Dave and his partner Helen had been together for 6 years they had two small boys aged 4 and 2.  They were happy and managing well to bring up their young family.  Helen worked for a large company and Dave for a small engineering firm.

One night one of the children was fretful and Helen got up to comfort the child.  In the end she climbed into bed with him and fell asleep.  In the morning Dave woke and found Helen – she was lifeless.  Apparently she had had a massive brain haemorrhage and had died.  Dave was devastated and his life fell apart.

Three days before Christmas Dave and the boys were evicted from their home because Dave could not keep up the payments on the flat.  He had given up his job to look after the children and he had very little money coming in.  PACT was told about Dave and one of our Family Support Workers went round to visit. 

The PACT worker and Dave worked together; writing to various authorities to get his finances on an even keel, they also wrote to Helen’s Company and after some lengthy exchanges the Company agreed to pay Dave the pension provision even though the couple were not married.  Dave also started to attend the drop-in sessions with the boys and this helped them restore a sense of normality to their lives.

Dave is now settled in his new home with the boys.  They are beginning to piece their lives together again.  Dave attended some parenting classes with PACT as he says he is determined to be a good Dad to the boys. 

We don’t see much of Dave now and that is how it should be – but we are pleased that we were there when he needed us and were able to help him and the boys through.