Families of children from across Highland who need to travel for specialist hospital care will be able to stay together in home-like accommodation, thanks to a new partnership between NHS Highland Charity and Airbnb.org
NHS Highland Charity has been awarded funding as part of a £1 million commitment to help provide temporary accommodation for UK families in need over the next few years through Airbnb.org’s Medical Stays programme, which launches in the UK today. The charity will use the credit to support children and young people, and their families, who live more than 50 miles from where the child is receiving specialist care or treatment, and for whom an overnight stay is unavoidable.
For many families in Highland, a child’s specialist care can mean a long journey and time away from home, work and school. The new support aims to ease some of that pressure by helping families stay together, in a setting that feels as close to home as possible, during what is often a stressful and uncertain time.
Rather than simply finding somewhere to stay, the charity will aim to find accommodation that offers the comforts of home, such as space for the whole family to be together and somewhere to prepare meals and rest properly between appointments.
The support is in addition to, and does not replace, existing NHS patient travel and accommodation support available to eligible patients and escorts.
Nathan Blecharczyk, co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Airbnb, said: “Through Airbnb.org’s Medical Stays programme, we’re working with NHS and non-profit organisations to provide free overnight stays for patients and families near hospitals and committing £1 million over the next few years, so patients can be supported by their loved ones without the financial pressure of paying for accommodation.”
Catherine Myles, NHS Highland Charity Lead, said: “When a child needs specialist care far from home, the whole family feels it. Long journeys, time away from work and school, and worry about where to stay all add to what is already a very stressful time.
“This partnership with Airbnb.org means we can find alternative accommodation that feels more like home, so families can stay together, rest properly and focus on what matters most, which is their child. We know how far many Highland families travel for care, and we’re grateful to Airbnb.org for working with us to make that journey a little easier.”
NHS Highland Charity is one of a number of NHS and charity partners across the UK taking part in the Airbnb.org Medical Stays programme, alongside organisations including Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, UCLH Charity and The Grand Appeal, Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity. Airbnb.org has committed £1 million to provide free temporary accommodation for UK families in need of medical care over the next few years.
NHS Highland Charity (SC016791) is the official charity supporting NHS Highland. It helps turn generosity into practical support for patients, families and staff across Highland and Argyll and Bute. From small comforts to meaningful improvements, charitable funding supports projects that enhance care experiences and wellbeing, beyond what NHS budgets can provide. The charity’s work is made possible by the generosity of local communities, donors and supporters who want to help care go further, close to home.
Airbnb.org is a non-profit organisation founded by Airbnb that provides free temporary accommodation during times of crisis. Airbnb covers all of Airbnb.org’s operating costs, so 100% of donations go towards funding accommodation for those who need it most.