Clarion residents have been awarded more than £100,000 in grants through the free and easy-to-use Lightning Reach portal. The online service connects people to financial support from a range of trusted organisations, all in one place.
When everyday life became overwhelming
For Kyra, a stay-at-home mum with two young children, everyday life had become overwhelming. Unable to work, she was also managing mental health challenges while caring for her child with mobility needs.
Soon, daily tasks and bills became harder for her to manage. As the household costs continued to build, Kyra found herself in over £5,000 of energy debt.
“When your mental health takes a decline, you ignore everything else and the bills, and with my daughter’s mobility problems, it’s all a bit hard to keep it all together. The energy debt got to a point where I thought if I don’t sort it out now, it’s not going to get fixed. I didn’t want things to get worse for my children,” Kyra said.
Like many people, Kyra found it difficult to reach out for help. One of the biggest barriers was having to explain her situation over the phone - something Kyra says she struggles with - which made reaching out feel daunting. However, being able to find support via the online portal made all the difference and felt far less stressful, “I was able to write it down in my own words and still get the help that I needed.”
Finding the right support that removes barriers
Through the platform, Kyra was matched to the National Zakat Foundation, a national charity for Muslims in need, and received a £1,100 grant to help reduce her energy debt. She also received a wide range of energy saving gadgets through OVO’s Extra Support scheme and the National Energy Foundation (NEF).
Support that made a lasting difference
The support Kyra received made a real difference to her daily life. She was able to pay off a portion of her energy debt and buy wardrobes for her children, helping create a more organised home that was safer for her child with mobility issues.
The energy-saving gadgets helped Kyra make small changes to how she uses energy at home, which has made them less reliant on heating, and halved their monthly bills.
Kyra said: “Before I had the help, my bills were about £170 a month. They’ve now dropped down to about £85.”
This means Kyra is now saving around £1,000 a year on bills, giving her more monthly stability in her budget, and helping her feel more hopeful for the future. Looking back, Kyra says Lightning Reach helped her find support she didn’t know how to access before.
Get help today
If you or someone you know could benefit from financial support, visit Lightning Reach to see what help may be available. Already have an account? Log back in to update your details and discover new offers.
