Sarah’s Story

When Sarah walked through the doors of our food bank, she was carrying a weight that felt impossible to bear. As a single mum and the primary carer for her autistic child, she wanted nothing more than to provide stability for her family. She had recently taken an important step forward by securing a part-time job and applying for Universal Credit to top up her income. What should have been a moment of relief quickly became another source of worry, as the mandatory five-week wait for her first Universal Credit payment left Sarah without enough money to live on. With over £12,000 of debt looming over her, an overdraft swallowing her remaining funds, and no money left for groceries, she had reached her breaking point. Sarah came to us to ask for a food parcel to feed herself and her child through the week, but thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, we were able to offer her far more.

While Sarah’s food parcel was being packed, we invited her to sit down with our in-house advisor. In that first conversation, over a cup of tea, our advisor began to untangle Sarah’s financial difficulties. To address the immediate emergency, our advisor secured more than £300 in crisis grants and supermarket vouchers, helping Sarah buy food and keep her electricity on while she waited for her first month’s pay. They also helped protect her income and secured a temporary reprieve from debt collectors, giving her vital breathing space at a time of overwhelming stress. They also worked with local partners across Birmingham to secure essential furniture and bedding for the family.

The true transformation, however, came from looking at the bigger picture. Our advisor realised Sarah was missing out on support she was legally entitled to. Together, they completed applications for Disability Living Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.

The result was life-changing: nearly £10,000 in additional support for Sarah and her family over the following two years.

Today, Sarah has a stable income, is receiving the support she is entitled to, and is steadily repaying her debts. She walked into the food bank to ask for help with food, but because of our advisor, she walked out with hope for her future.

Our Appeal

Sarah’s story shows what can happen when expert advice is available at the point of crisis.

Unfortunately, her experience is not unique. In the last 12 months, more than 400 people have received support through our advice service, and demand continues to grow.

Our funding for this vital service runs out in August. While we have secured partial funding for the year ahead, we still face a critical funding gap this autumn. We need to raise £8,549 to keep our full-time advisor in post through September and October, ensuring that people facing crisis can continue to access expert support when they need it most.

This funding will provide two months of advice, advocacy, and practical support for people on the lowest incomes in our community.

Based on previous outcomes, we estimate that during this period our advice service will generate more than £100,000 in additional income, debt relief, grants, and financial gains for local people.

In other words, for every £10 donated, we expect to secure more than £100 in financial benefit for those we support.

Will you help us bridge this funding gap and ensure that families like Sarah’s can continue to access life-changing advice and support?

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