“Regaining control is like having an umbrella in the rain. It may be raining, but you’re in control.”
This July, Clean Slate, home to Quids in!, celebrates 20 years of helping people become better off. To celebrate, Readers Club is handing the pages over to the people at the heart of our work. These are real stories from peers, clients and colleagues who found hope, practical support and the confidence to regain control.
Sandra knew what it meant to have life coming from every direction.
As a mum of two and carer to her severely disabled son, she spent years juggling appointments, school and services, while attending tribunals to secure her son’s support. Alongside this, she campaigned for disabled children, ran local groups and supported parent carers.
“Have you ever seen the movie ‘Everything, Everywhere, All At Once?’ with the woman fighting kung fu and everything. When I watched it I thought ‘this is me’ and I think a lot of our clients can relate as well.”
When her son moved into assisted living and her daughter started secondary school, Sandra felt ready to take a step back into work. Her housing association, Hexagon, suggested Clean Slate’s ‘7 Signs’ employment and skills workshop.
“I didn’t realize how transferable my skills are and how I was maybe underscoring myself.”
All those years of organising groups, managing people and fighting for support suddenly looked less like a gap on her CV and more like proof of what she could do.
Sandra went on to complete Clean Slate’s peer support training before becoming a Quids in! Money Coach this year.
“Clean Slate work really allied with my interests to support people with information and to give them tools to improve their income and circumstances.”
Now Sandra delivers the Rainy Day Money support programme, helping Londoners take that first step when everything feels too much.
“I am very passionate about this programme as it improves finance, mental wellbeing and the environment for all Londoners.“
For Sandra, helping people regain control is like handing them an umbrella in the rain. The storm might still be there, but suddenly we are not standing in it empty-handed.
“I like to give people tools and make sure that they know that change is possible.”
Sandra is still fighting for her son’s rights and supporting him, while sharing her work with her daughter, who is proud of what her mum does. The juggling has not disappeared, but something has shifted.
“I’m a happier person. I hope my clients are as well.”
Because when everything is coming at us all at once, even one conversation can be a place to start.
What skills are we already using? Caring, parenting, organising appointments, managing money, speaking up for others, running groups, solving problems and keeping things going all count. Sometimes we undersell ourselves because these skills come from life, not a job title. Quids in!’s Clear Vision page can help us take a step back, spot what we are already good at, and think about how those skills could help us move forward.
Image: AH86/Getty Images
