After a relationship breakdown left Vicky urgently seeking accommodation, her and her teenage children were forced to live with family members. She eventually secured a flat through her council but had no appliances or flooring.    

At the age of nineteen Vicky was starting her career in marketing and at the same time helping to care for her partner who was living with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system. Often this causes lung infections and problems with digesting food.

“I used to help a lot with his physiotherapy which I really enjoyed.” remembers Vicky “At that time I think I was quite naïve being so young and I think nobody really told me that he was so poorly that he was going to die soon.”

After her partner passed away, Vicky felt compelled to work in care and did a variety of roles such as enabling people to stay independent, domiciliary care, call centre work and as a support worker in an out-of-hours urgent care team.

Vicky took the step to become a nurse and qualified in 2020 and her current role is a Specialist Nurse looking after people living with Cystic Fibrosis. She runs weekly clinics, caring for patients in their home and in hospital.

“I never thought I’d be a nurse,” says Vicky “but I love helping people and going above and beyond what’s expected. I think doing that extra, small thing for someone is never too much bother and it’s often the thing that they remember the most and has greatest impact. It’s an honour to make someone feel better.”

After Vicky’s relationship ended with her children’s father, she tried to find somewhere to live but rental costs were too high. She ended up living temporarily with her father and brother.

“When I had the children to stay, who are teenagers, it wasn’t a great situation with everyone together,” explains Vicky “It was stressful but the only solution we had at that time. So I sought help from my local council and they eventually managed to secure a place for us to live.”

Vicky was relieved and glad to have a place of her own but had very little furniture, no appliances to furnish her new home, and limited floor coverings in the new accommodation. She had no way to fund any of this so turned to Cavell for financial support.

“I felt awkward about applying for help. I was thinking am I really in such a difficult situation that I need help from a charity?

“But when I looked at the criteria and thought, yes that’s me, it was easier to go through the process and make the application for support.”

The Cavell Support team was able to provide financial help to Vicky and her family.

“I was ecstatic when I found out I was getting support,” says Vicky “I was quite shocked as I didn’t really expect the help but it was such a huge relief.

“The help from Cavell has made a massive difference to our lives, the place feels more like a home for us all. The children’s rooms now have flooring which is amazing. We all feel really settled.”

Vicky is grateful there is an organisation like Cavell supporting nursing and midwifery colleagues going through tough times.

“People don’t go into nursing and midwifery for the money! It’s a tough job and you know that when you enter the professions. The pay for what we do is ok, but not amazing and as a single parent it’s very difficult to get by at times.

“So it’s reassuring to know that when you’re going through difficulties, there’s somewhere like Cavell to turn to.”

If you would like to find out more about the support that Cavell offers, click here to visit the Cavell Support Hub.