52 Lives

#479 Shirley

Request: Donations / Gifts / Kind Messages

This week, we’d like to help Shirley, who has taken in her grandchildren after they were abandoned by their mother.

The children are 12, 13 and 16. Shirley agreed for them to move in with her after she witnessed how neglected they were. Their mum is in another relationship and has other children with her boyfriend. It’s a family arrangement, so other than a small amount of child benefit and a pension credit, she isn’t receiving any other financial support at the moment.

Shirley was nominated by their social worker after she went to visit them. She said: ”I was shocked by the way they were living.” The three girls are sleeping on two small camp beds Shirley bought with her pension credit. The youngest two share one, and the eldest sleeps on another. Their bedroom has no flooring, no wardrobes or chest of drawers, and the room itself feels cold and bleak.

Their fridge and cooker aren’t working properly and the sofa in the living room has broken.

Shirley is trying everything she can to give the girls a comfortable home, but she needs help.

We’d like to provide carpet, a sofa, beds, a fridge and cooker, clothes and some help with school uniforms. The 16 year old girl is doing her GCSEs after Easter, so we’d like to set her up with a desk and computer so she has a space to study during the holidays. We’d also like to send some gifts for Shirley, who has made a lot of sacrifices and is doing her best to give her three grandchildren the love and care they deserve.

*Name has been changed

What We Need

1. Donations: We will use your donations to provide the things they need. You can donate online or by text using the details below.

2. Gifts from a wishlist: We've set up a wishlist with gifts for the family. To buy something from the list, just add it to your basket and choose the 'gift registry address' when you check out. It will be sent directly to Shirley.

3. Kind Messages: To send a kind message to the family, just write a message in the form below (your contact details won't be passed on), or you can post a message to: 52 Lives, Life # 479, PO Box 3154, Reading, RG1 9AT.

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(if you are sending a message of support for the person we’re helping, there is no need to fill in your email address or telephone number)

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