‘Without Genesis Life Projects, we’d be up the creek without a paddle.’ ~ Ann, client and volunteer 

With support from Genesis Life Projects, Ann and Mike have journeyed from financial crisis to independence. They can now keep their home, manage their finances and live within their means. 

With the cost of living continuing to rise, we are seeing many more people like Ann and Mike who are finding themselves in financial crisis. This Spring will you help us support more local people who find themselves facing financial crisis with housing, debt and money management issues? 

Thanks to Aviva Community Fund, your donation will be doubled. All donations up to £250 per unique supporter will be doubled. Please help us reach our target of £25,000 before the 8th June.  

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How will my donation help people in crisis?

£25,000 would help us deliver over 1000 client visits to our centre. This could be one-to-one support for advice on housing, debt and money management issues. It could be practical support for people facing crisis (food, clothing, showers etc) or to develop skills, attend a course and share a meal with others.

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Ann and Mike’s Journey 

Ann has been faithfully volunteering for Genesis Trust since 2006. She sorts through all the donations which come into the centre, such as clothes, bedding and food. She then helps distribute them during Lifeline open hours to anyone who needs items. 

Ann told me, ‘The volunteering gives me something to get out of bed for each day.’ 

Ann works as a cleaner and Mike, before he retired, was a security guard. 

A few years ago, Mike became unwell and was hospitalised with pneumonia. Both their income dropped as Mike was unable to work and Ann worked fewer hours as she cared for Mike. Bills would come in and they simply thought, we don’t have the money, so we won’t pay. 

That was until the eviction letter came through their door. They then began to see there was a problem, so Ann took the letter to Genesis Life Projects. 

Over the next few months, Paul Solly and then Ivana Bensted began working through the growing debt. Ann and Mike had fallen behind in rent, council tax and utility bills to the point where court action was being threatened. 

We helped Ann and Mike apply for Universal Credit to cover the gap in their earnings whilst Mike recovered. They were then able to start paying rent and bills each month, which quashed the court action. But there was still the problem of unpaid bills and rent arrears. So we applied for a grant to cover some rent arrears, and helped Ann and Mike to negotiate payment plans to cover the unpaid bills. 

Mike said, ‘We definitely would have been evicted if it wasn’t for Paul and Ivana.’ 

Once Mike and Ann realised the severity of their situation, both of them worked every hour they could to pay off their debts. They had realised that even if you don’t have money, rent and bills still need to be paid.  

Ann proudly said, ‘When Paul saw how quickly the debt was going down, he was so surprised. He said he’d never seen debt shrink so fast.’   

Ann and Mike were able to take back control of their situation. They could move on with their lives and live within their means for the future. 

Ivana said, ‘I am immensely proud of them because they exhibit tremendous self-control. They follow the plan and it gives them a safely net. Many of our clients have never been taught how to manage their money. The idea of using things like banking apps is often frightening and unknown. We help people with their basic life skills and try to bridge the gap for them.’   

Mike is now retired and received a state pension, which they’ve adapted their budget to incorporate. He comes to Genesis Life Projects with Ann whilst she volunteers. They both help set up each Thursday for the Life Connect lunch at St John’s Church. 

Please help our staff at Genesis Life Projects to continue supporting local people like Ann and Mike as they take control of their finances and journey toward a better future. 

All donations, up to £250 per unique supporter, will be doubled by Aviva Community Fund, before the 8th June. Please help us reach our target of £25,000. 

Thank you for your support. 

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Genesis Life Projects in Action

Genesis Life Projects provides immediate, practical support for people in crisis - covering debt, money management, housing, and benefits. We also offer longer-term one-to-one support, skill-building courses, and wellbeing activities to help clients regain stability, build confidence, and work toward their goals.

Our services include:

• Personalised advice on finances, housing, employment, and wellbeing
• Crisis support (food, clothing, showers, laundry, IT access)
• Life skills courses (e.g. cookery, IT) for independent living
• Referrals to specialist services, training, volunteering, and community activities