100 - Oven and washing machine for a mum escaping an abusive home - November 2022





We have made our 100th donation AND we can also celebrate the milestone of giving away £40,000 to these 100 varied recipients since we made our first donation 3 years ago in November 2019.  

We really do not know how to thank you all for being a part of this.  It is incredible that your weekly contributions have achieved so much.  Numerous families helped and local organisations supported.  

You have genuinely made a difference to so many people - not least to K, the recipient of donation number 100.  Here is her story, told by her wonderful nominator:

Leaving your abusive husband is hard.  

If you have no family in the area, it's even harder.  

If he continues to be abusive but doesn't want you to leave it's harder. 

If you are pregnant and have got toddlers it's harder. 

If you don't work and have never applied for benefits it's even harder. 

Often abused women will leave then go back, for practical reasons.  It can take a few attempts for the break to be completed, emotionally and logistically.   And plenty of women are successful and they and their children go on to thrive, without the dad's daily put downs, verbal abuse and coercive control. 

For K it was her second attempt. She eventually got allocated (dire) homeless accomodation for her and her 3 young children. (Have you heard about the housing crisis in Sheffield?).  And then months after she was offered a council house. It had no gas or electricity for the first few days, still has no internet,  it had no furniture, no white goods, no carpets or curtains. The council paid for some things but they wouldn't pay for the white goods. 

You at 500 Together then helped out. Mum is thrilled to have her own washing machine and a proper oven at last, not just a table top ring burner. And now she can wash all the kids' clothes as she needs to.  It's completed her home which is set for their much brighter, independent future. Her family have  been able to visit from afar.  The kids are more settled.  There's some serious recovery to be made in this new family home but the future is much brighter. 

We are so grateful to this member who nominated K, whose local community organisation supports so many families and ensures that our donations are used to maximum benefit.  They are in the thick of it and we are always in awe of the work they do.

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