CHILD SUPPORT GRANTS CASE STUDIES
SARAH, ANNA AND JODIE
Sarah is the 36-year-old, unemployed, single mother of Anna and Jodie. She has the mental condition Bi-polar Affective Disorder, and a long history of mental illness, having been admitted to psychiatric hospitals nine times since Anna’s birth. Many of the admissions were compulsory under the Mental Health Act.
Seventeen year old Anna, who is six-month’s pregnant, and Jodie, 16, intend to continue living with and caring for their mother, and despite Sarah’s severe and enduring mental health problems, the family is a very close and mutually supportive unit.
They live in a two-bedroomed flat and Sarah, whose income is very low, desperately needed help to provide clothing and other essential items for the children. She is also determined that Anna’s baby should be born into a warm and loving family environment. The family were delighted with the Trust’s grant of £300.
Seventeen year old Anna, who is six-month’s pregnant, and Jodie, 16, intend to continue living with and caring for their mother, and despite Sarah’s severe and enduring mental health problems, the family is a very close and mutually supportive unit.
They live in a two-bedroomed flat and Sarah, whose income is very low, desperately needed help to provide clothing and other essential items for the children. She is also determined that Anna’s baby should be born into a warm and loving family environment. The family were delighted with the Trust’s grant of £300.
AIYESHA’S STORY
Aiyesha, 14, her three sisters and mother Safia, 31, live in temporary accommodation, having fled domestic violence from Safia’s husband. Aiyesha and her mother had been in constant conflict over Aiyesha’s involvement with a man of 20, by whom she became pregnant twice over a period of eight months, suffering miscarriages on both occasions. Following the second miscarriage, she attempted suicide. Her relationship with this man has now ended, but Safia continues to feel ashamed and concerned as to how the family is judged by the Bengali community.
With the support of their family practitioner, the relationship between Aiyesha and Safia is improving, and they are both committed to resolving their difficulties. At school, Aiyesha is a high achiever, and she is very keen to pursue a career in Fashion Design. She needed help to buy clothing and the Trust made a grant of £100.
With the support of their family practitioner, the relationship between Aiyesha and Safia is improving, and they are both committed to resolving their difficulties. At school, Aiyesha is a high achiever, and she is very keen to pursue a career in Fashion Design. She needed help to buy clothing and the Trust made a grant of £100.
MEGAN''S FAMILY
Megan, aged 30, and her four children, aged 14, 13, 6 and 2, have been known to Social Services for the past fourteen years, when her first child was born. Social Services were initially involved due to issues surrounding domestic violence, from which Megan and the children fled, and later due to the difficulties she was experiencing in caring adequately for the children, on account of her severe depression.
Social Services have provided the family with ongoing financial assistance over the years in the form of ‘crisis funds’ for the purchase of essential items. However, the second-hand washing machine they provided last year had broken down and Bronwyn, aged 6, needed a bed of her own as she was sharing her mother’s bed. The Trust provided a grant of £294.95 for both items.
Social Services have provided the family with ongoing financial assistance over the years in the form of ‘crisis funds’ for the purchase of essential items. However, the second-hand washing machine they provided last year had broken down and Bronwyn, aged 6, needed a bed of her own as she was sharing her mother’s bed. The Trust provided a grant of £294.95 for both items.
TONY’S STORY
Tony, aged 18, is the only child of a single mother who is a chronic alcoholic. His Case Worker describes her as an ineffectual parent who subjected Tony to a life of degradation and abuse. She writes that the physical beatings were severe, her verbal abuse derisive and derogatory and the mental abuse unrelenting and damaging. In short, she says that his life was totally bereft of love and nurturing, ‘leaving him feeling worthless, unloved, inadequate and afraid’.
Tony ran away from home when he was 14 and lived ‘rough’ until he was recently allocated a one-bedroomed flat. He has also enrolled on a training course. However, his financial situation is very difficult, as he is living on £40 per week, out of which he has to pay for his bills, fares, food and clothing.
All of the agencies involved in Tony’s care are concerned about his deepening depression at the futility of his life and his inability to buy the essentials required to make his little home more comfortable. The Trust gave Tony a grant of £300.
Tony ran away from home when he was 14 and lived ‘rough’ until he was recently allocated a one-bedroomed flat. He has also enrolled on a training course. However, his financial situation is very difficult, as he is living on £40 per week, out of which he has to pay for his bills, fares, food and clothing.
