Nearly £25,000 of donated money will help fund wellbeing programmes for staff at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

Project Hope was set up between the NHS trust and Greenwich Council amid the peak of Covid-19 infections in the UK in January this year.

The scheme prompted housebuilder Berkeley East Thames to launch an online fundraiser which it promised to match - eventually raising a total of £23,830.

The funds raised by Berkeley will help the NHS trust's charity fund staff wellbeing initiatives, such as the provision of psychological support for staff including psychologist led team workshops on topics such as resilience and work life balance.

This contribution will also help the charity enhance staff areas including updating seating and providing updated facilities such as lockers.

Karl Whiteman, divisional managing director of Berkeley East Thames, presented the cheque to NHS staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich.

He said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the NHS staff who have done such an amazing job during these difficult times.

"It’s great to be able to give something back, and we’re delighted that the funds raised will be used by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust’s charity to support the wellbeing of the staff who have really stepped up for our local communities when we’ve needed it most.”

Ben Travis, chief executive of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, said: “I’d like to thank Berkeley and everyone who donated so generously towards this fundraising appeal.

This Is Local London: Queen Elizabeth and Lewisham Hospital are currently overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

"The support to NHS staff from our local communities, businesses and partners – including the Royal Borough of Greenwich, who initiated Project Hope – has been truly overwhelming and has really kept us going."

Greenwich council leader Danny Thorpe added: "It has been wonderful to see the support for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust through Project Hope, and we are all very grateful for this really generous donation.

"I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand the amazing work of the NHS staff at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, who have really gone the extra mile for patients and Royal Greenwich residents during the pandemic."