We were delighted to help this young family feel more settled while they waited to be given a safe new home. Here, this Mum bravely shares their story, which references an abusive relationship. 

"I have a long story of domestic abuse and financial control. My ex-partner disappeared, and took everything including my car. I am completely alone in this country and because of my situation, I had no friends to help."

"My child has SEN autism and speech problems and needed surgery, but my ex-partner refused to help and without a car or money, I couldn’t get to all the medical appointments they needed." 

"That’s when social workers stepped in and took us to a safe house. I was able to start my life again, I went back to work and could get my child away from all the toxicity." 

"I used all money I had to buy a car, but we needed other things to help with daily life." 

"Our temporary accommodation has basics, but not everything is in good condition. We also needed a car seat for my child. When you need so many little things all at once, it’s too much."

"I saw the FTCT grants online, when I was looking for help. I saw that I could apply and then realised my employer was also promoting them at work. I thought to myself, it doesn’t hurt to apply."

"When I originally applied, I only asked for a couple of things, then the team emailed me back and encouraged me to apply for more."

"Now, with thanks to the grant, we have nice things of our own, like a kettle, a set of pans, spare bedding for my child’s bed and a new car seat, to keep them safe. I even bought one they can flex and grow into, so it will last for years to come." 

"We also got help with a vacuum cleaner which is important because there are carpets everywhere and my child has breathing problems, so cleaning the carpets everyday helps." 

"All these things make everyday life a little easier." 

Advice for other parents

"The grant eased a lot of stress on me. If I hadn’t applied, I could have made-do without these things, but having them has made my life so much easier and given me peace of mind." 

"You try to do your best for your child first, before you ask for help. You think you’re doing everything and then things aren’t working out and you’re stuck a bit. So it’s ok to ask for help." 

"To any other parent, maybe in the same situation, I would recommend you apply for the FTCT grant. It’s amazing, it’s also very easy to apply." 

"Things will get better with time and there are really good people out there who are willing to help you. It’s not just practical help, it’s a mental thing, when you ask for help, you don’t feel alone." 

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Interested in applying?

If you think an FTCT grant could help your family, please visit our Get Help section to find out more. You can find out more about our criteria and make an enquiry.