For the past two years, The Wallich has supported Danielle in Carmarthenshire.
After building a strong bond with her support worker, Danielle has been able to gain accommodation for her and her young children.
Danielle is also back on track with her studies and is on the road to getting her dream job.
As part of our Lockdown Diaries series, read Danielle’s story.
“The Wallich has helped me a lot, but there’s been ups and downs along the way.
Hollie, my support worker is amazing. She’s helped me through some dark times.
Hollie has been my ear, she has listened to things that weren’t in her job description. I’ve told her my life story and she’s been like a counsellor to me.
I’m really grateful to have her in my life. I don’t think I would be the person today without her.
My middle daughter was born really early and nearly died. I faced a lot of complications with her.
Just four months after, I conceived my third child, Jessie. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go ahead with the pregnancy, due to everything that had already happened.
I was in a really low place. It’s been hard. I won’t lie.
Me and their dad had split, I was left as a single mum with two children, pregnant with my third.
I had nothing.
My oldest daughter didn’t have a bed to sleep in. I was in debt up to my eyeballs. I was going to be evicted. I dropped out of university.
I’d given up my council house to go private rented with my youngest two’s dad. I never thought I’d ever get a council house again.
But Hollie helped to find me a house and now I’ve got a beautiful home and three beautiful children.
Last year, I did start rebelling a little bit. When my children went with their dad, I’d go out on the weekend.
But Hollie had the chat with me, she made me see that I was better than that, in the nicest way that she could.
After that conversation, I got up and decided to go back to university. I applied that day. I phoned her [Hollie] and I think she was as shocked as I was.
I got back into uni and I haven’t dropped out this time. I’ve completed my first year and I’ve got a year to go.
I’m going to be a qualified counsellor which is something I’ve always wanted to be.
I lost my dad six years ago, when I was 18. My dad suffered drug addiction and mental health.
I feel I did a lot for my dad, but I couldn’t save him, and I’d like to save other people and help other people.
Hollie has been the role model that I needed. She has seen the good in me from day one and despite the situation that I was in, she didn’t judge.
The support has continued through Covid-19.
I won’t say that being stuck in the house for nearly three months has been easy, because it hasn’t.
But I have spoken to Hollie every week. She is there for me, day in, day out.
Hollie has called outside to pick up some forms for me.
Obviously she’s had the full kit on and she hasn’t come near me, which has affected me because I’m not used to that.
I’ve had Hollie in my life for a long time now.”
“Listening to Danielle retell her story has made me feel so happy and proud of how far she has come.
It has reconfirmed why I love working for The Wallich.
I feel grateful that I am in a position to make a small difference to people’s lives and support them to reach their goals.”
