Laura first got in touch with us after discovering The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation (TMDF) online. A single mum with young children, she was unable to work due to full-time childcare responsibilities and relied on Universal Credit to make ends meet. With the rising cost of living, she had no disposable income and could barely cover essential living costs, let alone fund any home repairs or maintenance.
Some years earlier, a storm had caused a tree and multiple fence panels to fall in her garden. Without the means or support to fix the damage, the garden quickly became overgrown and unsafe. More fencing collapsed over time, and Laura was left with a completely unusable space. With no nearby friends or family, having moved to the area after fleeing domestic violence several years prior, she was managing everything alone and had no one to help.
When Laura reached out to us, she was deeply frustrated and embarrassed. Summer was fast approaching, and her children had nowhere safe to play outside. She felt helpless.
We arranged for a volunteer to visit and assess the garden, followed by several more visits to carry out the work needed.
Our volunteer cleared all the fallen debris, removed the collapsed tree, cut back overgrown vegetation, and refitted the salvageable fencing. Several panels were beyond repair, but we were able to secure a donation to replace them. The volunteer even cleaned the children’s outdoor toys, which had been overtaken by moss and plants.
Thanks to the makeover, Laura now has a safe, welcoming outdoor space for her and her children. The garden is secure, tidy, and finally usable again. Her children are delighted to have somewhere to play over the summer, and Laura feels proud to have a space where her family can relax and make memories. She’s now able to manage basic garden upkeep herself and feels reassured knowing that if she ever needs support again, TMDF is just a phone call away.
Do you or someone you know need help and support to get through a difficult time? We know that asking for help is not easy, just complete our contact form and we’ll be in touch with more on how we can help.
The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation
67 Grove Rd
Northampton
NN1 3LJ
Registered Charity Number: 1190255
