Sabina* was facing a large amount of stress. A recently single mother of two, she found herself in a cramped flat with accumulating debt, while grieving the loss of her marriage.
Her Home–Start volunteer Ciara* was able to help Sabina in several ways, including introducing her to the local Home–Start Family Group where she was able to find community connection and activities for her children. Ciara provided Sabina with emotional support surrounding the split from her husband and helped her contact her utility companies and secure a debt waiver and reduction. Ciara also helped Sabina and her children in decluttering their flat and researching and applying to secondary schools for her daughter. Ciara encouraged Sabina to apply for further education so she could pursue her independent career goals.
Sabina has been able to gain confidence within herself and the support from both Ciara and her local Home–Start Family Group has meant her and her children’s social networks have expanded and she now feels less isolated. She has been able to stabilise her finances and gain an improved outlook for the future.