How you are helping
How you are helping
Meet Alannah
6-year-old Alannah lives with Mam and Dad, Marie and Paul; and two younger siblings; little Kian, who is four, and sweet Molly, who is two. Molly has been very unwell with a medical condition which means she is unable to walk. Paul has a job, earning minimum wage. But his wage has to go a long way. Marie and Paul were struggling financially with day-to-day heating and food costs as well as additional medical expenses for Molly. Every day they were facing difficult decisions like whether they could put food in the fridge or heat their home.
We first heard about Alannah through her teacher at school. She had noticed her withdrawn and anxious behaviour and when she spoke with Alannah, she told teacher how she was hungry a lot and that it’s cold and sad at home.
Concerned for Alannah’s wellbeing, the school’s Home Liaison Officer contacted us at Barnardos to see how we could help. Sarah, from our Family Support team, visited Alannah and her family and it was clear to see the family were struggling. Not only were they were struggling to make their limited budget stretch but additional worries with Molly’s illness were adding to the pressures and stress Mam and Dad were feeling.
Sarah found that, like so many other families in similar situations, Alannah’s mam Marie was having to borrow money towards the end of every month just to keep the family fed – but sadly sending them deeper and deeper into debt. Marie and Paul would often go without meals so that the children could eat. Keeping the house warm and washing clothes or bed clothes were simply beyond the family’s means.
Sarah provided the family with some food supplies and made sure that all three children had a warm coat, cosy pyjamas and extra blankets for the cold nights. She also sat down with Marie and they talked about all the pressures and challenges the family was facing. Together they made a plan to help build the family’s capacity to function and cope with life’s challenges.
Sarah has also been spending time with Alannah. She needed somebody to talk to, who would listen and be there for her. Alannah was given both the emotional and practical support she needed to be help her make friends in school. And she has. She loves to run and climb with her new friends and they love to colour and paint pictures together. Alannah is very sweet – she tells everyone that when she grows up she wants to do what Sarah does and help little girls makes friends.
It is thanks to your support of Barnardos Big Toddle that children like Alannah are being given the support they need to overcome challenges that life has presented to them at a young age. With Sarah’s support and yours, Alannah has been able to smile again.