R is good with his hands and very capable with electrics. He has learnt 'on the job' and has survived on cash-in-hand payments for years. However, modern times dictate that earning a living this way leads to financial hardship. R now wants to pass his eighteenth edition wiring regulations so that he can get a start with a company that will continue his continuing professional development (CPD) in-house, as he builds a career that will be a life changer. At present R is struggling and all he wants is the chance to earn a decent living.

This young couple were made homeless about six months ago and have spent a number of months in bed and breakfast accommodation with their two young children. They have had a dreadful time and have been quite traumatised by the experience. The council have moved them into a house with a garden that needs a huge amount of work to make it safe. Our volunteers are doing the initial landscaping, but they need to buy two recycling bins and some gardening tools to enable them to keep on top of it. However, as they are surviving on benefits, they cannot afford these items,

H is a diabetic who is fitted with a sensor and an insulin pump. She reads the sensor herself and manually uses the pump. For the last six months, the suppliers of this equipment have been pushing her to use their app on a mobile phone to better monitor her levels. H cannot afford the phone and has refused. The company are threatening to not provide the insulin unless she gets a phone. The cheapest phone she can find that supports the app is £220. She has £40 towards the phone.