"Without FTCT’s help it would have been extremely difficult and I would have worried endlessly about how to replace all the things we needed for daily life." 

After a fire at home damaged most of the family's personal belongings, Jitender reached out to the FTCT for support to replace them. Here, Jitender shares their story and offers advice to other parents thinking of applying to the FTCT. 

"My name is Jitender and I have two children, Benisha (age 11), and Vaanya (aged 6). I work for Marks & Spencer and have been with the company for 20 years." 

"Earlier this year, a fire broke out at our house while my wife and children were at home. A spark from an electrical fan set the sofa on fire and it quickly spread to the rest of the flat. Most of our personal belongings including clothes and furniture were completely lost."

Reaching out for support

Jitender picked up the phone and called FTCT, knowing that as a parent working at Marks & Spencer he would be eligible to apply for a grant to help replace the essentials they had lost, particularly those for Benisha and Vaanya. The grants team got to work on his application and turned the family's grant around in under 3 weeks. 

"By providing funds for these items [including a new sofa and clothing for Benisha and Vaanya], the FTCT played a major role in changing the life of our entire family, especially when the cost of living is going up over the years." 

"Without FTCT’s help to buy these items, it would have been extremely difficult for us and I would have worried endlessly about how to manage to replace all the things we needed for a normal daily routine." 

"We are truly grateful for the FTCT’s kindness, generosity, and understanding. Their support eased the financial and emotional stress we were facing and gave us hope when we needed it most."

Jitender's Advice For Other Parents

"On behalf of my entire family, thank you from bottom of our heart to all the FTCT team, for helping us rebuild our lives and move forward after such a devastating event."

"To any other parent thinking of applying for a grant, please do. What sets them apart from other is that they really listened to us. The grants team support you on every step." 

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