Page 25 - Unfair-To-Care-22-23-Flipbook

LIVING WITHOUT A SAFETY NET
“MY JOB IS SO REWARDING AND THERE IS A DEEP SENSE OF LOYALTY WHICH KEEPS ME, AND SUPPORT WORKERS LIKE ME, IN THE SECTOR. BUT THE WORK SHOULD BE PAID MUCH BETTER THAN IT IS TO ENSURE MORE PEOPLE CAN DO IT.”
SECTION 5: THE IMPACT
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Like many other people working in the social care sector, 37 year-old Allen Robinson (pictured above) doesn’t have savings to
fall back on if the worst happens.
So when he unexpectedly lost his home, he had no ‘emergency fund’ to finance a new flat and pay day was still a few weeks away.
Facing homelessness, Allen’s only option was to stay with family or friends. But with his closest family almost 40 miles away, the commute to work for non-driver Allen would take hours and the fact that he works permanent nights made sofa surfing at friends’ houses impossible.
“It was such a stressful time because I absolutely love my
job and there was no question of me not being there for the people I support but it really brought home to me just how tricky my finances were. I didn’t exactly have a lavish lifestyle but once the rent and bills were paid, there wasn’t much left.”
Explaining his predicament to his line manager, Allen was told about the Community Integrated Care Wellbeing Fund, a reserve that the charity has set aside to help
staff deal with the sudden and unexpected life events that can create significant financial hardship.
The charity quickly organised a grant so that Allen could find and furnish a new flat close to the service where he works – a win-win for both him and the people he supports.
He added: “My job is so rewarding and there is a deep sense of loyalty which keeps me, and Support Workers like me, in the sector. But the work should be paid much better than it is to ensure more people can do it.”
Now Allen is settled in to his new flat and, thanks to his continuing careful budgeting, he is learning to drive when funds allow.
“I’m really grateful that Community Integrated Care helped me out. It definitely solved a major worry for me.”