Tony's story

How our community advice helped Tony turn his life around

Tony was in court charged with possessing a weapon. He approached us for support with finances, despite working part time and living in a housing association property. Tony had a number of previous convictions but explained he had been trying to turn his life around by working and furnishing his home to a decent standard. The property was in need of repair, he had only a bed and a microwave, and his low-paid work meant he was unable to save any money for furniture or essential kitchen goods.

Action taken

Our first action was to give Tony the details of community projects that sold second-hand furniture. However, after two months he said repairs had still not been carried out and he had been unable to afford even the cheaper furniture we had highlighted. As a result, we wrote to a number of charities to apply for grants to help assist with the purchasing of furniture.

Outcome

The charities gave a grant to Tony for a combined total of £465. This enabled him to buy basic furnishings such as a fridge freezer, cooker, washing machine and small sofa. This has allowed him to save money on launderette bills and through having the means to cook non-fast food and prepare lunches for the week. Importantly, the furnishings allowed him to have friends visit without embarrassment, helping to alleviate the loneliness he had been feeling. Tony was very grateful for the help he had received in turning his life around, adding that he was now looking forward to a more positive future.