STORY: Vital energy vouchers helped Katherine to stay afloat during winter
After Katherine, 35, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she struggled to pay her bills – on top of managing her daily living. Hear in Katherine’s own words how Groundwork’s “Green Doctor guardian angels” supported her through this difficult time.
Katherine said:
“In all honesty, I am not sure where to begin, so I shall start by saying that I wouldn’t have made it through the last nine months or so without the assistance I have received from my Green Doctor Abi.
“I was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a severe and highly debilitating mental health condition, which has left me out of work for the first time in my life, and completely out to sea. The medication I am now required to take daily renders me heavily sedated for most of the day and makes even the most basic tasks insurmountable at times. This applies not only to daily living but also includes necessary administrative tasks such as paying bills and shopping.
“I also care for my elderly father, who is recovering from a rigorous course of chemotherapy. My concerns around keeping him fed and warm whilst living on almost nothing, income-wise, were exacerbating my own condition. As a result, I felt very ill.
“Abi and her team have gone above and beyond for me! She visited my house and assessed an issue I was having with damp, which she diagnosed very quickly, and advise me on how best to fix it. She has organised a number of energy vouchers to be used with my energy supplier to help fund bills (without which I would not have got through winter) and also the occasional supermarket voucher, which freed up my finances to pay other priority bills during the most difficult months. Because of this, I have just about been able to keep my family’s heads above water.
“I am not sure what I did to be granted these Green Doctor guardian angels, but I am more grateful than I can possibly articulate here. Groundwork, and its representatives like Abi, genuinely save lives, and I will forever be thankful for the support I have received from them. You are making such a positive difference to those of us who had nearly given up hope.
“I will never forget what you have done for me.”
Green Doctor Abi said:
“I advised Katherine on the damp she was getting in her bedroom. The top of her external wall was visibly wet and we did some further inspection. From looking outside Katherine’s property, we could see the gutters were full and there was a crack in the gutter. Moss growing out of the crack and her brick work was a sign that the mortar in the brickwork is wet and likely entering through the walls. Katherine has recently had her gutters changed by an external company and hopefully this will resolve the issue in the future.
“I also gave Katherine support with some outstanding debit on her account through direct debit vouchers for her gas and electric. She’s now up to date with her energy bills and has no negative debit on her account.”