Story

The increasing cost of living is having a negative impact in Stoke & Newcastle. Household bills and the cost of food are continuing to rise, but household incomes are not. More than ever, people are experiencing economic hardship, especially those in our communities who are most vulnerable.

New figures from the National Office of Statistics show that seven of Staffordshire's poorest neighbourhoods are in Stoke-on-Trent, with Hanley & Etruria having the lowest disposable household income of any area in the whole county.

Whilst demand for our services continues to grow, access to funding for us to keep our vital work going is becoming increasingly difficult.

This is why we have created the Alice Charity Cost of Living Crisis Campaign.

Since the start of 2023, we have already supported 892 individual families in Stoke & Newcastle, showing the severity of the current situation, and why we need more help than ever to keep our vital services running and available to as many children and families in our communities as possible.

Who We Help

Josie's Story

Josie is a single mother of four children, all aged under five. Josie has complex health needs, including a major hernia, which can cause her to go in and out of hospital, leaving her unable to work. When our family support team first met Josie, she was struggling with poor health, had become unemployed, and didn't have support system to help her back onto her feet. Josie was trapped in a desperate cycle of poverty.

When Josie contacted us, she spoke anxiously. Josie explained that her fridge was broken, and her cooker was only just working. She admitted to us that she felt ashamed to be asking for support, when so many people are in much worse situations.

When our Family Support workers arrived at Josie's house the next day, they asked if they could have a look in her kitchen to see what was wrong with her fridge and cooker. Josie promptly demonstrated that the oven and grill did not work. Only one of the hob rings would light, and it would only light weakly, making it exceedingly difficult for her to provide nutritious meals for her children and to sterilise baby bottles. When Josie opened the fridge, the door hung off its broken hinges only being held in place by duct tape and magnets.

When leaving the kitchen, we noticed that the spot in Josie's kitchen where a washing machine belonged was entirely bare. Not only did Josie have an 11-month-old baby, but her eldest child has incontinence issues. The family support workers quickly realised that Josie a woman with a weak heart and a hernia had been handwashing basket after basket of dirty clothes and bedding each day.

As our support workers entered the living room, Josie apologised for the mess, quickly folding up pillows and a duvet bunched up on the sofa. Josie began to cry in embarrassment and frustration. She had not meant to reveal that she had been sleeping on the settee with her baby, having no cot for him or bed of her own. The support workers consoled Josie and tried their very best to comfort her. As a parent we all know how hard it is to get a decent nights sleep with young children, but it must be almost impossible for a person without a bed.

Recognising that Josie needed support quickly, our Family Support Team sprang into action. In just three short weeks, we provided Josie with a cot, bunk beds, mattresses, and a washing machine. Additionally, Alice Charity made applications to other organisations to provide her with a double bed and mattress, cooker, and fridge freezer. Alice Charity's Peoples Pantry has also provided Josie with several food parcels, ensuring that her family is full and well-nourished.

Josie told us, I cant believe it. I've been stuck in a bad place for two and a half years. It feels like you've fixed everything in three weeks. As a result of our help, Josie is able to live comfortably in the knowledge that her children have a bed to sleep in, clean clothes to wear, have hot homecooked meals to eat, and they have a much happier mum.

Our family support team continue to give emotional support to Josie, providing her with a support system and helping her to regain her independence.

How Donations Are Used

Your donation will help us to support more families like Josie's. Each family is supported with a unique tailored support plan that meets the needs of their family. This can mean we support families for a few weeks, a few months or even a few years.

Donations will ensure we can continue to run all our vital services, such as:

The Peoples Pantry Helping to provide families with a three-day emergency supply of food.

Home Essentials Providing families with the most essential home items they need (beds, mattresses, cookers, washing machines, fridges, freezers)

Lean In - Offering emotional support families., ranging from in-depth support to a chat over a cuppa. Helping to build confidence, self-esteem enabling them to live more independently.

Every donation really does make a difference to help improve the lives of local families. We appreciate your support and thank you for making such a valuable difference to the lives of others.