Good evening,
I am a Scottish woman who lives in Edinburgh, UK.
Seven years ago my partner walked out on my children and I for another woman. He was a serial cheater and not a very nice person.
We were not married and as such, I was left with nothing. I had to find a flat for the children and I. My children were 18 months and 5 years old respectively (daughter and son).
I had no job, no furniture, nothing.
I decided that I wanted to make sure my children were brought up as well as I possibly could achieve. So, I researched the best free state primary school in Scotland and moved to a flat in that area. My children have thrived. My daughter is a girl scout and goes to piano lessons every week. My son is a boy scout and goes to tennis and football lessons each week. They are kind, funny, clever and a benefit to humankind.
I decided to go to college and completed an access to university course in Mechancial engineering. I achieved an AAA result. I then applied to go to university and was accepted on to a Physics degree at The university of Edinburgh. I looked after two very young children and done a Phyics degree while living in abject poverty. I slept on a couch for years as I could not afford a bed. This is testamount to my character. I done everything myself with no help. I dont even own a car. I walked my children 1.3 miles to their school every day and bvack, then went to university. Then walked another 1.3 miles to the school and back to pick them up. Got home, clean, tidied, made a home made meal, bathed the children, played with them, read to them, made their packed lunches for school the next day… Then sat studying subjects such as Electromagnetism, vector calculus and thermal physics to name just three modules.
Many people always quip how hard being a parent is; let alone a single parent. Let me tell you; the single parent thing seemed like a walk in the park compared to a trying to do a Physics degree as a mature student. I was under acute stress. In hindsight, it was totally menatl to do a degree while looking after two under 5’s on my own with zero support.
The children and I stayed in our privately rented flat for 7.8 years. Last July we were evicted and I had to find somewhere else to live. I am a model tenant and my landlord needed to sell the flat I was renting. This was incredibly stressful due to the housing shortage in Edinburgh. There are like 10 people looking to rent for every property available.
There is a housing emergency in Scotland and particularly Edinburgh where I live. Therefore I cannot get a council/social housing provided by the council. I have been on the waiting list for a home for 5.6 years (current average time to get a social home is now 19 years).
It was a miracle that I managed to find a flat in the same catchment area for the children’s schools. If we had to move to another area it would have caused so much psychological distress to the children being removed from their communities.
My rent increased from £980 per month to £1550 per month.
I passed my Physics degree and have been working for 3 years now. Happy to provide my degree certificate if anyone wants proof of anything to donate.
I have always managed to support the children and I. I have never asked for financial assistance in 8 years. I have always paid my bills and rent. However, this month I am short of rent of £550.
I am so frightened of not paying my full rent in time (due Tuesday), as that can be reason for eviction.
I would love the option of repaying any donation back in intsalments but i think this is anonymous.
If anyone out there would be kind enough to donate anything, I would forever be indebted to your generosity. On every walk to the school every morning I would say thank you out loud into the air and wish you good fortune forever.