All of the agencies involved in Tony’s care are concerned about his deepening depression at the futility of his life and his inability to buy the essentials required to make his little home more comfortable. The Trust gave Tony a grant of £300.
KADER AND ZEENAT'S STORY
Kader and Zeenat, who both suffer from serious mental health problems, have seven children, aged 20, 18,17, 16, 6, 5 and 2, all of whom had been living with their parents in a two/three-bedroomed flat in extremely overcrowded conditions. Their eldest son, Kamil, also suffers severe mental ill-health and is under the care of the local psychiatric unit, while two of the younger children suffer from skin allergies and the youngest son, Yussuf, is autistic.
After months of liaising with the Housing Department and emphasising the family’s health needs, Social Services secured a four-bedroomed house for the family. However, the cost of providing essential items for this house is very substantial and the family’s only income is Income Support, Child Benefit and Kamil’s Disability Living Allowance. The Trust provided a ‘setting up home’ grant of £300.
After months of liaising with the Housing Department and emphasising the family’s health needs, Social Services secured a four-bedroomed house for the family. However, the cost of providing essential items for this house is very substantial and the family’s only income is Income Support, Child Benefit and Kamil’s Disability Living Allowance. The Trust provided a ‘setting up home’ grant of £300.
MAUREEN'S STORY
On leaving local authority care, Maureen, now aged 20, became involved with the father of her two children, Ailsa, aged 2 and Lorraine, aged 5 months. However, he deserted her on learning that she was expecting their second child. She was allocated a council flat two months before the birth of the baby, but she has had difficulties with independent living skills and was referred to a local support agency by her Leaving Care Team.
Maureen has greatly appreciated the support she has received and she is working well on learning to live independently. Her parenting skills are excellent and she is a loving mother to her two little girls. She had a second-hand double-buggy which enabled the family to go out together, but the frame had collapsed and she desperately needed a new buggy. A grant of £195 was provided for the purchase.
Maureen has greatly appreciated the support she has received and she is working well on learning to live independently. Her parenting skills are excellent and she is a loving mother to her two little girls. She had a second-hand double-buggy which enabled the family to go out together, but the frame had collapsed and she desperately needed a new buggy. A grant of £195 was provided for the purchase.
LIBAN’S STORY
Liban, aged 17, entered the United Kingdom with his mother when he was 15, fleeing the troubles in Somalia. They had both endured many very traumatic experiences while living in Somalia and his mother was so distressed by them that she felt unable to care for Liban and left him to ‘live on the streets’.
When he first came to the attention of his Case Worker, Liban had been sleeping at the local police station for several nights, as he had nowhere else to stay. As he was only 16 then, he came within the provisions of the Children’s Act, and was accommodated in the local Homeless Persons’ Unit. He has been granted Full Refugee Status.
For the last year, Liban has lived in temporary accommodation and he is now enrolled on a vocational training course. His Case Worker writes: “Of all the young people I have met, he is the most ‘together’, in that he is structured and determined to progress in his life”. Liban has now been allocated his own flat by the Council and the Trust gave him a ‘setting up home’ grant of £300.
When he first came to the attention of his Case Worker, Liban had been sleeping at the local police station for several nights, as he had nowhere else to stay. As he was only 16 then, he came within the provisions of the Children’s Act, and was accommodated in the local Homeless Persons’ Unit. He has been granted Full Refugee Status.
For the last year, Liban has lived in temporary accommodation and he is now enrolled on a vocational training course. His Case Worker writes: “Of all the young people I have met, he is the most ‘together’, in that he is structured and determined to progress in his life”. Liban has now been allocated his own flat by the Council and the Trust gave him a ‘setting up home’ grant of £300.
KILEY’S STORY
Jim and Sarah, aged 55 and 58, have been the legal guardians of their grandson, Kiley, aged 8, since he was abandoned by his mother when a few weeks old. Kiley has a heart condition which requires regular visits to hospital and he also presents challenging behavioural problems at home and at school.
Kiley’s grandfather had to give up his job as a postman following a heart attack and both he and his wife, who is also in poor health, are unemployed. Their ancient fridge recently broke down and the family was finding it hard to cope without one. The Trust provided a new fridge for the family.
Kiley’s grandfather had to give up his job as a postman following a heart attack and both he and his wife, who is also in poor health, are unemployed. Their ancient fridge recently broke down and the family was finding it hard to cope without one. The Trust provided a new fridge for the family.