Sara's story

We recently spoke with Sara - a teacher of 17 years and a single parent. After losing both her parents and facing a traumatic incident abroad, she had to stop working due to stress. Everyday costs went on credit cards, and before long her debts had built up, including £3,600 in energy arrears.

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“I’ve gone through a really difficult time, it all seemed to come to a head and has put me out of work, then the debts piled up and I was totally desperate.”

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After caring for her father full-time in her flat, Sara struggled with the grief of losing him, and it became hard for her to keep living there. She knew it was time for a fresh start, and moving to Newcastle offered her and her son a chance to regain some stability.

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A helping hand

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While searching online for help with her debts and the cost of moving, she came across the Lightning Reach portal. Signing up and completing her profile was, in her words, “extremely easy and straightforward.” 

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Through the portal she was matched with the Teaching Staff Trust, who stepped in quickly to make the move to Newcastle possible. They paid £1600 for her first month’s rent and deposit, along with £200 in ASDA vouchers for essentials.

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“I just can’t believe how quickly I got the support – this couldn’t have been quicker and more straightforward. I literally couldn’t have moved without that help.”

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Through the portal she also discovered Octopus Energy’s Octo Assist scheme, which meant every payment she made towards her £3,600 energy debt would be matched, effectively halving the amount she needed to repay. 

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A brand new start ​

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Within days, Sara and her son had moved from the Wirral and were unpacking boxes in their new place in Newcastle. The timing couldn’t have been better - her son started at his new school the very next morning. For Sara, the support had given her the space and confidence to get back into teaching, and she was gearing up to start a new job the following week. 

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“It’s benefited me a lot. It’s helped my child get into an excellent school, and now, because I’ve had that help, I’m back up and ready to go out to work.”

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With the support from Teaching Staff Trust, Sara and her son have been able to get a much needed fresh start and look forward to brighter days ahead.

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Get help today

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Could you or someone you know benefit from financial support? Create your account today at www.lightningreach.org/application-portal to see what you're eligible for.