Home Farm Trust is a registered national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities. It provides a wide range of services for more than 1,000 people and supports 4,000 family carers.

Volunteers give their time and energy to help HFT in many ways, from assisting in the charity's shops to fundraising.

In North Oxfordshire, HFT provides residential care in Witney and Banbury, plus day services and a drop-in group.

A house in Banbury has been the happy home for seven people with learning disabilities since 1997, and in April, HFT is initiating an extensive conversion.

They are launching a local appeal to raise £150,000 towards the £450,000 cost of creating nine flats, plus some communal areas.

HFT welcomes any help with fundraising or donations people may like to offer.

In South Oxfordshire, HFT provides day services and accommodation at Milton Heights, and at two houses in Abingdon.

The Day Resource Centre offers stimulating opportunities including computers, photography, speech and communication therapy, music and cooking.

Many people will be familiar with their excellent coffee shop Bytes, where clients have reached a high standard in preparing food and provide a welcome ambience.

Other activities include hiking, drama, swimming and dance, and a number of people attend courses at the local college.

The health suite encourages people to keep fit on the exercise machines and provides therapeutic relaxation in the special spa bath.

HFT is also converting and extending one of the houses at Milton Heights to provide a vastly improved environment for residents with complex needs. During the building work, residents will require temporary accommodation to ensure the least disruption to their lives. The charity is appealing for volunteers to help raise funds to cover these costs.

Milton Heights is also home to the only UK centre, opened by The Princess Royal, dedicated to providing ICT training for adults with learning disabilities and for those who support them.

Hilary Colbert, HFT fund development manager, said: "With the help of The Oxford Times we are appealing again for local help to assist with our fundraising efforts and services. People in both North and South Oxfordshire have been tremendously supportive of our work in the county."

If you would to like to volunteer your help with HFT's fundraising events or initiatives, please contact Hilary Colbert on 01525 376564 or email hilary.colbert@hft.org.uk.

For more information on HFT's work in Oxfordshire or throughout the UK visit www.hft.org.uk