A TEAM from a Tynedale vets have raised money for a charity which provides support to those who work in the veterinary profession.

Orchard House Vets, which has branches in Stocksfield, Hexham, and Bellingham, have raised £270 for Vetlife after staff members took part in a charity bootcamp session.

The charity provides emotional, financial and mental health support to anyone in the UK veterinary community, and has a 24/7 helpline.

Veterinary surgeons in the UK are three to four times more likely than the general population to die by suicide, according to Vetlife.

Jill Crawford, one of the vets at Orchard House who organised the fundraiser, said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its continuing effects have increased the difficulties those working in the veterinary profession across the country face.

"Outside of Covid, being in the veterinary profession can be very emotionally draining," she said.

"Pets are very important to people and helping them when things go well is very satisfying, but if things don't go well, it can be very hard emotionally to deal with.

"We're a practice where we do 24 hours on call, so you can have disrupted sleep, you can have calls on your time outside of normal working hours, so it can mean you're working a lot longer than a normal working day.

"That's what we sign up to do, and in the practice we're very strongly committed to helping our clientele whenever they need that help. But nonetheless it does put a bit of strain on people."

On November 2, Annie Lees, founder of Bootcamp Tynedale, hosted a bootcamp session at Tynedale Rugby Club, where the team completed a series of fun games and challenges.

"Some of us are more athletic than others!" said Jill.

"But everyone got into the spirit of it and there was an enormous amount of laughing.

"It was good fun and it was a good way of getting together and doing something that is actually helpful for your wellbeing and raising funds for charity as well.

"We were really happy and proud with how it went, and grateful to Bootcamp Tynedale for offering the free session."

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OrchardHouseVets?