“I just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart”
“I never expected this or knew it existed. I work the equivalent of two full-time jobs but as a single mother I still struggle with bills being so high. I am overwhelmed you were able to offer me this payment, it will really help me until I get paid.”
Fridge essential for medication and food
“My fridge-freezer broke and I lost loads of food,” says Charlie (name changed), who receives Universal Credit and PIP and lives with underlying medical conditions. “My medication has to be kept cold too, so I was storing it in my neighbour’s fridge.” The grant meant Charlie could get a second-hand fridge-freezer.
Kids get ‘full bellies’ in school holidays
Sheila (name changed) works during term-time as she has no support network to help look after her children, aged 6 and 2. School holidays are tough, especially as her eldest usually receives free school meals. “I’ll use the money to get some food in as I’m having financial difficulties at the moment. Knowing they’ll have full bellies until I can get on my feet again has really eased a lot of stress.”
A fix for Jared’s washing machine
“As I have disabilities and health conditions I can’t do much around the house with a broken washing machine,” says Jared, who lives in Birmingham. “Thanks for your help, the grant will help me to buy a replacement.”
Hospital taxi costs stretched Zadie to limit
“My baby was born nine weeks premature so we had to get to four hospital appointments every week for a while. You can’t get there on the bus. Taxis are £10 each way, which left us really short for food and essentials,” says Zadie (name changed). “I applied for a loan of £150 but was turned down and it was such a relief to get this grant.”
Grant helps domestic violence survivor rebuild
“I had none of the basics like a fridge or a bed, and had to sleep on the floor,” says Rita (name changed), who has secured housing in a different town after fleeing from domestic violence. “I’m so grateful I can start to furnish my new home with this grant.”
NHS worker is roadworthy with tyre bill covered
Working across three hospitals in Scotland, Jane (name changed) is heavily reliant on her car but its MOT revealed it needed a new tyre. “I just didn’t have the money to pay for it,” she says, “but this grant is literally a life saver. I can now pay for the tyre and still get to work.”
Nicola needed a washing machine
With a new baby and another child to look after, Nicola was delighted to move into a new property after experiencing homelessness. She’s putting her grant towards the cost of a washing machine and says she was “in desperate need of this appliance.”
Helen’s grant keeps electricity and gas on
34 year-old Sheffielder Helen applied for a small loan to pay off her energy bills. But repayments wouldn’t have been affordable to her. She was delighted to receive a £100 grant which has “helped massively so I can keep the gas and electricity on.”
Grant helps Biockson recover from surgery
“I won’t be able to work while recovering from surgery” says Nottinghamshire-based Biockson, “and I’d applied for a small loan for food and essentials. The grant will support me during my two-week recovery period.”
Part-time work leaves Anisah’s budget stretched
“This grant is very beneficial and will help me to buy groceries to last me for the month and contribute to utility bills,” says Anisah, who lives in London. His income from part-time work is less than £13,000 per year, which doesn’t go far. “I am very grateful to receive it.”