Testimonials
Can I tell you this? Most of my life I’ve felt of no value, treated like it and believed it. The kindness I’ve had shown to me through you had been hard to accept.
Feeling I owe something and don’t deserve such loveliness, but as time has gone by I realise that this is totally genuine and that someone does care and thinks of us. Financially these gifts are amazing, but honestly mentally it’s on an even much higher scale.
– Support & Grow Client
Just wanted to say thank you for starting all of this new adventure for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the confidence to be part of a team again, and now I am. Thanks for all of your guidance and wise words. You’re a gem.
– Support & Grow Volunteer
I recently found myself and my family in exceptionally difficult circumstances. We had to move house with very little notice as our landlord of 10yrs passed away.
We moved to a completely different area where we know no one, changed schools and my husband at this point had already lost his income for over 5 months due to COVID lockdown.
He is self-employed with a Ltd company, as such we had no entitlement to any of the government financial assistance, yet still had all our bills to pay and kids to feed.
But we somehow managed despite all the odds being against us. My son who has additional support needs and suffers with his mental health took it all very badly, he is now in a specialised setting for vulnerable learners.
After all the expense of moving house and having to find a deposit, take on rent which was over £200 a month more expensive we found ourselves in severe hardship.
We had little choice of where to go as this all happened during the first lockdown. I saw a post shared on social media of the COVID-19 mutual aid group, it was a post by Janine.
I wondered for a while about reaching out as I felt so embarrassed, but I’m so glad I did. Janine and all the volunteers have been nothing short of saviours to me, and I honestly don’t know how I would have coped otherwise.
With zero judgement, exceptional understanding and nothing but kindness, I was very quickly helped both practically and emotionally. We were sent clothes for my daughter after she had a growth spurt.
We were helped with food, cleaning and toiletries. Furthermore, we have also been lucky enough to benefit from an amazing day out, which was much needed and appreciated by all of us.
My husband, when working, lives away from home, I do not have any family, so it is just myself and my kids. I felt such a failure and very isolated, the group have been a safe and encouraging place for me to speak in safety and understanding.
I do struggle with what we have been through and the after effect which still remains, I do have physical and mental health struggles, but I am safe in the knowledge that people really do care.
They are life’s true Angels.
– Support & Grow Client
In the height of the pandemic I found myself a single parent of four children, all under the age of 6.
I was really struggling to keep up with clothing and shoes for my children, as after my bills were paid, I found I couldn’t afford to scrape together any money to buy them.
Normally I would be able to get some by looking in charity shops but due to lockdown, nothing was available.
I found a lovely lady who ran a Facebook page called “Support and Grow NE”. At first I was hesitant as I was worried about being judged, but I reached out and asked for some support.
From the minute I asked for the support, they had offered me clothes, food, shoes, curtains for my home and they were really, really friendly.
They never once judged me and had the attitude of ‘if I can help, I definitely will’. Everything I had asked for and more, was delivered within a few days; the quality of the items were outstanding, none of it was dirty or damaged.
From then my worries vanished, my children then had the clothes they needed and the shoes, and I was able to use everything she offered me, to make our lives better going forward.
I always had food available for them and if I didn’t, I knew I was able to ask her for the help with food.
I can honestly say, I would be stuck in a really hard situation of going into debt to try and buy my children what they needed, if it wasn’t down to Support and Grow.
They have been fantastic with me and I now know, and still do, that if I need anything they are just a message away.
They are always friendly and polite and it makes a huge difference. From one very happy parent, thank you so much for everything that you do, and still continue to do for my family.
– Support & Grow Client
Sometimes, people don’t realise how hard it is. Some people look at others on Benefits and think they should have enough money for this, or for that, but once all the bills are paid and everything is said and done, the money doesn’t last.
You’ve got one child crying for shoes, another needing a coat, the other needs new pants, etc. and it honestly sends you into a panic.
You try and think of all the ways you can possible get the things you need, but it always comes down to, I can not pay this bill to buy some shoes, or not pay the electric to buy some clothes.
Obviously, we both know that’s counter-productive and you’re only going to end up in debt and make the situation ten times worse.
So when I found Support and Grow, and told them everything I needed, I honestly thought they’re going to think I’m taking the mick, asking for all this stuff. Or what if they say ‘no’, or something negative like that.
For them to say ‘yes, I have that’, or ‘yes, I have this, no problem, I’ll get it sorted, do you need anything else?’ – I can’t describe how much a relief that is.
So now when I’m in that same position of one needing shoes, one needing a coat, etc. I don’t panic anymore.
I just think, ‘right, I’ll contact Support and Grow I’m sure they will be able to help’ and they always do.
So thank you! You don’t know how much you help out in the long run x
– Support & Grow Client
I have had amazing support from Michelle and everything they do.
I have 2 young children and had to move because of mould and damp, but when I moved into my new house I had nothing because I lost everything due to the mould.
My children didn’t have beds, wardrobes or drawers. Lost most of their clothes. And money has been so tight with trying to replace everything and the cost of living going up so much I struggled with getting food in every week but with Michelle’s help and everyone else involved my children have beds, bedroom furniture and clothes.
She has helped with food every week as well and on the time where I couldn’t collect everything has been delivered to my home which has helped so much.
Without all the help and support me and my children would still have nothing. I’m so grateful for everything.
– Support & Grow Client
Hi hun I would just like to say a massive thank you for all the support you have given me and my family especially with the safety gates and all the hampers many thanks.
– Support & Grow Client
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Support And Grow North East is a Registered Charity: #1197333