Sarah’s Story
Sarah is a single parent raising her son, who is autistic.
Both Sarah and her son face ongoing health challenges, and the combined impact of these, alongside the cost-of-living crisis, left her feeling overwhelmed and struggling to manage her finances.
Sarah lives with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, which makes it particularly difficult for her to stay on top of bills and day-to-day financial responsibilities. As a result, her debts began to build, and she fell behind on essential payments, placing her at risk of losing access to her energy supply.
When Sarah was referred to us, she was also living without key household appliances, making everyday life more difficult and increasing household costs.
Sarah had accumulated over £12,000 of debt in total, including energy arrears, council tax arrears and payday loans.
Following her initial assessment, we provided immediate support in the form of food and fuel vouchers to offer short-term relief and help keep her home warm and ensure she could afford essential items.
We then began coordinated casework to address Sarah’s longer-term financial difficulties. This included successful applications to clear her energy arrears and, subsequently, support to reduce her council tax arrears. In total, around £3,000 of debt has now been cleared, giving Sarah and her son much-needed financial breathing space.
Alongside this, we arranged for essential household items to be replaced, including a new fridge freezer and washing machine. These appliances have already made a significant difference, helping to reduce food waste and lower weekly household costs.
In addition to practical support, we worked with Sarah to develop a financial plan and provided tailored budgeting advice to help her manage her money more effectively going forward.
Sarah shared that having her debts cleared has lifted a huge weight from her shoulders, allowing her to focus more on her wellbeing and her son’s needs.