After park run, still in my sweats, I thought Id pop in on one of our mums as this was my only spare hour of the weekend the rest of it was packed with Zarach, school work and hosting a family baby shower.

The day before, our support worker Julie had said she had spoken to mum on the phone and that it was a particularly tough phone call. We speak to lots of families every week in heart breaking situations. I knew if Julie had mentioned it, that it really must have been difficult. I had no phone data left so I couldnt download her number to call ahead. I remembered the address but I couldnt use sat nav to find it. Really it made sense to go home and not visit. No one likes surprise visitors and as a rule we always ring beforehand. However, I figured I was happy to just chat on the doorstep and if mum didnt want to answer the door or wasnt in that was fine. The chance I could do something to help or maybe even cheer her up seemed to outweigh the negatives.

I rang my sister and asked her to navigate me to the address from where I was parked. After a few wrong turns, I found the house. I cautiously knocked on the door and mum answered. I explained who I was and apologised for the unannounced visit. Mum burst into tears and invited me in. She said for the past 24 hours shed been thinking about ending it all. In the kitchen there was a rope with a noose.

I Mum has just come out of hospital a week ago after a serious operation to remove a cancerous tumour which included a full hysterectomy. Shes facing chemo, HRT and a long road to recovery. A few weeks before she went into hospital her dad died. Who she described as her rock. She moved to Leeds fleeing domestic violence. She has a lot going on. Despite all this mum really wants to get back to work as soon as possible. We talked about how she needs to look after her mental health first which she is finding difficult given her situation and as she said her hormones are all over. Mum has two daughters and some great support agencies in place but this doesnt mean all problems get sorted. The brilliant agencies working in Leeds to help families in complex poverty crisis have limited funds.

I Mum was referred to us as due to an ongoing leaking roof on the private £850pcm rental property all the beds in the house had been ruined (see photos). One of her daughters is having to stay out at a friends as they were worried the bedroom ceiling would collapse just like had happened in the kitchen. There is damp in many areas of the house. When mum moved in she paid for a lovely laminate floor to be laid. After the kitchen ceiling coming down this floor, the washing machine and the living room carpet was ruined. Mum didnt have house insurance and is really cross at herself for not getting it sorted.

I spent a couple of hours with the family and spoke with her daughters too. I didnt leave until someone came over to stay with mum to keep an eye on her. The good news is we can provide the beds but thats little help when the ceilings are still leaking.

The appropriate organisations are dealing with the landlord and roof repair issues. Ill be supporting them in doing so but these things take time.

The downstairs leaks have now been fixed and Id love to sort this mum out with a carpet and a washing machine this week.

Private landlords only have to provide flooring in the bathroom and kitchen. Throughout September weve received 60+ referrals from schools in Leeds where theyve learnt that a child doesnt have a bed. This family is one of those. Theres a shortage of local authority housing so most of the children referred to us are also living in properties where only the bathroom and kitchen have flooring.

The first 2 photo shows another bed delivery this week of a 5 year old girls bedroom without a carpet. Mum also fled domestic violence 9 months ago and told us shes going to get one of those high interest payday loans for a carpet as she feels like a failure of a mum and debt is a better option than facing a winter without a carpet for her daughter. Again, Id love to sort out a carpet for them. My husband visited this mum and came home saying, Bex, we have to do something. Usually he manages to stay emotionally disconnected, as we often have to to see what we see and stay sane.

After visiting the first mum I got in the car and sobbed. Big ugly tears. Another mum having a terrible time and limited ways in which I could help. I cant remember walking into a worse situation. I very rarely cry these days as I know me wallowing in their sadness doesnt help. Her daughter then came out and I had to quickly pull myself together. She came to the car window and thanked me for chatting with her mum. She is only 14

If you feel you are able to help either of the mums mentioned please click the link below. Im sorting mum 1 a washer so every penny will go on carpets. First for these two mums and if we raise any more, it will be for those incredible mums we see EVERY WEEK who have fled domestic abuse, started afresh but face a winter without flooring in their home.

Thank you for reading,

Much love

Bex

P.S. As always, all permissions granted before posting.