"I’m a single mum-of-six, we had no heating or hot water and had to wash our clothes in buckets of water"

When her boiler broke down, the cost of fixing it was simply too much.

She said: “It has been incredibly difficult for us to not be able to bathe or keep warm, even to wash, we would have to fill up buckets of water. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what my family has been through.”

It was only after a Health Visitor discovered Mandeep’s challenging situation that the struggling mum was able to get some help.

Now, Mandeep is speaking of the hardships she faced while letting others know there is help available.

The past few years have resulted in the West Midlands’ fuel poverty rates reaching the highest levels in the UK (19.5%) and with hospital waiting times continuing to soar, coupled with the additional financial pressures on Birmingham City Council, it has created a perfect storm.

Fuel poverty: What help is available?

Mandeep was directed to the Direct Access to Wellbeing Service (DAWS) team for support.

The newly created DAWS team has been setup following a partnership between Cadent, the UK’s largest Gas Distribution Network, its Foundation and Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Charity.

A £2.4m grant will fund the new service, designed specifically to support 100k of the most vulnerable people living in Birmingham over the next two years.

After accessing the scheme, Mandeep had a new boiler installed after her old one had been condemned.

She now has access to heating and hot water for her and her family.

The DAWS team has also provided Mandeep with energy efficient devices such as a slow cooker and an electric blanket, as well as energy and food vouchers to help with the costs associated with keeping well and warm.

Mandeep said: “Before being introduced to the DAWS Team, my family had no heating or hot water for several months as I couldn’t afford to have my boiler repaired. It has been incredibly difficult for us to not be able to bathe or keep warm.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what my family has been through. If it wasn’t for the support I received from this team, I wouldn’t be here today.”

As for the future, Mandeep is filled with hope and knows she and her family can thrive, safe in the knowledge that the DAWS team are on hand to support her when she needs it most.

Birmingham Community Healthcare patients and their families can access the same support by speaking to their health professional at their next appointment. If the scheme is a success, Cadent and Cadent Foundation would like to roll out the concept to other NHS Charity Trusts across the country.

Suzanne Cleary, chief officer for strategy and partnerships at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The BCHC Charity exists to go above and beyond what the NHS can provide with the resources that we have.

By working in partnership with Cadent, we can help to address health inequalities and the underlying causes of poor health, in which poverty and housing are significant factors.

“This project will help our most vulnerable patients and users to get the best out of the NHS services that we provide and ultimately, help people live well for longer within their communities.”

Visit https://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/charity/