Caledonia Cremation is offering help to those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19.

A social enterprise funeral director has launched a bereavement support helpline for those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19.

Caledonia Cremation is offering the service after speaking to families who were struggling to process their grief after being unable to attend funerals or wakes under social distancing rules.

The helpline will connect parents, children, siblings and partners who have suffered a bereavement to a trained psychotherapist who can provide much-needed support.

Community investment organisation Foundation Scotland is partly funding the service, allowing Caledonia’s full-time staff to continue with their essential duties during the pandemic.

John Halliday, Caledonia Cremations co-founder, said: “We heard from one family whose grandfather died in intensive care last week. They were unable to visit him and upon his passing there was no wake and they were unable to attend his funeral. We offered all the support we could but we felt we needed to do more to help others.

“As a charity-owned social enterprise, our priority is first and foremost to support people in Scotland. Up until now that has been by providing dignified, caring, not-for-profit funerals which don’t push families into funeral debt. We have always provided a caring service, but these are unprecedented times and we felt we needed to increase our capacity to provide emotional support – even if that person hasn’t used our services.

“We always said it was important that there was a not-for-profit funeral director like us, someone who genuinely does not profit a penny from a loss. This is something we can do to really give back to society with everything we have got while also bringing prices down. Grieving people need support right now, and they can trust us to put their care first."

The service is available on 03000 11 33 01.