Sarah recently supported the reunification of two families and for each family she left our warehouse with her car full to the brim, eager to see their reactions.

Family 1: A fresh start at school

One family, whose Mum had been so worried about the cost of school uniform she wasn’t sure how she was going to manage. Her worries were increased by the length of time she was having to wait for her Child Benefit and Universal Credit to start coming through. Realising that her children (aged 5 and 7) are at such an important age in their school life, starting at their new school needed to be a positive experience. Having lived in foster care and different placements most of their lives, there had been so much instability that she really wanted to get this right!

She desperately wanted them to look nice and fit in, and to show them that Mum was able to provide them with the items they needed. Although she could have searched charity shops, finding quality items in good condition, of the right size, can be difficult. An alternative could have been to approach the school for help but she was worried this would look like she wasn’t coping, especially since she’d only just got her children back. Sarah told us how this is a common misconception of the families she works with:

“They’ve worked and fought so hard to get their children back, they think asking for help is a sign of failure. In fact, I’ve noticed that parents under these circumstances are less likely to ask for help than others. But because I’ve worked with Stripey Stork many times, I’m able to reassure them that this is a positive thing. Everyone needs a helping hand now and again, and knowing when to ask is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

Despite initial hesitations, Mum was overwhelmed with gratitude upon receiving brand new school shoes (thanks to Sal’s Shoes), nearly new coats for both children, filled school bags and all the non-branded uniform for a full school week. Particularly touching was the gift of a grey pinafore dress, which quickly became a cherished possession for her 7-year-old daughter. She loved it so much, only having worn skirts for school before, that Mum had to keep washing it every evening. Once we heard, we were quick to send her some more to take that added pressure away from Mum.

At the end of each school day, she exchanges her pinafore dress for her next new favourite item; a brand new hooded blanket. It was the first thing she tried on when Sarah arrived and what she was wearing when Sarah left:

“She absolutely loves it. It was spot on to her taste and the softest material I’ve ever felt. She kept holding it against her cheek.”

Being able to gift this hooded blanket highlights the significance of seemingly small gestures in rebuilding a sense of normality and comfort. We’d like to thank the Household Support Fund for enabling us to buy these blankets in bulk, as well as other winter essentials like beds, blankets and warm clothes.

Her 5-year-old brother, eager to embrace learning, delved straight into the story books we included. It was nice to hear the reading level was pitched just right and when Sarah left, he and Mum were reading together.

Sarah has reassured the family that Stripey Stork would continue to support them as their needs evolve; when the children outgrow their uniform or are ready for the next reading level.

For Mum, this was going to be the first Mother’s Day she was going to feel like a proper Mum. With the children being young and this being a new tradition for them, we included one of our A Gift For Mum pampering packs which they could give her on the day. Included in the pack was a special message on a card handwritten by one of our volunteers, with some words of encouragement that she’s doing a great job.

Family 2: Creating a home environment

Another family being supported, are two daughters (aged 3 and 6) now living with Dad for the first time. They’ve been in foster care for the last two years as unfortunately they were not able to live with Mum. During this time, Dad has been working hard to get things in order to create a stable home environment for his girls, and Sarah couldn’t be prouder of how far he’s come.

Dad has given up his bedroom, happy to be sleeping in the lounge so the girls can have their own space. He’s decorated their new room beautifully, but it was missing new bedding. They now have bedding fit for two princesses, in keeping with the décor they so love. We know a nice duvet cover and pillowcase can make such a difference to a bedroom, but for a child, it can mean everything. Even the small things like the new toothbrushes we provided for everyone can make a big difference. As Sarah explained:

“It’s what it represents; we are home and are here to stay!”

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Sara wanted to conclude by expressing her gratitude:

“The families I support are genuinely shocked by what I’m able to help them with and how lovely the items are. They’ve worked so hard to make so many positive changes, that for me to be able to help them at the last hurdle in this practical way feels like the most amazing reward for them.”

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“They had to cover the floor with rolls of wallpaper and sleep in their clothes to protect them from the previous tenants’ body stains.”

Imagine moving into somewhere so dirty that all the cleaning in the world could not remove the human stains left on the carpet, feeling like the only solution was to lay down wallpaper for protection. Imagine you and your children having to sleep in their clothes and coat, with no money for bed linen to help make the beds clean to sleep in.

This was the case for a Mum and her two girls who, for their own protection, were recently placed in temporary accommodation. Already traumatised by what had happened to cause them to flee, their hearts sunk once more when they saw the state of what should have been their sanctuary. Their studio room with small kitchenette and minimal furniture was filthy!

After the initial shock, Mum, who also suffers from mobility issues, cleaned up as best she could, but this was never going to be good enough. She called her support worker in tears; they had no bedding so were forced to sleep in clothes the night before to act as a barrier between them and the mattresses. They had no funds to buy bed linen and mattress protectors, and on top of all this, she was worried that such living conditions would bring on her youngest’s asthma.

We were urgently contacted by their support worker to see if we could help. We were quick to respond with the requested items and were also able to supply three sets of duvets and pillows, mattress protectors, sheets and blankets. The beds were now clean and protected, ready for a comfortable night’s sleep. Their support worker has been able to secure some rugs to cover over the state of the floor, making it feel much more homely throughout.

On hearing that they were sharing a bathroom, we were also able to include a good supply of toiletries to make this experience more pleasant and keep them going in the weeks ahead. They know that if, and when, the children need clothes, school supplies or anything else, we are here to help.

Mum was moved to tears when she saw what we had provided and expressed her gratitude with this thank you card. A lovely gesture which we wanted to share with you all.

Their support worker also wanted to stress that even though the family have shown great resilience, she really doesn’t know what they would have done without help from Stripey Stork.

We know only too well how help like this can make a big difference when families are living in the most dire of conditions and through circumstances such as these. We have helped many Mums before her and sadly, will need to help many more. But help we will because nobody should have to live like this. And it is thanks to your support that we can.

We wish this family well for the future and hope they settle somewhere more permanent soon. In the meantime, we are pleased we have helped make their temporary home cleaner and more comfortable.

Sweet dreams and sleep well – it’s what they deserve and much more.

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