Callum hadn’t known what it felt like to sleep soundly. Every night, he curled up beside his little brother, shivering under a thin duvet, that really wasn’t suitable for how cold it can be at this time of year.

The chill in the air made his skin sore, but it was nothing compared to the fear in his heart – the sound of shouting downstairs, the crashing of doors, the uncertainty of what would come next.

For a ten year old child, the world should be filled with laughter, adventure, and dreams of the future. But Callum’s world was one of exhaustion. At school, he couldn’t concentrate, and his teacher noticed the deep dark circles under his eyes. He was carrying a weight that no child should ever have to bear. Callum wanted to fit in so badly. He longed to have the same stories to tell as his classmates—the family holidays, the birthday presents, the fun days out. But his reality was so different, and it hurt too much to admit it. So, he started to make up stories. He would tell his classmates about exciting trips he’d never been on, toys he didn’t own, and weekend adventures that only existed in his imagination. At first, they were small exaggerations, but as time went on, his stories became more elaborate – so much so that even his teacher took notice.

His teacher saw that Callum wasn’t just playing pretend – he was building an escape, a world where he wasn’t the tired, lonely boy in hand me down clothes. She recognised the pattern of a child who was struggling, and gently suggested to Callum’s mother, Cora that she reach out to Barnardos who were thankfully able to step in and help change Callum’s story.

When Family Support worker, Amy, first visited Callum’s home, she was met with a heartbreaking scene – rubbish piled in corners, unwashed dishes stacked high, the air heavy with stress and despair. Cora, barely holding it together, hesitated to speak. She had recently separated from Callum’s father. The unspoken words between them told the rest of the story—there had been domestic violence. She was scared, lost, and felt completely alone.

It was clear that her confidence had been shaken and she needed a helping hand. Cora had tried so hard to build a different life for her boys, to give them the stability she never had. But when things fell apart, it broke her heart to feel like she was letting them down.

Barnardos was able to give Callum’s family the support they needed to begin healing. Our team enrolled them in the TLC Kidz programme, a crucial service for children and mothers who have experienced domestic violence. The programme helps children like Callum find their voices, process their trauma, and regain their sense of safety. It helps mothers rebuild their confidence, understand their children’s pain, and create a home filled with love and security.

But Callum needed more than emotional support – he needed the simple things that so many of us take for granted. He and his little brother had been sharing a single bed, wrapped in nothing more than an old duvet. They had once had their own blankets, in their own beds, but when things grew mouldy in their damp home, they couldn’t afford to replace them.

Amy provided the boys with their own bunk bed, warm blankets, and soft pillows. Callum and his brother were overjoyed – and for something so small, that others might take for granted, yet it changed Callum’s world.

Barnardos also helped Cora rebuild her life. We provided practical support – helping her establish a network of friends and neighbours so she no longer felt so isolated. We helped her access financial supports so she could put food on the table without so much worry. We even taught her how to create routines for the boys, giving them the stability they had long been missing. Just a helping hand, to help her believe in herself again.