Yasmin is a single mother who had been facing difficult times after her partner left the family home. She found herself trying to manage everything on her own and struggling under a mountain of bills and debt, particularly her energy account.
After meeting Yasmin at a Warm Hub venue, Our Warmth Matters Adviser contacted to Yasmin’s energy supplier, explaining her new circumstances. We arranged a manageable payment plan, and they even provided a couple of months’ breathing space. The energy company’s wellbeing team also stepped in, scheduling regular check-ins to offer her the support she needed during such a challenging time.
However, a few months later, on a cold January evening, things took a turn. Yasmin was desperate. Her washing machine had broken down, she was out of funds, and couldn’t even top up her gas or electricity. It was freezing, and she couldn’t afford to turn on the gas to cook a warm meal for her young children. In her words, she’d “hit rock bottom.”
Our Warmth Matters Adviser completed a household support fund application for Yasmin, and was able to issue her some emergency fuel vouchers. We also connected her with a local charity that provided a new washing machine for her family. Over the following months, we made regular contact with Yasmin, checking in to see how she was doing and providing support as needed.
Later that year Yasmin contacted us to tell us that she’d enrolled in university to study midwifery, found a flexible job, and, to top it all off, had managed to clear her energy debt.
Yasmin says: “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. I was at my lowest point and couldn’t see a way back from that. I honestly don’t know where I’d be today if it wasn’t for your kindness and support.”
