business Continuity Plans, Vaccination Programmes, Testing Programmes, and Transition Plans. Over the course of the pandemic, our team received more than 130 vaccinations and registered over 3,800 COVID tests nationally. Our primary focus was ensuring the safety of the people we support and our staff, and we are proud to say that our greatest achievement that year was successfully doing just that.
Despite the uncertainty and immense pressure, Natural Ability remained resilient. Our workload surged substantially almost overnight, yet we kept moving forward. We welcomed new individuals into our ISL service, developed a virtual programme of activities for our Day Service attendees, and continued to advance our three-year strategy.
It was a challenging time, but our commitment to our mission never wavered.
2019
2019 was an incredibly successful year with a number of achievements occurring throughout the year!
We had a fantastic CQC inspection in which we received a Good overall rating and an Outstanding rating for our responsiveness.
We moved our head office from Allendale to Hexham to be nearer to our services, staff and the people we support. We also celebrated our 10th birthday and enjoyed a party within the foyer of our new home.
The ISL team within Service 4 hosted a Natural Ability family fun day to help raise funds for an activity budget for the ISL service. A fabulous day was had by all!
Staff and some of the people we support had an amazing evening at the North East Charity Awards.
We were delighted to win the award for Uniquely North East!
We enjoyed a fabulous festive Natural Ability day out at Beamish Open Air Museum. It was a lovely way to kick off all of our Christmas events and activities.
We enjoyed a fabulous festive Natural Ability day out at Beamish open Air Museum. It was a lovely way to kick off all of our Christmas events and activities.
2017
2018
ANNIE RETIRES
One of our founders, Annie Evans retires after a fantastic 8 years developing and leading Natural Ability services into a well established and dynamic organisation.
NEW SERVICE
With funding from Big Lottery we are able to launch the Handy Person Service.
The service provides supported employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, working as part of a team, in their local community.
FIRST CEO
Due to the growth of the organisation, the Board decided to introduce a Chief Executive Officer role.
We welcomed Nicola Crawford into this role in the March.
2016
We saw a large period of growth and development in 2016.Our ISL service grew to 3 individuals supported and our Day Farming service increased. We introduced an Alternative Education Service and Holiday Clubs during the summer months. Due to this growth we introduced a Manager for both the ISL service and Day Service and became a registered service with the Care Quality Commission.
2014
2015
ENABLING SUPPORT
We launched our first Enabling service operating 5 days per week.
NEW CHAIR
We welcomed several new trustees including Bruce Howorth who took over as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
ISL Growth
Our Supported Living Service grew as we supported another individual to live independently in their own home.
2013
In 2013 we were able to purchase our first minibus funded by the North Pennines Leader Programme.
Natural Ability staff and the people we supported took on a huge challenge in the summer of that year. They took on and conquered the Hadrian's Trail, spending 5 days walking the 87 mile route whilst raising funds to extend and enhance the services of Natural Ability.
2012
In April 2012 Natural Ability made a successful bid to the National Lottery and were awarded funding of £65,000 per year for 5 years which enabled Natural Ability to expand our Day Farming Services and gave us the sustainability we needed.
In October 2012, supported by Natural Ability, J moved into a cottage in Allenheads. He had achieved his ambition to return to the village he had grown up in and live as independently as possible. This was a massive step forward for J and a huge step forward for Natural Ability, our first Independent Living Service.
2011
In 2011 we received £70,000 from the Social Enterprise Investment Fund and a further £20,000 from Northern Rock. These grants were vital, they allowed Annie and Janice to believe that their idea would become a reality. It also enabled them to reduce the hours they worked in their full time roles in order that they could dedicate the time needed to develop Natural Ability. The funding supported the first office costs which was a room within the Allenheads Trust office and we also employed our first Support Worker and an Admin/Finance role. The first Specialist Education Programme began in which we supported one individual.
2010
In June 2010 Natural Ability was entered into the Register of Charities by The Charity Commission and received £100 from Allendale Parish Council which, although not a huge amount (with tongue in cheek they had asked for a million pounds to buy a farm), it was a huge recognition from the community that they were being taken seriously and that people had confidence in them, it made a lot of difference. Later the same year we were awarded a grant from Northern Rock which provided the seed funding needed to trial working with the Priory SEN School to offer young people opportunities to visit Allenheads and get involved with nature.
FIRST SERVICE
The very first day service opened - operating 1 day per week.
FIRST STAFF
Annie and Janice became Natural Ability's first staff members, both taking on the positions of Business Development Manager. An Activity Supervisor was also employed for the Day Service.
FIRST VOLUNTEER
Kathy Lowe became our first volunteer. Kathy has been invaluable in the development of Natural Ability and has been with the organisation since those very early days, becoming an employee and now working in the pivotal role of Finance Manager.
2009
JULY
Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
FIRST BOARD
Trevor Went; Andrew Sanders; Robert Philipson; Annie Sanders; Janice Walker; Keith Makin; Sean Soulsby.
WORK BEGINS
Annie and Janice both had full time jobs elsewhere and worked on Natural Ability on a voluntary basis on evenings and weekends.
Natural Ability was founded as a result of a discussion between Annie Evans and Janice Walker on 1st January 2009 whilst they were out riding their horses.
They had had many conversations in the past around the support which Annie’s son J needed and the lack of provision and opportunity for him to return to live near Allenheads in Northumberland, where he was born and where most of his family still lived. After this conversation however Annie and Janice decided to do something about the situation and Natural Ability was born.
With tenacity and naivety about the challenge which lay ahead they convinced others to get involved, namely Trevor Went (our first Chair) and Robert Philipson (who despite originally saying he didn’t have the time is now still with us 15 years later!).
© 2017 Natural Ability
Company Number: 6959710 Registered Charity Number: 1136665