I have never thought that I would be here today and ask for help in this way. I am filled with shame; However, I have no choice.

I am a single mum of 2 young kids, 7 years old, and 5 years old. I work. I am a registered nurse for the past 3 years.

In april their dad left Me and is out of the country. I wanted him out because he's a compulsive cheat however I asked him to stick around, for the sake of our kids, and to look after them when I went to work, as childcare would be too expensive and I couldn't afford it. Sadly, he decided he didn't want to do this.

So, I am left with two young kids, bills to pay, food to buy, a and now a childminder to pay so i can go to work. I was told that if I took on an Ofsted registered childminder, then tax credit would help me by paying up to 70% of the child care. I was already getting child tax credit, so the only thing I had to do was to call them and tell them about my change of circumstance. To cut it short, they have suspended my tax credit, in case they overpay me. At the beginning they told me it would take about 3 weeks. It's been now 6 weeks and I am sinking. I basically take my salary and hand it, as it is, to my childminder.

I have been struggling most of April and may, haven't paid many bills and am now in rent arrears. I have visited food banks so often, they know me by first name. I am in a situation where I work, but I cannot look after my family. And if I stop to work, I cannot look after my family. God only knows when they will reinstate the claim. Meanwhile I have got to work, and i have got to feed and take care of my children. And I cannot. I have arrived to such a point that tomorrow my electricity will need to be topped up, but I can't top that up because I have got to pay for childcare, which costs me £15 per hour for the two kids. I have resorted to have no heating on in order to save.

I need your help to see me and my kids through this month. So, I can keep working and be able to pay the bills and buy them food.

I am asking for £2000 so I can pay also the bills that have not been paid last month (rent arrears, gas, electric, telephone, and so on).

Please help me, because I really don't know what to do anymore. I am sinking, I am desperate.

I never felt so vulnerable and broken as I am now, writing these lines. It is a very hard thing to do. But I see no other choice.

Thank you so very much for any help you can give me.

Much Love

N.

P.S.: I am keeping things anonymous because I want to protect mine and my children's identity