Can you help please?

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all doing okay. My name is Joy, and I’m reaching out because I’m in a very difficult personal situation at the moment. I’m hoping someone might be able to offer financial assistance with essential white goods or help towards existing debts.

My tumble dryer broke last November, and due to my hidden disabilities, I am unable to hang washing outside. I also need to do laundry regularly because of my health conditions, with support from my carer. I had no choice but to buy a replacement on credit, and the payment is now due at the end of May 2026.

Unfortunately, I simply cannot afford to pay it. Living on disability benefits, just about covers my everyday bills, and I’ve been relying on my overdraft to get by. Being mostly housebound has made everything feel even more overwhelming. I have been saving what I can, but it's not enough and so am reaching out for help. I also have an old debt that wasn’t fully settled through my previous debt management plan. Four out of five creditors wiped the balances, but one refused, so I’m paying £1 a month on a remaining debt. I’ve been out of work since being made redundant in December 2019. In Aug 2019, I had a car accident damaging my lower back, on top of existing health conditions and hidden disabilities. The company I worked for tried to dismiss me initially for sick leave but couldn’t due to the Equality Act and DDA, so they made me redundant instead. Then Covid hit, and later my mum passed away, which affected my mental health far more than I ever expected. Everything just piled up at once.

Over time, I’ve slowly been rebuilding myself. I’ve completed online courses, including becoming a mental health first aider, and I’ve started doing my crafting again. I’m managing my bills with the help of friends, but I still owe money to my brother and a friend, as well as the debt collector and now the urgent tumble dryer payment. I don’t have any credit cards because of my old debt plan, which is a blessing in one way but leaves me with no safety net.

I’m already claiming all the benefits I’m eligible for, and I know many others are struggling too. I feel embarrassed having to ask for help like this, but any support would lift a huge weight off my mind. Most organisations/charities I’ve contacted won’t backdate support for white goods, so I’m running out of options hence contacting individuals. I am trying my best to manage, but this situation is really starting to affect my mental health again and I’m doing everything I can to avoid a relapse.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this or offer advice. Any help towards the tumble dryer payment or debts would mean more than I can express and would be much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Joy