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Keeping Heart And Soul Together
It was only a £2.20 bus fare. But for schoolgirl Joanne* it was the ticket to a little bit of normality in her life. Simply the cost of a day trip during the school holidays. But Joanne was unable to pay after her mum's benefits were delayed.
Children's charity Barnardo's stepped in to help - a small price to pay to make such a big difference.
Barnardo's have been walking alongside Joanne and her mum after the youngster was referred to them by her school when she was just 13.
Joanne's mum suffered from epilepsy and the teenager was struggling to support her when she had seizures. Barnardo's arranged for Joanne to have first aid training.
Having somewhere warm to live and enough food on the table is not a lot to ask. For Joanne and her mum, that can sometimes be a struggle.
And so the charity has gone on to support the family in many other ways.
Barnardo's have provided emergency funds so they could afford basic necessities, supermarket vouchers and helped the family move from their old house into a smaller, more affordable flat, which Joanne describes as "much better because it gets warm quicker."
Joanne explained, "There are times when our kitchen cupboards are bare, and my mum has to ask other family members to help out with food. My mum doesn't like to do this - no mum would - but I know she is a really good parent. It's hard for her but we know that there are other families in a similar situation.
"That's why Barnardo's is such an important charity. It helps families when they need it most.
"Recently, my mum's benefits payment was delayed, which meant she couldn't afford for me to go on a day trip during the school holidays.
"The bus fare was only £2.20, but when you're struggling to make ends meet, every penny is important. If it hadn't been for Barnardo's, I wouldn't have been able to go on the trip."
She added, "Thanks to Barnardo's, I've been able to stay warm and fed and also take part in fun activities such as paddleboarding, which has helped develop my confidence."
To date, players of People's Postcode Lottery have raised more than £11.7 Million for Barnardo's - money that is helping transform the lives of over 300,000 children, young people and families across the UK.
*Name changed to protect identity.
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People's Postcode Lottery players are helping amazing charities like Barnardo's change lives every single day. Read more about the range of Charities which our players support.
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Published: 28/11/2023
