A Northumberland hospice has been awarded funding to help meet demand for care services.

Tynedale Hospice at Home has been awarded a grant of £5,000 from Hexham Town Council’s Emergency Covid-19 Community Organisation Fund.

The charity, which covers West Northumberland, Tynedale and Ponteland, has continued to provide care services throughout the pandemic.

Despite the continuation of its end of life care and bereavement support services, the hospice lost a major source of income when its four charity shops in Hexham, Prudhoe and Ponteland, were forced to close during lockdowns.

The hospice will receive less than 7 per cent of its required funding from the NHS this year. It usually makes around 33 percent of its income from its charity shops, though this year it’s predicted to be as much as half.

Mike Thornicroft, CEO of Tynedale Hospice at Home, said: “We are proud our care services have remained operational and available to local people who need them.

“In the last year, demand for our service has risen by 36% and we are extremely grateful for the grant award from Hexham Town Council at this time.

“Our end-of-life nursing care dovetails with our bereavement support work to provide a holistic approach that supports all the family. This personalised support is provided for as long as those affected need it and is critical given the additional challenges covid-19 has presented to the grieving process. We are truly grateful for the support we receive from our community to help us deliver our care services and support local families”.

Steve Ball, Deputy Mayor and Hexham Town Councillor, said: “Hexham Town Council recognise the special services that the Hospice continues to provide for our local community, particularly during the recent national lockdown and we are pleased to be supporting them from our emergency coronavirus fund.”