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Ann-Marie Gould raised £565 from 28 supporters
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Closed 06/01/2018
Weʼve raised £565 to Help me get my teenage daughter home to spend christmas with her family
- Bridgwater, United Kingdom
- Funded on Saturday, 6th January 2018
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Story
My 16 year old daughter has been suffering from significant mental health problems for over over 18 months. In November her mental health took a drastic turn for the worse and she took a substantial paracetamol overdose. Whilst in hospital it was agreed that she was a risk to her self if she returned home and to be honest after 18 months of 24/7 care and supervision, i , as a carer was exhausted. We agreed with the CAMHs professionals that she needed inpatient care, something i had desperately avoided since she became ill.
However there were no beds for the mental health provision of young people in the South of England. So CAMHs sent my 16 yr old daughter 225 miles away from her family and support network to Manchester. I want to make it clear that i had absolutely no choice in this decision. As a parent i was stripped of any say as this was the only bed available in the whole country. She has now been gone three weeks, i am travelling up to Manchester once a week at a cost of £108. the journey, both ways takes 10 hours and i get to see her for about two and half hours. I have been told that there is no hope of a bed closer to home as children from the South are continuing to be placed in the North.
When my daughter became ill i gave up my full time job to care for her, for fear of losing her. Since then our primary income is Universal Credit and Cares allowance which doesn't match my previous earnings but we manage. Since her admission to Manchester my finances have become under immense pressure, i have taken three trips so far and all savings are gone, i have bills going unpaid and the whole situation makes the already heartbreaking situation of separation so much worse.
The most shocking thing about this whole awful situation is that although i have no choice as to where my daughter is being treated, i have been told by Children's social care and CAMHs that there is no help available with travel costs. I have been supported by a carer support worker in accessing help for a charity which will offer a grant of £500 towards travel which once ive applied will be really helpful, the problem with this is that i have to carry out the travel first and then claim it back and that i can only ask for help once every 3 months so in effect i need to spend £500 which i dont have before i can apply for the grant and then only once.
The DWP will also offer support but only if i am attending the hospital for a meeting, they will not offer financial support to visit.
So thats our current situation.
Now the reason ive set up this Just giving funding request for help.
Its two and a half weeks to Christmas.
I haven't bought my children any presents, our house isn't decorated for the festivities and Christmas to us as a family is something we are dreading. Because i dont have the money to bring my daughter home for Christmas. The hospital have agreed that my daughter can come home for 4 days over Christmas, but they , like all the other services cannot offer any help to fund our travel. I've done the calculations this morning and in order for me to travel up to collect her on the 22nd December, bring her home and then take her back on Wednesday 27th December is going to cost £360. This is train tickets for us both, back and forth to Manchester, a room for me in a budget hotel so that i can travel back with her in the morning as i dont feel she will cope with travelling late in the evening due to her anxiety. These calculations do not include any taxi's, food or other expenses.
You can read more about our story at www.acarersperspective.co.uk
Updates
3
- 6 years ago
Ann-Marie Gould
6 years agoOh my god! Amazing. Thank you all so much! You have no idea how much pressure you have taken off myself and my family with your kindness! I can bring her home and buy some Christmas gifts! Thank you all so much!!
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- 6 years ago
Ann-Marie Gould
6 years agoCan't believe the kindness and genersousity of such lovely people. Half way there already! thank you so muchn
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- 6 years ago
Ann-Marie Gould
6 years agoShare this update to help us raise more
Ann-Marie Gould started crowdfunding
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Supporters
28
Kelly Cavallo
Dec 21, 2017
Dear Ann-Marie, Please accept this money on behalf of your ex-colleagues at the RMC. We hope you have a happy Christmas and a positive new year xx
£100.00
Hayley Fountain
Dec 18, 2017
Just read your blog. Thinking of you x
£10.00
Chloe Mckay
Dec 9, 2017
Enjoy your Christmas
£20.00
Anonymous
Dec 9, 2017
So glad you can get things sorted Ann-Marie. Happy Christmas xx
£10.00
Zallah Marsh
Dec 9, 2017
Thinking of you at this difficult time. Sending you all big hugs x
£5.00
Anonymous
Dec 9, 2017
£100.00
Julie Lomax
Dec 8, 2017
Sending thoughts and prayers your way and x. I aM travelling to Wolverhampton on 21/12 and coming back 26/12 if I can help with a lift xxxxx
£10.00
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About CrowdfundingAbout the fundraiser
Ann-Marie Gould
Bridgwater, United Kingdom
My name is Ann-Marie and i am a mum to two and a full time carer to my daughter who suffers from significant mental health issues