LEUCHIE House respite centre has been awarded more than £17,000 to help fund a new programme called Leuchie Together that eases the stress and reduces the social isolation of people living with a neurological condition and the loved ones who care for them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Leuchie House, south of North Berwick, has been supporting families over the phone as it had stopped offering respite care due to the coronavirus outbreak.

It also developed a daily programme of online engagement, including live entertainment and broadcasts, activities people could try at home and a virtual book club. For those unable to access the internet, a volunteer pen pal programme was set up.

To develop this initiative further, both the National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, and the Scottish Government’s Wellbeing Fund, established to help charities support at-risk people who may be worst affected by the pandemic, awarded Leuchie House matched grant funding totalling £17,026.

Helen Ross, Leuchie House’s guest engagement manager, said: “These families can feel isolated at the best of times, so the increased need to remain isolated for a longer period is very likely to have a significant effect on their overall wellbeing.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the National Lottery and the Scottish Government for this funding which will enable us to provide tailored support for families who would normally benefit from regular respite breaks at Leuchie.”

Mark Bevan, Leuchie’s CEO, said: “Caring for a loved one has never been more challenging. Support networks made up of friends, family and neighbours have been disbanded, and many of the families we’re supporting have seen their formal care packages reduced or disrupted as a result of this crisis.

“This funding is evidence that respite comes with many faces. Sometimes the chance to sit and have a simple cup of tea while a loved one enjoys a chat with one of our staff is all the respite a carer needs to get them through their day.”

In March, Leuchie House made the difficult decision to stop its respite services, cancel or postpone all of its fundraising activities and temporarily close its doors to protect the health of the families it supports.

Leuchie then repurposed its facilities and staff and has been helping the NHS by providing around-the-clock care for people who no longer need medical care but are not well enough to go back home or into community care.

Leuchie House expects expecting the Covid-19 outbreak to have a significant impact on its finances and continues to appeal for donations via virginmoneygiving.com/fund/LeuchieEmergencyAppeal

Although the charity has continued to receive financial support from the NHS for the delivery of its new service, this money will not cover the income it would have generated through its respite care services.

All of Leuchie’s external fundraising activities and events have been postponed or cancelled until at least the end of this month, in order to reduce the spread of infection.