Need a free matress

Skilo

Hi my name is Helen I'm 59 years old. I live by elf with my dog.

I have moved Twice in last two years and have spent a lot of money moving into a 1 bedroom flat as pending money on curtains DIY to find flat unhabital.

I bought a new mattress 6 months ago and heard noices at night in my bedroom . I found a hole in my new mattress and noticed small flea bites on my body. I spent a lot of money on sprays and cleaning products but it has got worse and I'm finding holes made overnight in corners of rooms

My landlords. Westminster Council says it's not evidence because no droppings have been found.

Recently my arthritis has gone into my hands very badly and not able to do DIY my eyesight needs hospital appointment but my mental health has worsened. I have asked for Mental Health Assessed me and closed my case. I didn't even know I was on mental health.

I do need a mattress and appreciate any support you can give me.

Kimmy87

A few places you can try:

https://www.disability-grants.org/grants-for-household-items.html

https://www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council

https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/

Skilo

I have spent a lot of money on flea bombs cleaning materials but they have come back again worse. I think the rodents are bringing them in my home. I have 1 bedroom garden flat. I haven't got any replys back to most repairs I reported when I moved in Jan 2024 and I have done them myself. The garden was a dump and spent a lot of fun and money in garden but last few months Osteoarthritis has gone in my hands so quickly and that bad I can't hold a mobile also I have blurred vision. I am not able to go out and leave my dog has worse anxiety than me.

Last 4 months I have deteriorated mentally and was violently attacked in 2023 changing my life into a downward spiral

In 2022 I received award in Kensington palace on a award for women inspiration and light from SASH . I was training for peer mentor, I was doing great. I even turned down a brand new 1 bedroom over looming lords cricket ground because I believed it wouldn't be able to afford rent £270 pw when I got a job . I got a online on bidding process ai was on 18 months and moved into a flat which needed pipe insulation but contractors cut corner and after several months flat was uninhabitable. I use to volunteer at. My local Citizen Advice Bureau and was very lucky that Westminster Council thought complaint came from someone else and I moved into a 1 bedroom garden flat. Love it but medical issues worsened and I have rodents jumping in and out of my mattress and last month spent all my benefit on flea sprays treat6abd cleaning products but can't kill fleas in memory foam. And now I have no money for a new mattress.

Any help getting a free mattress would help me more than anything. My mental health is deteriorating over this.

Kind regards

Kimmy87

Scope doesn't allow people to post personal details so please stop adding your contact information.

I've given you three links which may provide financial assistance with a new mattress.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Skilo, I'm really sorry to hear about your situation, that doesn't sound easy at all and I can totally understand how much of an impact this must be having on your mental health.

Did you receive any support when you were attacked in 2023? Victim Support have some resources and contacts if you felt you might need to speak to someone. Do you feel safe where you are now despite the rodent issues? If you're struggling with your mental health please do try to reach out to your GP again so they can help put some things in place.

Kimmy's links are a great place to start if you're looking for a new mattress. Some councils offer a support fund to buy essential items, so that may be worth a look:

Get help with the cost of living from your local council - GOV.UK

End Furniture Poverty also have a search tool to find local assistance:

Local Welfare Assistance Finder - End Furniture Poverty

Have the council come out to look for evidence of the rodents at all or are they relying on you to give them evidence? Most councils have a pest or infestation service but I know they can be a little difficult to access sometimes. If your flat is infested, it may need to be treated properly before you introduce a new mattress to make sure that the infestation doesn't continue getting worse. It sounds like you're doing everything you can so I hope the council will listen and help you get things sorted.

If you're struggling to get through to your council or feel they're not listening to you, it might be a good idea to get in touch with a local councillor:

Find your local councillors - GOV.UK

Or your MP:

Find your MP - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament

If you explain your situation, they might be able to have a look into your case and get things moving for you.

Scope also have a helpline if you'd prefer to speak to someone over the phone about what you're facing, they're very friendly and helpful.

Helpline | Disability charity Scope UK

I hope you can find a way forward soon and get things sorted.