Zoe's story
Zoe was feeling isolated and trapped in her flat. Then Angela came along and made a difference...
Zoe is nineteen and lives with her partner and two small boys in a flat in inner city London. Her boys are both under the age of two, each still needing to be in pushchairs. Zoe's partner works, meaning that Zoe is often left alone in the flat, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. This was the main reason why Zoe asked for support from Home-Start.
Zoe is feeling increasingly depressed by her housing situation. The flat she lives in has a winding staircase down to the street. She has no lift, so just getting out of the front door is a constant struggle. Zoe has to take the pushchair down three flights of stairs first, leaving her two children in the flat. She then climbs the stairs again and brings the eldest child down and straps him into the pushchair. She then returns to the flat for her baby and brings him down too. Zoe's biggest concern is leaving her children at the bottom of the stairs on their own whilst she returns to the flat to pick up her bags. She says that there will come a time when they will be able to open the door and get out into the street. This whole process is repeated every time she returns from being out, meaning that more often than not Zoe decides not to go out, increasing her isolation.
Then Angela her volunteer came along...
"Angela really helps me, I find things difficult that other mums take for granted," says Zoe.
Zoe says that life is so much easier when Angela is around. She is an 'extra pair of hands'. With Angela's help Zoe and her two boys get a chance of freedom, her boys get to play and run in the park, Zoe can go shopping and can take her boys to the baby clinic and on appointments. Zoe knows that when she returns to the flat, she has the help of Angela. It is these little things that make life so much easier for Zoe and her family.
On the 12th May 2009, Zoe and Angela featured in Home-Start's 'Volunteers Matter' event at City Hall, London. To view their photo essay or find out more about the event please click here.
