Lilly* and her daughter lived in temporary accommodation following a relationship breakdown. Their home had mould and the dog next door barked day and night.
Lilly is autistic and so is her daughter – who joined Grapevine’s intensive development programme for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Teenvine Plus.
Lilly’s other long-term health conditions and periods of mental ill health, while caring for her young daughter, meant she found getting help hard – particularly because she was concerned that involving social services put her daughter staying with her at risk.
Her housing issue became stuck as a result. Lilly’s health was suffering, her daughter wasn’t sleeping. They were under stress.
Lilly was afraid to use the gas cooker, only ever using electricity. They weren’t eating properly.
Lilly once used painting to manage stress but had not lifted a paintbrush for some time.
The situation couldn’t go on. Then we asked Lilly what mattered most and started there:
- We helped Lilly join a health project and she used her health story to get help herself, as well as helping others. She has developed a communication manual so health professionals better understand her needs
- We supported her daughter on Teenvine Plus to have fun, time outside the home with her peers and space to develop new skills
- We met for coffee with Jayne from Early Help so she could help Lilly with her housing application
- We chatted with Elaine at Central England Law Centre and continue walking alongside her in this process
- We helped her find indoor and outdoor places she enjoys visiting during the day and that don’t cost anything. Lilly can also reconnect with art in some of these places
- We showed her how to use the cooker, sharing a meal with her and her daughter
- We helped them check in on the foster care of their beloved cat.
The outcome wasn’t a new home – not just yet. The outcome is Lilly is better able to deal with problems.
She increased her own agency and felt able to share what she needs with health professionals.
Lilly and her daughter are now closer to others outside of their family unit and are forming relationships with people who can help with system barriers.
Lilly feels stronger. She says: “I feel less trapped. We can get through this.”
Lilly is leading the changes in her life with Grapevine as her “enabler” in building the self-advocacy skills, resilience and support networks she needs to begin the next chapter of hers and her daughter’s lives.
*Name has been changed to protect Lilly and her family’s anonymity.
Strengthening Lives
More about our Strengthening Lives work can be found here. Read our five-year strategy here.