A hospice serving Rutland and the Vale of Belvoir has announced a range of initiatives to ensure it is a part of the community.

Dove Cottage Rutland, based at Stathern, near Melton Mowbray, says it is open and continues to provide care support services online and by phone.

The centre's Jenny Hendry said: "We also plan to start a virtual Carers' Support Group, which is a new and exciting project for us, and we're proud to be part of a group of Rutland community organisations who have set-up a bereavement help point.

"Like many services and voluntary organisations, we are having to rethink how we continue to support adults living in Rutland with advanced life-limiting illnesses and their families during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"But we want to reassure people that, whilst day care at Dove is temporarily unable to take place, our staff are continuing to offer nursing advice and friendship by telephone and online.

"We are actively looking for new referrals who may benefit from our fantastic free services.

Jenny says the pandemic is making it hard for families to care for their loved ones and Dove Cottage can also help here.

"We plan to start a Carers' Support Group which will run virtually until face-to-face meetings are possible. We may also be able to offer support by telephone.

"Please do call us if you are a carer who needs a little respite and you think we may be able to help. "

The hospice has also set up a Bereavement Help Point for the people of Rutland.

Jenny continued: "Many of us are aware of the difficulty people face in coping with bereavement and the loneliness they can feel. Being able to talk to others in a similar situation can help, which is why we have set up our new, online Bereavement Help Point.

"The service was initially intended to be face-to-face support in Ketton. But, because of Covid-19, we've had to have a re-think about how we can continue to support people, and have decided to take the Help Point online from January 2021.

"The Rutland Bereavement Help Point is an online drop-in service that aims to provide bereaved people with a place where they can access information and support, where they can talk to others and share their emotions in a safe, online environment.

"It doesn't matter when your bereavement was – it could have been recently or several years ago – the Help Point is for all.

"The Help Point has been set up by local residents, Ketton Parish Council, LOROS, Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and Dove Cottage Day Hospice, with support from Dying Matters in Rutland, and the Whitebread Trust and Community Foundation.

"It is run by volunteers who have undergone training and are supported by our local hospices.

"If you are bereaved and would like to come along, the virtual Bereavement Help Points run every second and fourth Thursday of the month, from 10:00 – 11:30.

For details of this and other services available from the hospice, please call 01572 722630 or email [email protected]