Help Us Save This Family’s Home – A Last Chance Before Care

We’re Stephanie and Danielle, the team behind Fife Free Cleaning — a volunteer-led project where we offer free deep cleans to families in crisis, and share the work on YouTube.

We were recently contacted by a community Health Visitor about a family in crisis — and what we walked into was one of the most heartbreaking homes we’ve ever seen.

This is a three-bedroom flat housing two parents and five children, aged 2, 4, 6, 9 and 14. Two of the children — including the 6-year-old girl and the 14-year-old — are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The mum is battling significant mental health struggles and is alone with the children 24/7. The dad works full-time and isn’t present in the home to help.

Social services have told her she has a support network and isn't able to get respite help — but in the past two months, her aunt passed away and then her stepdad died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving her mum grieving and unable to offer support. Now, she is completely isolated. And she’s terrified. Because if this home isn’t brought back to a safe, livable condition soon, her children will be removed and placed into care. She told us herself: this is her last chance.

The home is in extremely poor condition.

• Four children are sharing one bed.

• There is rubbish, clutter, and an active bug infestation.

• The flooring is ruined.

• Every room is in disrepair.

• Toys and clothes are piled everywhere, leaving no space for the children to even play.

This isn’t just about cleaning — the whole house needs to be reset. We believe the best approach is to clear everything out, remove infested and broken items, and start fresh with manageable systems, beautiful spaces, and safe furnishings that the children can be proud of. We want to give them their first real chance at comfort and stability.

We did our first free clean this week and managed to tackle part of the kitchen. But this will be a multi-part transformation. We’re returning again this Sunday — and have paused all other cleans to commit fully to this family. We’ll continue going back until this house becomes a safe and happy home.

Here’s what we’re raising funds for:

• Proper beds, mattresses, and bedding for the children

• New furniture and flooring throughout the flat

• Fresh clothes and toys (once we remove the excess)

• Decoration supplies to brighten and personalize each space

• Storage solutions to help keep the home tidy long term

• Skip hire and uplift services to dispose of what can’t be saved

We’re also reaching out to our local community:

• Are you a decorator, flooring expert, or tradesperson willing to donate your time?

• Can you help with labour, transport, skip hire, or removals?

• Could you donate new or excellent-condition children’s items or furniture to help us rebuild from scratch?

This is a turning point for this family. The mum has reached out for help — and we want to show her that she’s not alone. That people care. That it’s not too late.

Please donate, share, or volunteer however you can.

Together, we can make this house a home — and keep this family together.