After working 55 hours a week and enjoying their job, Minky was made redundant in June 2023. With their income suddenly gone, keeping up with household bills and basic essentials became increasingly difficult. At the same time, Minky was dealing with the impact of domestic violence and economic abuse while supporting their son. An energy adviser introduced Minky to Lightning Reach. They had never heard of the platform before and initially found the prospect of applying for support difficult.
“At first, I thought I was never going to be able to apply for support at all. But when I gave it a go, with more concentration, I was able to read, understand and follow all the instructions until I got to the end.”
Through Lightning Reach, Minky discovered support they had not previously known was available and successfully received a £200 grant from the National Benevolent Charity. The grant arrived at a time when Minky and their son were struggling to afford food and other everyday essentials.
“This money solved so many problems for me, especially helping me and my son to feed at a time when we had nothing.”
Although £200 might seem like a relatively small amount, for Minky it provided immediate breathing room. Alongside food and essentials, it meant they could afford bus travel to deal with urgent needs and even do something small for themselves. The impact was practical, but also emotional. After a period of redundancy, financial hardship and abuse, receiving support helped restore a sense of dignity and normality.
Minky also found additional non-financial support through Lightning Reach, including help from energy organisations, showing how one referral can open the door to different forms of assistance.
“I would tell them to go on and apply for support and never to lose hope. There is no harm in applying, but there could be harm in not applying for any form of support.”
Minky
Could you or someone you know use help with their essential costs? Create your account today to see what you're eligible for.
