Stephen's Urgent Assistance Fund Story

At Aberlour Children’s Charity we rush emergency payments to families on the brink. Here, Stephen, not his real name, hails the swift support of our Urgent Assistance Fund for easing the pressure at a time of crisis for his family.

“It might not seem a lot of money, just £300, but when you don’t have it, can’t get it, and really need it, it might as well be a million.

"Our washing machine broke down in November. We use it all the time and it just gave up the ghost. We had no idea what to do. We have no family or friends to ask for help. No one at all. Thankfully, a neighbour allowed us to use their machine for a day or two but we’re a long way from a laundrette and couldn’t afford buses never mind taxis. We were at our wits’ end. 

"Aberlour have been helping our family for a year or so now and I just mentioned the washing machine was broken. I wasn’t expecting them to help but couldn’t have been more wrong. They were terrific, explaining there were emergency grants, and helping us apply.

"We had the money within days and a new machine the day after that. We could even afford a bigger machine, a nine kilo load instead of five, and that made such a difference too. We could not have been more grateful. 

"My son’s seven and, with my own health problems making things harder, had been struggling a little at school. Aberlour come and take him out for the day, do things with him. He looks forward to it and he’s a lot more settled now. They are such good people, easy to talk to, helpful, practical, and, when it came to the crunch, were right there beside us.

"A broken washing machine might not sound like the end of the world but it can feel like it. When money is so tight and there are so many things to worry about, it can just take one small thing to bring everything down on top of you. We didn’t have the money for a new one or any idea how we were going to manage without it. The stress just starts building and building. You can feel it.

"The money from Aberlour was definitely urgent assistance but it felt like more. It felt like a lifesaver.”