Zena

Zena* has two children, one under three. Her husband died suddenly. Zena’s husband had always worked and taken responsibility for everything outside the family home. Zena spoke very little English.

Zena was referred to her local Home-Start by social services. On an initial assessment visit, Home-Start discovered there was no food in the house, the phone had been disconnected and the utilities cut off. Zena did not know how to access her bank account, had not made a claim for benefits and had been served her an eviction notice by her landlord. She explained she was unable to stop crying and had not been taking her eldest child to school.

Home-Start staff obtained vouchers from the Food Bank, arranged for her phone to be reconnected, accompanied her to the CAB to make a benefits claim and liaised with her utility suppliers and landlord to restart her energy supply and prevent eviction. Zena was matched with a volunteer, Rudi*, who visited weekly and initially focused on helping her talk through her grief and manage simple tasks without her husband. Over time, Rudi helped Zena gain the confidence to attend English classes. Just over a year after her husband’s death, Zena gained employment in retail and felt confident enough to support her children and provide for the family without the support of Home-Start.

* names changed to protect anonymity