Battling cancer and domestic abuse

I am a single parent who is undergoing treatment for cancer. After my diagnosis, I began facing domestic abuse which led to them leaving the family home. Due to my ill health, I have not been able to work, and my partner leaving the family home has led to financial struggles. My visa stipulates that I cannot have recourse to public funds which has added to the financial stress. I was already feeling very unwell due to the intensive treatment that I had been undergoing. However, the emotional and financial stress that had arisen as a result has made things more difficult for me on a personal level and as a parent. The social worker assigned to me encouraged me to enrol my young child into nursery where I was able to access assistance from St Albans.

I was unsure of what help I could receive given my circumstances and I needed support meeting our basic material needs, I am not able to work, and I have a young child. The situation I found myself in seemed desperate. The support I have been given includes bus pass codes – meaning I could travel to hospital to receive my treatment. I have also received weekly food parcels from the local food bank which means I can feed myself and my child. My treatment has led to me feeling extremely tired so on many occasions food parcels were delivered to me. I have also been invited on Playdates during the school holidays so that my child can play with others, and I do not feel isolated. The offer was even given to allow me respite if I felt too tired to take my child to these sessions and this is something I am grateful for.

Although I am still unable to work and my financial situation is a cause of great stress, I have finished my treatment and am feeling a little better every day. I am relieved to be out of a relationship that was abusive, I can now focus on my recovery and taking care of my child. I have been given support through regular check-ups to see how I am. I have appreciated that others are thinking of my wellbeing when I have felt isolated in my situation. Being given food bank vouchers and assistance in receiving them has been wonderful. Another huge benefit was receiving Bus Pass Codes so that I can travel to attend my treatment. This has been so beneficial. My next steps are to focus on my recovery and try to attend more Playdates at the pre-school, so I can spend quality time with my child. I still have many worries due to my current circumstances. Things are still very uncertain; however, I feel supported by the St Albans team and I feel that things will get better for me. Knowing that there is support available to help me with my emotional and physical needs has been so beneficial in helping me get through one of the toughest periods of my life.

You should receive further funding for this project so that people in my situation do not have to feel that they must deal with things alone. Others can be supported in finding practical ways to deal with problems unique to them.