A helping hand for a family struggling in silence
Home should be a place of comfort and security, a space where children can relax, play and feel safe. But when financial hardship strikes, for whatever reason, even the most basic necessities can become unaffordable luxuries.
When a family in County Durham found themselves in this position, they felt too ashamed to ask for help. They had been struggling in silence for over a year, living in damaged conditions without the means to make their house a home again.
Because of the Household Support Fund, we were able to direct funds to a local charity, and this family were finally able to receive the help they needed to rebuild their home.
The Household Support Fund, provided by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), is a discretionary fund designed to help vulnerable households with essential costs.
It’s administered by local authorities, in our case Durham County Council and its aim is to provide immediate relief for people who are struggling to afford energy and water bills, food, and other necessities.
An unexpected event: a family left without the essentials
After a severe flood damaged their home, a family with two young boys lost much of their furniture, flooring, and storage space. The carpets in their bedrooms were ruined, and without the money to replace them, the boys had been sleeping in a bedroom bare floorboards for over a year.
With no wardrobes, their clothes remained in bags on the floor, adding to the daily stress and discomfort of their living situation.
The parents were too ashamed to seek help, worried about what people might think. It wasn’t until their children’s school sent out a confidential message to parents about the support available in County Durham that the mother finally reached out to a local charity.
Through the charity, we were able to use the Household Support Fund to step in to provide brand-new carpets and wardrobes for the boys’ bedrooms, creating a warm, welcoming space. Being able to get their clothes off the floor and into the wardrobes gave the boys space to play in their room again.
What seemed like a simple intervention made an enormous difference, not just to their physical living conditions, but also to their emotional and mental wellbeing.
A sustainable future
For families facing financial hardship, asking for help isn’t always easy. Many struggle in silence, unsure where to turn or feeling too ashamed to reach out, but no one should have to go without the essentials.
That’s why local community groups play a vital role. Their presence in our towns and cities offers a lifeline when people need it most. But to remain a consistent and reliable source of support, these organisations need sustainable funding.
At Point North, we ensure that grassroots groups not only exist but have the resources to make a difference. We fund both core costs and essential projects, recognising that having a presence alone isn’t enough, they also need the right tools to be there in times of crisis.