I nearly lost him three times in hospital and whilst we were dealing with that, we still had bills to pay. It all became my responsibility. We used up all of our savings and sometimes I couldn’t even afford to buy food.
Hilary's story
We provided financial and wellbeing support for Hilary when her partner was seriously unwell.
Putting others first
Hilary has always put others first. She cared for both of her parents in the final years of their lives, whilst juggling a job as a civil servant and battling a painful spinal condition of her own. Her mum was struggling with dementia and her dad suffered complications from heart failure, but Hilary did everything she could to make them feel safe and loved.
That sense of being there for each other, goes for the entire family. Hilary’s partner has several health issues and regularly has to stay in hospital. Being self-employed means that he’s unable to work during these time periods, which can be tough financially for the couple.
When Hilary’s partner recently became seriously ill, Hilary took on the familiar role of being someone’s rock during a storm. As he spent months in a serious condition, Hilary was left to fight his corner.
Financial Support
Hilary’s colleague recommended reaching out to the Charity for Civil Servants. Having been personally helped themselves, they wanted to help someone else who was going through a rough time. Hilary got in touch and following a supportive conversation, we found that we could provide financial support during the couple’s time of need.
I was treated fairly and compassionately by the help team and the financial support gave us some respite. It was just a huge relief. I think there’s a lot of hardship out there… I know I’ve been very close to feeling like it’s all too much so I’ll do anything I can to help others.
I think it’s important for civil servants to know that we have this type of support available to us. If we fall, someone is there to pick us up. I’m not ashamed to ask for help and I know I can reach out again if I need to.
Some elements of this story have been anonymised or changed to protect the person’s identity.
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If you’re a civil servant facing a tough time – find out how we can help you.
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