Melanie’s story: asking for help with rising care costs

Wiltshire, UK

Melanie was referred to Lightning Reach through her housing association, SNG and received a £360 grant towards care-related council costs from the National Benevolent Charity.

“Nobody really knows what's going on behind four walls, so if you don't ask for help, you won’t know what support is out there.”

Melanie, a full-time carer for her daughter with additional needs, recently shared the financial pressures her family has been facing due to rising care costs.  With her daughter requiring continued support, care costs became increasingly difficult to manage, while her household income also dropped. This made it harder to cover essential bills and council care charges and she was in over £1,000 in debt. Melanie also spoke about how the situation made her feel overwhelmed, as she was managing many care responsibilities alongside ongoing financial pressure.

“My daughter's got very special needs, and I have to pay for care. So the care costs are astronomical. We’ve really been struggling financially.”

Practical help with rising care costs

Melanie was seeking support with rising care costs and was signposted to Lightning Reach by her housing association, SNG. After receiving an email saying she may be eligible for support, she chose to apply. 

Through the platform, which she described as “not tricky at all”, Melanie was matched with the National Benevolent Charity. She applied for support and received a £360 grant that went directly towards her council care bill. This helped to reduce her existing debt. Melanie said it gave her a brief moment of relief during a particularly difficult time, describing it as something that “allowed me to breathe for a day”.

The importance of asking for help

The care cost help that Melanie received helped reduce immediate financial pressure and gave her stability and space to focus on longer-term plans. She is now working on next steps with support from her housing association, SNG.

Before this, Melanie said she often avoided asking for help, but she is now more open to looking for support and encourages others to “reach out and ask for help.”

Get help today

Could you or someone you know use help with their essential costs? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.