Help Us Get a New Phone for My Niece

Hi, I’m reaching out on behalf of my 17-year-old niece, who faces significant challenges due to moderate learning disabilities, autism, and bipolar disorder. She attends a special needs school, and unfortunately, her iPhone 13 was stolen two weeks ago by another student, an event that was caught on CCTV.

The phone was recovered the next day on school grounds, but it was found with a completely smashed screen and had been exposed to heavy rainfall overnight. After numerous tests, the Apple Store has deemed it unrepairable.

This phone held immense importance for my niece. She purchased it in October 2024 and was paying it in monthly instalments through her own pocket money. It isn’t fair to expect her to continue paying for a phone that is now unusable, and my sister simply cannot afford the additional burden. Her mum is a single parent of six, relying on Universal Credit to support her household.

Given my nieces autism and bipolar disorder, her phone serves as a crucial coping mechanism. It helps her manage negative thoughts and provides a way for her to stay in touch with her mum when they’re apart, this helps her as she struggles with separation anxiety and heavily relies on her mum to feel safe. She also likes to reach out to family members on a regular basis.

The consequences of losing her phone have been profound; it has led to increased distress, resulting in numerous meltdowns and violent outbursts as she struggles to understand why she can’t simply replace it, especially since she is still paying for it. This situation has impacted my sister, causing significant stress, as she tries to comfort and reassure my niece. I want to ease that stress and pressure from her as well as ease the distress this is causing my niece.

We have sought assistance from the school, but our efforts—including multiple meetings, calls, and emails - to no avail. It’s incredibly frustrating, especially since the theft stemmed from the school’s failure to securely store devices and supervise access. The parents of the student responsible are unwilling to provide any compensation, leaving us in a difficult position where we’re still expected to pay for a broken phone while simultaneously trying to replace it.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my niece's situation. A new phone would not only help her stay connected with her loved ones, but it would also significantly support her mental health and overall well-being. We genuinely appreciate any assistance you can provide, whether it's a donation or sharing this GoFundMe with others.

Thank you for your generosity, kindness and support.