Blog. Stories from our work
December 12, 2018 | Author: Guest Blogger
Every year we help thousands of people in many different ways. Here are some recent stories from our work.
Mark West, Night Manager
When Mark’s mum passed away from lung disease the last thing he wanted to think about was how he was going to pay for her funeral. With no life insurance or funeral policy in place, and no other close relatives to share the burden, Mark and his brother were left to split the bill between them, yet Mark just couldn’t afford to pay his share.
His employers kindly agreed to lend Mark the money and each month since his mum’s passing Mark has been repaying the loan as he struggles to come to terms with his loss.
It was at this point Hospitality Action stepped in. We were able to cover Mark’s share of the funeral costs to help ease his financial and mental strain. Thanks to our help Mark can now begin to grieve and slowly come to terms with the loss of his beloved mum.
Mark says: “My sincerest thanks for your help at this tough time. You have helped to give me peace of mind”.
Rebekah Bate, Waitress
Single parent Rebekah and her three year old daughter Adelaide became homeless when their landlady got into financial difficulties and suddenly had to sell their home.
Rebekah and Adelaide were placed into emergency and then temporary accommodation by the local council but their new home was unfurnished. Desperately in need of a fridge freezer and tumble dryer Rebekah contacted Hospitality Action for help. We were able to gift Rebekah both items and treated her and her daughter to a day out at Legoland Windsor, their first fun day out together in a year.
Rebekah says “Thank you so much for everything. The day out lifted our spirits after the summer when we couldn’t afford to go away. We had a lovely time and will remain forever grateful to you for all your help.”
Gillian McQueen Kendrick, Pub Manager
Gillian has worked in pubs from the age of eighteen. A popular landlady for a decade, when Gillian was diagnosed with cancer her world turned upside down.
No longer able to work, Gillian instead faced daily courses of chemo and radiotherapy. The treatment left Gillian feeling ill and exhausted made worse by the hours’ drive each way to and from the hospital. It also brought back memories of her daughter Maxine’s cancer treatment who sadly passed away from the disease two years ago.
Newly separated from her husband Gillian was fraught with worry over how she would pay her mounting bills and turned to Hospitality Action for help. We were able to give Gillian a weekly grant to help towards her general living costs, greatly reducing her anxiety at this sensitive time.
Gillian says: “You have been a massive help taking care of the bills I have been struggling to pay. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart.”
The Smail family, hospitality employees
Suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK – 84 take their own lives every week.* Devastatingly Mary could never have imagined her own son Brendan would have been one of them.
Brendan had been working in a fast food chain but after an injury could no longer carry on. Too proud to return home Brendan became homeless and aged 20, with his whole life ahead of him, Brendan committed suicide.
Mary and her eldest son Stephen were distraught. Utterly heartbroken they were left to plan the unthinkable, Brendan’s funeral. Yet with no savings they didn’t know how they would manage to give Brendan the proper send-off he deserved. It was here Hospitality Action stepped in; we helped to cover the cost of Brendan’s funeral and lift some of the heartache Mary and Stephen were suffering.
Mary says: “I am so grateful; your help has taken so much stress away and I can start to deal with the loss of my baby. Thank you so much”.