Over the past 40 years, we’ve given away well over £1million. At the end of last year ‘Sylvia’ was our 1000th case.  A student with full-time carer responsibilities for her mother, ‘Sylvia’ was struggling financially.  Together, their only incomes were Sylvia’s carer allowance of about £62 per week and her mother’s pension.  So Sylvia was looking to see what grants she could get on the CarersTrust website.  MRBA was mentioned there and because of the work Sylvia had done in market research, she contacted us to see if we could help.

Sylvia was our 1,000th case since we were established in 1977, and she kindly agreed to speak to us.  Sylvia explains: “My mother had a stroke about 10 years ago and has had several mini strokes since.  Her general health has deteriorated as she has been battling with breast cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. She is pretty much confined to the flat'”

Sylvia is studying for a PhD and cannot be home all of the time. We funded the cost of a television set and TV licence so her mother would have something to do while Sylvia was at University.  “We both want to thank the MRBA for the help you have given us to make us a bit more financially secure.  It has meant a lot to us.”