A small gift to keep a child safe, and make a big difference to a mum

At Acts 435, we see every day how small acts of generosity can have a life-changing impact. Recently, donors came together to support a single mum who was facing the challenge of keeping her son safe every day.

This mum is raising her three-year-old son on a low income. Her little boy has a diagnosis of Autism and experiences significant sensory and behavioural challenges, including a lack of awareness of the dangers around him. Every moment of every day, she must be alert. She has to watch that he doesn’t run out of the house or slip into the kitchen where hazards are everywhere, and this constant worry was wearing down this mum's resilience.

With no nearby support network — she has been carrying this responsibility alone, and the local Acts 435 identified that one item that she needed was simple: a very strong, extra-wide safety gate to help keep him safe and give her moments of peace.

Thanks to donors through Acts 435, the request was fully funded, and this exhausted mum received the safety gate she desperately needed.

Her message of thanks describes the joy that this simple item has brought to this mum:

I’m just bouncing up and down with joy! My son will be able to regulate and stimulate his behaviour better and I don’t need to worry that he’s got out the house or in the kitchen where it is not safe. I was so tired and worn out today but this has just lifted my spirits. To whoever you are, thank you so much.

A sturdy safety gate may seem like a small, everyday household item. But to this mum, it meant safety, relief, and hope. It meant knowing her son could explore and regulate himself without constant risk.

Most of all, it showed this mum that someone cared for her and her young son.

Thank you to all the Acts 435 donors who fund these small, specific needs that make such a difference to individuals.