Carla grew up experiencing domestic violence and thought she knew how to recognise it. When her baby boy, Adam, was born, she realized that her partner was behaving like her step-father did throughout her teenage years: the shouts were followed by slaps, the accusations by pushes and then came the beatings. There was too much pride in the family, so the police were never called in.

Carla ran away. She became depressed, anxious and scared her partner would one day knock on the door. She thought things would get better when she met a man who promised to look after her and baby Adam. But his gentleness did not last. Once again, Carla became a victim of violence and abuse.

Carla managed to leave her partner and found support in a women’s refuge. She returned to studying and became a nurse; she loved working with children in the hospital. They were offered a tiny flat and

although Carla often still felt depressed, she gradually became a little more secure. This is when their social worker referred them to Solidarity Sports.

Adam was very shy when he joined us but he soon relaxed and enthusiastically took part in all the activities. He always ran to his mum at the end of a day with us and told her about his news friends and the games he had learned.

In March 2020, Carla’s biological dad, who worked for the NHS, became one of the first COVID-19 victims. She cried night and day knowing he was on a ventilator, alone. They were extremely close and he had been living with her and Adam. No-one was allowed to visit. The night he died, Carla broke down and called us. Over the next few days, we spent time talking on the phone with Carla, reminding her to breathe slowly and to hug Adam. We delivered food and board games to their home. We set Carla up with telephone therapy support. She is still extremely frightened of leaving the flat and sometimes spends the day in bed.

We received a text message from Carla, 3 days after her father died.

“Hey Sean, Adam is okay at the moment. However, when he woke up he told me he missed his grandad. You all are doing so much to help already. I really needed emotional support and your colleague Miriam has been amazing. I am truly grateful to you, Miriam and the Solidarity team for your support in my life. No words can ever describe how grateful I am.”

We offered a “buddy” to Adam, who is now 9 years old. He has enjoyed this relationship and always looks forward to his daily phone calls, where they play games and have fun trying out home workouts from the Solidarity Sports activity packs. He has participated in the ‘Zoom’ half-term activities and is keen to do his school learning at-home with his mother.

Over the past 4 years, there have been some serious concerns with the conditions of their tiny flat. Adam’s bedroom walls are so damp he can no longer sleep in the room. As a result, the family now have a beetle infestation. But most worryingly, they share their front door with a very intimidating and noisy neighbour. Carla has tried to speak to him but received a torrent of abuse. She has spoken to their housing association, to environmental health and to the police but this has not made a difference.

Our Family Safeguarding Lead and CEO have approached the Housing Association who admitted to having lost, then found, a surveyor’s report regarding the dampness of the flat. They have not yet offered a solution. They maintain that the neighbour is a past problem and has had warnings; it seems there is little they can do.

Since then, we have escalated the issue to their ward councillor and are in talks with them about rehousing the family. We hope to get Carla and Adam into a safe and clean home in the very near future.