Sofia* suffers from anxiety and is a newly single mum. Separated from her family who do not live in the UK, Sofia was furloughed from her job at the start of lockdown and was left alone at home with her 2-year-old son facing emotional and financial stress.
Before lockdown Sofia had been meeting with her Home-Start volunteer Laura* and these meetings have continued through phone calls, emails and outside meet-ups as lockdown eased. Home-Start support has helped Sofia with her stress level, referring her to meditation sessions online and directing her to local services to help her meet her needs, such as food and nappy deliveries. And also assisted Sofia in her successful application for 30 hours of nursery funding. Home-Start has been able to provide Sofia with activity bags containing arts and crafts, toys and a donated children’s painting easel to help keep her son busy and engaged through lockdown.
Sofia is now managing her stress levels and focusing on having fun and engaging her son at home.