Ellena's story

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Through the Lightning Reach portal Ellena received support from:

Ellena's Story

London, England

"This award has eased the burden of upcoming bills and will help alleviate my other costs. The support made a significant difference in reducing my mental health worries."

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Navigating financial and emotional challenges 

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Ellena, a teaching assistant, encountered significant hurdles when she had to leave her job to care for her grandmother, who has dementia. Living in her grandmother's one-bedroom flat and relying on Universal Credit, Ellena struggled to make ends meet amidst the rising cost of living.

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“I didn’t know where to go, not knowing what’s out there especially if you are working or have a part-time job. Some people don’t necessarily know there are places that can help.”

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Ellena discovered the Lightning Reach portal through a link on the TSB mobile app (a Lightning Reach partner). Seeking financial assistance, she set up her profile and was matched with various support options.

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"I was looking for some sort of assistance or advice. I saw a link to Lightning Reach and was intrigued. I didn't have any expectations but was surprised by the outcome."

Applying for and receiving crucial support

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With her teaching experience, Ellena was able to apply directly to a Lightning Reach support partner, the Teaching Staff Trust (TST). As this was the first time applying for support she was initially daunted by this prospect, but soon discovered how easy the process of applying for support on the portal actually was.

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“That bit for me was initially daunting, I had never done anything like that before. I found the application process easy and completed it in about 20 minutes, which was shorter than I was expecting. I didn't realise how fast they (TST)  would access my application, it was really fast and efficient.”

Through the portal, Ellena successfully applied for a £200 grant from the Teaching Staff Trust, which helped cover her energy and utility bills.

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"This award has eased the burden of upcoming bills and will help alleviate my other costs. The support made a significant difference in reducing my mental health worries."​​

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Reflecting on her portal experience

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Ellena found the Lightning Reach portal user-friendly and secure, which was crucial for her peace of mind. The process was fast and efficient and the portal provided her with various support options she might not have found otherwise, all in one place.

"The portal was very easy to use and access information. It made me feel secure, especially because it was connected to my bank (TSB)."

She also felt a sense of community knowing she was not alone in her struggles.

"It makes you feel like you're not alone and that other people are going through the same thing."

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Sharing her story to encourage others ​

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Ellena is extremely grateful for the support she received and hopes her story encourages others to seek help through the portal.

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“Lightning Reach is a really good tool, it’s straightforward and easy to use, and I would definitely recommend it to others in similar situations.”

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Ellena's story shows just how important it is to have easy-to-access support when you're going through tough financial times, especially when looking for and applying for assistance for the first time. Her positive experience with the Lightning Reach portal highlights how getting help quickly can make a big difference in someone's life.