When the sands are shifting beneath your feet, it can be easy to let things slip, especially if you are experiencing financial hardship. But whatever is going on in life, there are certain things that do not stop, one of which is the need to feed yourself and those who rely on you.
Luckily, the Welfare team is on hand to help.
“We can offer support in many ways, but the quickest thing we can do for someone in crisis is provide them with supermarket vouchers so they can afford to eat,” says Welfare Services Lead Carrie Pearce. “These can then be spent on food and basic household products, to try and relieve some of the stress and have one less thing to worry about. Everyone deserves a basic standard of living, so we do our best to alleviate any immediate hardship, and then see what else we can do.”
Vouchers do not replace lost income or pay off debts, but they are offered during times of crisis or unforeseen circumstances to those people who meet the Charity’s criteria. The team can also help signpost towards debt advice or advise on any statutory benefits you may be entitled to.
“Given for a short period of time, the vouchers give people a bit of breathing room to organise their finances, without worrying about getting food on the table,” says Carrie. “Meanwhile the Welfare team works with beneficiaries to delve deeper into the cause of hardship and debt, and see what we can do to help.”
One beneficiary for whom the vouchers provided a much-needed lifeline is Oxfordshire firefighter Dan Homewood. A change of personal circumstances saw him facing the possibility of supporting his young daughter alone, and debts started creeping up on him.
“I was really struggling, getting into debt, trying to put food on the table and find childcare,” says Dan. “I got in touch with The Fire Fighters Charity and received advice and a friendly ear, as well as Sainsbury’s vouchers I could spend on fuel and food each month. It made a massive difference to my life. I’d gotten used to living with anxiety every day, not knowing how we were going to eat, which was having a huge psychological impact on me. The Charity’s support took away so much of that worry.”
Are you in financial hardship and worrying about getting food on the table for you or your family? Call us today on 0800 3898820 or apply online and a member of the team will be in touch with you soon.