Beverly W

Hi there. Over the years, I don't think there is a service across the community I haven't used in some capacity or other.

They are all invaluable to me and my family, from leisure services like swimming baths or libraries, educational services and adult learning where I studied for a whole range of skills and qualifications as well as sending my children to local schools and youth clubs, transport and health or social care, which I heavily depend on for myself as well as recently contacting on behalf of my mum to access carers to visit her in her own home to advisory services or postal services. Its difficult to say which service we've valued the most because as a single parent I have been fortunate to receive a great deal of family support during this time, although, due to my health issues, I believe we've benefited most from health and social care sectors.

Besides the help from healthcare sectors, I don't really know where we would be now without all the support from other agencies and services we've had. Its worrying and saddens me that the health service is disintegrating and falling apart at the seams.

What I value the most is the fact that these services have been free of charge to us. Where would "I" as a single parent be able to stump up the spare funds to pay for these things otherwise? Even when I did work it was part time to fit around parenting responsibilities. Even were it full time employment I had, how could I possibly earn enough to cover all our bills unless highly skilled or in a long term career where I'd worked my way up to senior management? Either this or through working in several jobs which accommodate flexible patterns.

As for improvements it could be beneficial to the crisis in staffing the NHS if university students whilst completing their training were recruited into roles in the health service instead of being sent off to study solely at universities. At least it makes sense to a trained paramedic friend of mine for the authorities to at least think about ways to incorporate training into the workplace mores.

As for improvements I'd really like to see the return of free legal aid for people. In more recent times, I've found it really challenging if not impossible to access help with tribunal cases against the DWP. It was purely a stroke of luck I came across a lady on social media with the same condition as I have, who was also a semi practicing solicitor. If it weren't for her connections resources and immense knowledge base I would still be fighting them now, some three years later. Instead I won three cases against DWP decisions in a compete turnaround of their original awards. Nowhere near the right help from CAB representatives, no help from similar organisations from either free or fee paying services, but a connection I made on social media got me the legal help I needed and will be eternally grateful for that.