This week we'd like to help Sylvia and her three children (aged 8, 11 and 12).

The two eldest children lost their dad suddenly in June in a really traumatic way, and the impact on the whole family has been devastating. Sylvia had to take unpaid time off her admin job to support them, and that period without income started a downward spiral.

Unexpected car repairs and paying for childcare over the summer holidays tipped things over the edge. Sylvia started relying on buy-now-pay-later credit apps and now the repayments have snowballed, leaving her with debt that she is struggling to clear on her own. She’s fallen behind on bills and is being threatened with CCJs.

The children’s teacher said Sylvia is a lovely mum who always puts her kids first - but she is exhausted. She's grieving, parenting traumatised children, working full-time, and trying to keep their home life stable. She just needs some help to get out from under her immediate crisis.

We’d like to help pay her overdue bills to give her some breathing room, and also buy Christmas presents for her and the children. It will give them the chance to get on top of things again.

We often share stories of families who have been made homeless and are in need of help - in Sylvia's case, we have the chance to help before it gets to that stage. We need donations, gifts from a wishlist and lots of kind messages.