Sammy* is a mum who lives in Newcastle with her sons - Leo*, 16, and Aidan*, five. Last winter, Leo’s Youth Workers from our Base 128 Youth Service, Katy and Karen, helped Sammy to get support from the Barnardo’s poverty fund when she was struggling financially. Sammy and Leo share their experiences struggling with the cost-of-living and how the support they received made a big difference to their family Christmas.
Sammy’s struggles with the cost-of-living as a single mum
“I’m struggling a lot at the moment. I had a job that I loved but my health became really bad, which meant I had to take time off work, and I was eventually laid off. It had a massive effect on me mentally,” says Sammy.
“Money wise, I’m just struggling every single day to be honest. I keep putting things off instead of acknowledging them because I just don’t know what to do about money. I’m on universal credit, but I can’t fully commit myself to a job until my health is better. I don’t know where I’d be without universal credit, but I still have my weekly shopping, bus fares and everything else to worry about. It’s awful for us at the minute, to be honest.
“My son’s project worker, Katy, helped me get food from some local food banks recently because I’ve been struggling to afford food. It’s hard to make my money stretch over the month.
“I’ve lived in my house for almost a year, and I still haven’t been able to afford to put carpets down or install blinds. It’s really hard. I’m hoping things will get better soon, but I feel so fed up. All I can do is hope that change is coming,” she says.
“The support we were given was absolutely amazing”
“I found out about the poverty fund because my son Leo gets support from Barnardo’s. He goes [to the Base 128 Youth Service] every week and absolutely loves it. He’s built a really close relationship with everyone at Barnardo’s and has made some long-term friendships. It’s been great for him,” Sammy says.
“Katy had mentioned that support was available to get food. I think Leo was quite embarrassed about the idea at first, but I asked Katy for help because I was struggling with Christmas coming up.”
“I was overjoyed, relieved, and grateful that my mam, brother, and me didn’t have to worry about a rubbish Christmas anymore,” Leo adds. “Barnardo’s helped make sure we all had gifts, and the support really did make our Christmas - especially for my little brother.
Barnardo’s helped make sure we all had gifts, and the support really did make our Christmas - especially for my little brother.
Leo, 16
“Mam was sad and upset in the run up to Christmas, however after a chat and sharing her worries, Barnardo’s stepped in to help. It had a positive impact on her too, and I noticed she was much happier.”
“The support we were given was absolutely amazing,” says Sammy. “My health was bad at Christmas last year, and I was struggling mentally as well due to things happening in my personal life. Christmas was really hard for us. I didn’t have much at all.
“The fund helped me buy Christmas presents for the boys which meant a great deal. I felt the pressure of knowing I’d managed to buy them Christmas gifts in the past, but this time was different. I know it isn’t about how much you spend, and the boys are always grateful for whatever they get. They were so grateful to have presents to open on Christmas morning—but they would have had a lot less if it wasn’t for Barnardo’s help.”
“Christmas was better when I was younger - when my family were financially and emotionally better off,” says Leo. “Both me and my brother value family time at Christmas, although he really doesn’t understand the challenges people can face at this time of the year to make sure it’s a good one.
“Christmas hasn’t been great for us in recent years. Mam has especially suffered, feeling like she ‘hasn’t done enough’. Me and my brother don’t see it like that though. We know she’s done her best and we’re happy enough with family time.
“I think mam felt like she was letting us down, and she felt the strain of having to do everything to support us as a single parent.”
“Barnardo’s is my safe space where I can just be me”
“I’ve been with Barnardo’s since I was 11,” Leos says. “My favourite things about Barnardo’s are coming in and being supported by the workers. I don’t know how Karen has put up with me all this time but I’m really glad she has! Also, I’ve made some great friends through the service who don’t judge me or my family for the type of life we lead. Barnardo’s is my safe space where I can just be me.
“Karen came into my middle school about six years ago to work on a ‘Kindness Programme’ to help me have a better time in school. On the last session, she brought me to the Base 128 Youth Service, and the rest is history. She keeps me grounded with encouragement and support all the time without judgement. She’s my most trusted person outside of my immediate family.”
“When I’m back on my feet, I’m definitely going to give back to Barnardo’s and the local food banks which have helped us,” says Sammy. “They’ve been really good to us.”
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of the families we support.
Will you help us lift half a million children in the UK out of poverty?
It’s not fair that nearly one in three children in the UK live in poverty. That means cold homes, empty plates, and missed opportunities. And behind every statistic is a child missing out on the childhood they deserve. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Cost-of-living crisis: Where to get support if your family is struggling
We know that the cost-of-living crisis is making life harder and harder for families. So, if you’re struggling to afford the essentials, here is where you can get support.
“The support from Barnardo’s saved us for those few weeks… It really saved us.” - Ellie’s story
Ellie* is a single mum from Swindon who, along with her children, Daniel* (10) and Violet* (14), has received support from the Barnardo’s Swindon and Wiltshire Phoenix Project. This year, Ellie was able to buy food vouchers through our poverty fund to help her family cope with the cost-of-living.