Hear from Angela how one local church’s compassionate care reminded her she wasn’t alone.
Due to a degenerative sight condition, I began to rapidly lose my vision in my thirties. I had to make a lot of adjustments, and had no choice but to stop working. Receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has helped towards the extra costs, but it doesn’t replace my income, and it’s a long and complicated process.
I face extra costs for many day-to-day things due to my sight loss. Although I have an amazing guide dog, I’m not confident going out, especially on my own.
Public transport is tricky, too, when I can’t see the screens for updates. Sometimes I’ll need to get a taxi, especially during the darker months, or stay home more, which means using more gas and electricity. I invested in a heated blanket to cut heating costs, because the yearly increase in benefit payment is minimal.
It’s easier for me to do my food shopping online, and I have to buy pre-chopped vegetables and chicken, butthese cost extra. When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, supermarket own brands often put their range of products in the same shaped bottles, so I have to pay more to buy a different brand, just to know which is which. Little things like that help me manage independently, but the costs all add up.
Angela’s sight impairment means she has to spend more time at home, increasing heating and electricity bills.
We were just about getting by on one wage – and then my husband (pictured below) was made redundant. He turned up for work and wasn’t allowed through the doors. That hit us hard – the stress on our already tight finances became real very quickly. We had a mortgage to pay and three school-age boys to feed.
My husband did everything he could to protect me from the severity of the situation, despite having anxiety himself. He knew I couldn’t read the letters coming in. But when there’s nothing in the pot, you still end up owing on the mortgage and taking out loans to pay the bills.
Debt was like a heavy weight around my neck. My boys had a series of special birthdays, and we couldn’t afford to get them anything. One day, my son came home with the sole of his shoe hanging off, and I didn’t know what to do – we didn’t have the money for new ones.
One day, my son came home with the sole of his shoe hanging off – we didn’t have the money for new ones.
After struggling for two years, we were on the verge of losing our home. I eventually confided in someone at my church, who told me that St Luke’s Church in Cranham could help us sort out our debts.
When Miles from St Luke’s – manager of the London Upminster debt centre at the time – came round, everything changed. He took time to understand my needs and explore how he could accommodate them. Because I struggled to read the letters I received, he made sure they were in large print with pre- addressed return envelopes, and that a debt advisor from CAP would call and talk through each letter with me. Miles made sure everything was explained to me, including the repayment plan CAP drafted for us.
Miles proactively telling me to vocalise anything he could help me with was so valuable. He didn’t just assume things were accessible, and made it clear we were on the same team, working together to overcome our situation.
‘[Miles] didn’t just assume things were accessible, and made it clear we were on the same team.’
Miles proactively responded to Angela’s access needs, to make sure she received the support and care she needed.
Miles also made a point of putting the relevant contact numbers in my phone so it was easy for me to reach out to whoever I needed, from debt advisors to my local church-based team. When I was at my low points, I’d find a reason to call them and have a bit of a cry. I wasn’t made to feel like a nuisance, and the team was so compassionate and reassuring. Rather than just focusing on our finances, they really cared. They told us we weren’t alone, even when we felt alone.
They told us we weren’t alone, even when we felt alone.
When we finally became debt free, it was so joyful – you want to shout from the rooftop, especially after four and a half years!
Now, the community debt centre is like my second home. It brings people in the community together. I help Sally, who manages another nearby debt centre, as a befriender, visiting people receiving debt help. I love being able to share what I’ve learned and help others, especially young mums, get back on their feet.
Angela and her husband are now debt free and moving forward with hope.
About the author
Mum-of-three Angela lives with sight loss, and is passionate about sharing God’s love through her local church and community groups.
