PLEASE NOTE NAMES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR THEIR SAFETY.

Hi. I'm Cathy and I am making a small ask to make a big, impactful change to my niece and her two gorgeous sons.

In July 2023, my niece and the boys were removed from their family home by police as it had become an unsafe environment (controlling & coercive behaviour). Obviously, this was a traumatic event, but the struggle had only really just begun.

The family were placed in a safe house away from the area they had been living. They were given one small room to live and sleep in and access to communal toilets, showers and kitchen. The room itself is tiny, with space for a double bed, a single bed, a single wardrobe and a counter fridge.

Every weekday, she and the boys commute to her job and school. My niece wanted to provide some stability and consistency to her family, so moving the boys to different schools when they were only in temporary accommodation felt too disruptive. The cost of that commitment has been long, two-hour commutes each way. They leave the temporary accommodation at 6.20am, take two buses and a train to school, and back again. They do not arrive home until after 5pm most nights, which makes days very long for all of them, but especially little one, who is just 9 years old.

They were only suppose to be in the safe house for a maximum of 56 days. Due to the housing crisis and some mishandling of her case, they are still there. Finally, solely due to my nieces tenacious character and strength, there is finally a possibility of a move on the horizon.

Any house or flat that is offered will be unfurnished and without carpet or flooring. That is an incredible mountain for someone, through no fault of their own, finds themselves in this unenviable position. Having had to leave most of her belongings when they were removed from the home, So, what we are asking for is a little help to get her and the boys re-established and settled in a new place. A donation towards carpet would be the main thing. After that, she can add bits of furniture as she goes, but flooring is a big expense and needs to be completed straight away.

When I read these gofundme’s, I usually want to know some more about the recipient, particularly about their character, and their chances of making something positive out of challenging situation they are in, so let me tell you a little about my niece. I have only touched on the challenges of her situation. There has been a lot more thrown at her over the past year than I could ever write about. Her resilience has blown me away. She has an unwavering commitment to her boys and the people around her. While face timing with them on Christmas day, I realized they were eating the Christmas dinner that she had cooked on their beds as there is literally nowhere else to sit. Meanwhile, my niece is giving Christmas dinner to other residents and the staff who work at the safe house. The facility is a volatile environment, of course it is. There are traumatized people from all different situations placed there. Nevertheless, she is out in the corridors wishing people a Merry Christmas, sharing her decorated room with other children that are there and feeding people she doesn’t know.

My niece is a teaching Assistant in a school with a high percentage of students with special needs and learning disabilities. Despite her own challenges, she shows up everyday for those kids and somehow finds the energy to dress up in funny fancy dress outfits on Halloween and Christmas for the kids in school.

I don’t know how she does it, but she does. She is a loving and committed person. She is loud and out there and fun. If you ever meet her, she will lift your spirits, make you laugh and tell it how it is! However, she has quietly struggled. She has cried at times and is acknowledging complex trauma.

Please, if you can give even just a little bit to help give them a fresh new start in 2024, we would be eternally grateful. They are a deserving family who will turn things around given the chance.