Stephanie, 32, lives with her three-year-old son, Zion, who was recently diagnosed with autism and suffers with eczema and asthma. Living in temporary accommodation, Stephanie’s home was susceptible to high levels of mould and damp during the winter months.
The impact of the living conditions was considerable. The mould and damp have significantly impacted her son, worsening Zion’s asthma symptoms and making it difficult for him to breathe. During the winter, Zion required three different types of inhaler, taking them multiple times a day. His eczema was also flaring up, causing severe irritation and making him unsettled at nursery.
During this time, Zion was in his first year at Allens Croft Nursery School in Kings Heath, Birmingham. The nursery’s manager, Amanda Smith, invited Stephanie to a meeting after noticing Zion’s struggles with asthma and eczema.
I knew my temporary accommodation wasn’t suitable to live in and I tried everything to get it clean,” Stephanie explained. “I was so grateful for the support of Amanda at the nursery. I was really struggling as a single mum and didn’t know who I could turn to. I shared photos of where we lived and Amanda talked me through the support I didn’t realise was available to me.
Allens Croft Nursery has strong ties with local community hub Brandwood Centre, which offers energy efficiency support to people living in vulnerable situations, thanks to its status as a Cadent Centre for Warmth. After working with the nursery, Brandwood Centre recommended that Groundwork’s Green Doctors visit Stephanie’s home to see changes she could make.
As a result of the visit, Stephanie qualified to receive support from Cadent Foundation’s £2m Winter Support Fund. Here, Groundwork supplied her with a dehumidifier to help with the cold and damp, as well as a heated blanket. The impact was significant.
Stephanie said: The dehumidifier was a major help and reduced the mould and damp almost immediately – I couldn’t believe it. Zion’s breathing also improved greatly. He went from needing three inhalers to just one, and he is nowhere near as reliant as he used to be. Now, he’s flourishing at nursery and his eczema is more manageable.
My life has completely changed and I am excited for my future. The lessons I’ve learnt have been invaluable. I now feel confident that I can better manage my energy use, while the dehumidifier will be another welcome addition in the winter.
I think it’s important for me to share my story and show other single parents that things can get better. Making the first step and asking for help is never easy, but it’s the best thing you can do. I am so grateful for the support that I’ve been provided by Allens Croft Nursery, Groundwork and Cadent Foundation, and it’s crucial that others know that help is out there.
