I have just read blogs/ articles written by other CR participants ….. I feel touched and also saddened by others people's realities. At the same time I feel hopeful too because CR is providing us a platform to work together to be heard.

Been an interesting few days, my last 3 weeks have been busy, going to Disney Paris with my partner and her children, attending court regards my children and no professionals turning up because the court forgot to send the order. My partner has a colonoscopy that went wrong and now I am in trepidation with regards Monday coming as I am back in court. Life if very on edge for me, I am struggling to know what to do for the best sometimes when though I think things will be better soon. Life definitely is throwing me some curve balls at the moment and I hope it will get easier soon.

I feel grateful throughout all of this time, because no matter what, no matter how bad things get, we survive. That's a hugely important message I want my son to take away from his childhood. You can get through anything and at some point, things will level out and we will be ok.

The roof needs repairing, and the roofer has said that I can pay him in instalments! How amazing is that?!

I am slowly changing my mindset because I realise the impact that poverty has had on me is to make the previously happy and hopeful person I was, into a very depressed person, the cup has definitely been half empty. But I want to change that for myself and for my son.

I am a survivor of adversity, of trauma, and that is an amazing thing I think. I am one of the lucky ones.

It isn't easy to change your mindset when things are difficult and when maybe you didn't have the best start in life either, but I am trying because I want a better life for myself and for my son and despite the challenges we face, there is so much to be thankful for.

I am currently in intensive therapy and slowly, the lady I am working with is helping me to develop a toolkit of coping strategies. I'd like to share these with my son in a positive way and help him to see that his own reality can be better. No matter how tough things get, we are here and we are survivors.

I appreciate the Covid Realities and subsequent Changing Realities projects and the teams and partners, very much. The experience of being involved in these has been so uplifting and there are so many reasons to never give up. I have become an activist, I have become a person who sees the truth behind so many things, that's priceless. The projects have expanded me as a person and made me better in many ways. How lucky I am to have experienced this.

I do feel sad that the projects will be coming to an end, but I will be forever grateful to have taken part.

I am surprised to hear that some media channels say the cost of living crisis is over.

I have never seen any information online or on TV. I have not heard anyone speak of this.

If so I would be writing about it in my diary. I would have hope again.

Food costs are still rising and private rental homes are still increasing, here in Stonehaven.

I noticed my broadband bill has jumped from £25 to £31.99 and I've not had heating on throughout the summer.

4 years of not knowing how. Going through ups and downs of a breakdown of a marriage, shared parenting and downhill projection of what I would be financially capable of, and finally it was here - my first abroad holiday post divorce. Although I would have loved it with my kids, having that ‘Pray, Eat, Love’ movie moment was also necessary. I might not have had the endless pocket money to spend on things, putting presents to bring back for my kids the main priority, the experience of feeling refreshed was souvenir enough.

Finally what I wasn’t expecting, was that in Britain we might be complaining of the cost of living, but in the Mediterranean it is something they have come to terms with and just knuckle down and work as hard as they possibly can. Their restlessness inspires me that however my year will end, I will not give up on dreaming of getting to my end goal too and that is to be on the road back to work as well. Sometimes fresh inspiration is all you need to spark the innovative ways, in order to create your own opportunities in life. Cost of living will not continue to define the goals I haven’t achieved, anymore.

Been up doctors for me, and my youngest came with me and walked all way home, which took 20 - 30 mins. Longest she's walked, and yesterday used her potty – so proud!

New beginnings can be an exciting positive change in life. It shows me I am making an effort for growth and development. It can also bring a feeling of anxiety and loss as I may be leaving my comfort and safe zone.

For example, walking into a new environment and meeting new people to take part in bringing awareness and change.

I also think change is a must in one's life, without it we cannot have a better future.

That’s a very hard question to answer.

I make a lot of ideas up of things that I want to do or that need doing.

Some thing happens that ends up putting a stop to it.

I’ve dreamt of learning to drive over the past few years but then I just can’t afford to do the lessons and buy a car.

I have put a new plan in place in regards to controlling money better so it’s not spent wrong and hopefully that will allow me to save.

Partner started a new job back in May, which if he does really well there is a good chance of being on a higher wage and sorting our lives out

Endings and beginnings are hard when you have an anxious personality like mine.

Endings generally are associated with negativity for me, for example, the end of a relationship, the end of an era, the end of a really good book.

Beginnings associated with anxiety of over-thinking and worry about if I will cope, if things will go right and the fear of the unknown.

My self-awareness now makes me set smaller goals. These can have positive endings and positive beginnings. They can involve others or myself.

So currently, a new beginning for me is my middle son starting High-school in September. The anxious me worries about his additional needs, worries about his unique, quirky style, bullies, fitting in and making friends. The logical me realises that this is a step he will have to take regardless of the worries I have, and if he struggles I will be there to support him and help him navigate.

The same can be said for other life experiences. For every ending there is a new beginning, for every worry there is a logical solution. It just takes a calm mind to work through these.

Good luck in your new role at Salford University.

I look forward to the future and the possibilities. Lots of things have happened unexpectedly these few years. Things we could never consider or contemplate. It is sad when anything ends. I know where there’s a beginning, there will always be an end. I hope for a better future for my children. That life improves for us all. I will be sad to leave the past behind, but we must continue to move forward and to grow.

Housing is one of the most difficult thing right now in the UK. In fact, I and my kids are struggling at the moment. We've been placed in a hotel, a travel lodge where we cannot cook. We are buying food on daily basis and it's so stressful. We are still hoping to be helped, but nothing has changed. It's quite stressful to live like this. No fridge, no microwave is allowed here. We are living like I don't even know what to say because there are no houses available in the London at the moment. It's really a lot of struggle. I was asked to look for a private rent and it's so difficult. I've not been able to find anything. The houses are very expensive. I don't even know where to start. I haven't been able to get any help in that regard.

Our council has supported us with food vouchers over the pandemic. This year the council will provide supermarket vouchers to those on a low income, over the school holidays, which will amount to £200.

I’ve always thought it would be beneficial if we could receive money or a grant to cover the costs of school uniform.

School uniform is a huge expense over the summer term.