Shannon’s story
Shannon kindly shared her story in the Leicester Mercury and on ITV Central News to help raise awareness of the struggle families are facing and how our work makes a difference.
Shannon is a single mum with two children. She was made redundant as a result of the pandemic and found herself struggling to make ends meet with her Universal Credit payments. She had also recently become the main carer for her brother, but was not getting financial support for his care and was left unable to afford the clothing he needed. Your support helped to supply clothing vouchers so that Shannon could provide for her younger brother during this difficult time.
She told us; “For me in these tough times you have been a huge help. I am extremely grateful – without you guys I would have really struggled. Thank you.”
"It’s fantastic to see all the ways the community comes together to improve the lives of people in need. From undertaking challenges, to dress-up days, quizzes, raffles and cake-bakes, to donating, setting up a regular gift, volunteering or spreading the word, it all helps to ensure people living in hardship are warm, safe and fed and have the basics in life that we all deserve."
Debbie suffers with a number of health conditions, which make daily life and caring for her young child a real challenge. Previously working as a cleaner, Debbie now receives her income through Universal Credit and Child Benefit as she is…
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Mia lives with her teenage son. She has serious mobility issues which prevent her from taking up paid work and the limited benefits the family receives leave very little after daily essentials are purchased – particularly in the current cost…
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Arlene was referred to us by a council advisor in need of support. Arlene had gone through an extremely difficult time. She had become homeless after being cuckooed by a criminal gang that took over her property and left her…
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Rhea was referred to us by another charity. Rhea has a number of health conditions and lives with a learning disability. Her teenage daughter has also been diagnosed with mental health conditions which makes daily life challenging. Rhea is unable…
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Nita lives alone and suffers from a range of long-term health conditions, including osteoarthritis. She lives in constant pain and struggles with her mobility. Nita was referred by her tenancy support worker who realised she had no storage in her…
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Zard and his family have been struggling. With four children to look after, including one child with a disability, and being unable to work for the past two years due to a heart condition, Zard and his wife are in…
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Jack and Kirsti have spent long periods sleeping rough. They were referred to us by a homeless charity as they have recently been supported in moving into a new local authority tenancy. This gives the opportunity of a more settled…
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Simone was referred to us by a Welfare Support Officer. She is now caring for her three children on her own since her partner left the family and she has been struggling to cope with all the pressures this presents.…
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Lee, who is in his fifties, was referred to us for help by a local charity as he was in desperate need of a fridge freezer and a washing machine. Lee has worked all his adult life but at the…
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Kim was a teacher but, as a single mum, she moved to a different role so she could meet the childcare needs of her daughter, who is now 11, and this meant a reduction in her income. With the rising…
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