An outdoor centre for people with special needs has announced its new executive director.

Tina Nash, one of the organisers of the Third Sector Co-ordinated Crisis Response team, has succeeded Chrissie Kempe as head of Warwick-based WindReach.

Ms Nash said: “I am thrilled and humbled to have been selected as the WindReach executive director. To be joining such a professional, passionate and dedicated team, and equally dedicated and engaged board of directors, is a privilege and honour.

“WindReach exists to enrich the quality of life for people with special needs. We are working diligently to build our capacity to offer our much needed and valued services to our community, and to continue to empower our clients to live their absolute best lives.”

Ms Nash thanked donors and predicted “a great year” at WindReach.

Ms Kempe had planned to step down at the end of April, but continued in the job through to May to help with the transition to Ms Nash.

Stewart Ritchie, chairman of the WindReach board, said the charity was “thrilled” to have Ms Nash.

Mr Ritchie said: “Every executive director brings their own unique skill set and characteristics to the role and we’re delighted to have someone of Tina’s energy and enthusiasm to build upon the fantastic platform that Chrissie has developed.

“While it’s generally accepted that Bermuda’s third sector has been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak, WindReach has taken steps to shore up its position in anticipation of a time when its programming could restart.”

WindReach had to lay off staff and cut hours at the height of Covid-19 restriction to conserve funds.

Mr Ritchie said Ms Nash had joined on “a scalable contract while we work to scale up our operations”.

He added that WindReach, which was kept afloat over the crisis with the backing of “steadfast donors”, was now working on a plan to reopen.

Ms Nash, who has been the national director of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and stepped down last December as the executive director of Raleigh Bermuda, a charity that offers outdoor adventure and charity work for young people, took the helm at WindReach on Monday.

She was appointed to the job at a meeting of the WindReach board on May 19.

Ms Nash is also on the board of autism charity Tomorrow’s Voices and was a board member at the Centre on Philanthropy, which closed in February.