Crossroads Care Harris have secured an unrestricted grant totalling £20,000 from Bank of Scotland Foundation’s funding programme Energise.

The grant will enable Crossroads Care Harris to meet increasing demand for its respite service to carers and help support vulnerable people living alone.

Crossroads Care Harris has been providing respite care in the home for carers and support for vulnerable people living alone in Harris for more than 41 years.

A trained care attendant goes into the home to give the carer a break to pursue other interests, employment or even rest. The service also provides person-centred support to vulnerable people living alone.

Crossroads Care Harris is part funded by the Cùram is Slàinte nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Integration Joint Board).  The charity is very much dependent on the generosity of the community and of other charitable funds to close the gap in their budget.

The service said demand had increased “enormously” over the past few years. This is mainly due to the increase in the number of elderly in the community and  those who live alone in remote and sparsely populated areas.

The increase in the level of dependence of vulnerable people living alone and the rise in the cost of living has also impacted Crossroads Care Harris finances.

Dolly Maclean, Chair of Crossroads Care Harris, said “We are delighted to receive the generous grant of £20,000 from the Bank of Scotland Foundation. Demand for our service is increasing all the time. This will enable us to continue providing the much-needed domiciliary respite care to hard pressed carers and will enable us to continue supporting vulnerable people living on their own in isolated circumstances.”

Donald MacKechnie, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said, “We are delighted to award Crossroads Care Harris with £20,000 of funding. The cost-of-living crisis means many charities are struggling with increasing expenditure, at a time when the demand for their services is greater than ever. Our grant awards will help charities through the challenging months ahead.”

Crossroads Care Harris also receives donations from the Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, Catherine M Macleod Trust, Harris Charity Shop and Councillors Ward Fund.