Vicky and her family have been attending Blackpool FC Community Trust (BFCCT) sessions since December 2022 when we first launched our Winter Warm Hubs. The hub aimed to support local families through the cost-of-living crisis by providing food and a warm place to visit, meaning the heating and electricity could be turned off at home and the weekly shopping bill would be less.
At first, although Vicky welcomed the support, she was hesitant due to her self-confidence and the stigma around accessing the free service. However, after attending a few sessions, she became more confident and attended more regularly. With the rising costs of food, bills and everything else, supporting her family with essentials had caused Vicky a lot of anxiety.
Vicky particularly benefited from the support, reduced utility bills and the opportunity to access a free meal each evening with her family. This relieved the pressure of having to choose between her weekly shop or essential items such as school shoes for her children.
After the winter hubs concluded in March 2023, BFCCT continued to support local families by offering alternative provision throughout the summer term. Vicky and her children accessed these sessions with the addition of her partner when he wasn’t working.
Vicky continued to visit the Family Hubs right through the year. During this time Vicky’s confidence grew, and she decided she wanted to start volunteering with the hope that it would help her progress into some form of career such as a teaching assistant. In February, Vicky started volunteering at our Big Food Truck service, packing food parcels at the stadium to support her local community. This has since led to Vicky volunteering at our Breakfast Club for families with younger children too.
Lauren, Community Living Support Manager at BFCCT said,
“It has been great to see Vicky grow in confidence. Moving from sitting and keeping to herself, to getting involved and trying new activities. It just shows that sessions like this do make a difference to the lives of those who attend.”
The introduction of physical activity and homework club has also been a welcomed addition to the Family Clubs. Vicky’s children have enjoyed burning off some energy, and the parents have been encouraged to get involved too. The walking and boxing activities have given Vicky the confidence to get more active in her personal life. Homework club has provided a place for her daughter to complete her homework which she has been more reluctant to do at home.
Vicky said,
“Thanks to the support from staff at Blackpool FC Community Trust Hubs, and the volunteering opportunities I have been part of, I am now hoping to continue volunteering more hours whilst also exploring opportunities that will support me to up-skill myself in Community Work.
“This is something I never thought possible for me, but the support Lauren has given me has boosted my confidence and I’m excited to see where this journey will take me.”
