Veronica’s mum went from feeling isolated and anxious about losing her independence to living a richer, safer and more connected life, thanks to a trio of community micro‑enterprises – C L Help at Home, Mark Frewer Care Services and Hannah’s Home and Community Support. Each brings their own strengths, personality and flexibility, and created wrap‑around support that feels more like family than formal care.
Veronica’s mum had always been pretty independent and lived alone for a long time. She had slowed down but still walked into town several times a week, as well as walking her little dog. She enjoys company but is also happy at home alone, pottering about.
In the summer of 2025, she had a succession of physical illnesses which prompted a rapid decline in her mental health and her ability to manage at home. Veronica was exhausted looking after her mum but was a bit concerned about her reaction to the suggestion of getting someone in to help. She had been having some issues with walking, so Veronica found a local teenager to help with the dog. The teenager and Veronica’s mum enjoyed their chats and formed a lovely bond. Her mum trusted the teenager to take good care of the dog.
Using the dog walking support as an example, Veronica suggested it might be a good idea to get some help with household tasks. Fortunately, her mum agreed. Having previous experience of Community Catalysts, Veronica knew where to look to seek support for her mum – Small Good Stuff, Community Catalysts’ directory of local care and support services. On the directory Veronica found and contacted Chipo (C L Help at Home) who agreed to meet Veronica’s mum. Chipo was keen to explain to her mum that she would be there to help and not to take over. Chipo started supporting Veronica’s mum for two hours twice a week.
The relationship with Chipo has developed into a friendship. Chipo helps with household chores but also takes Veronica’s mum out for walks. They chat about all sorts of things and Chipo’s skills as a nurse have proved invaluable when she had two falls in quick succession in the spring of 2026. Her mum felt comfortable enough with Chipo to ask her to help her to shower and dress. It really boosted her confidence to know that Chipo was coming.
Prior to the falls, Veronica’s mum had a bout of ill health which had also prompted a decline in her mental health. Knowing that Chipo didn’t have further availability at that time, Veronica approached Mark at Mark Frewer Care Services. Mark brought something different. His sense of humour tickled her mum and they quickly bonded. Mark encouraged her mum to get out of the house, to go on shopping trips and to the garden centre. Mark enjoys helping in the garden with odd jobs, but is also quite happy to help with washing and dressing if needed and taking Veronica’s mum to appointments. Glimpses of the ‘old mum’ were coming back.
Shortly after Mark started, Veronica asked Hannah at Hannah’s Home & Community Support to support her mum. Hannah is great at organising and sorting, full of ideas and so kind. Veronica moved her mum’s bed downstairs and Hannah helped with sorting out her clothes and organising them so that they fitted into the new storage downstairs. Hannah is happy to walk the dog, take her mum shopping and to appointments, or just to sit and chat.
Three community micro enterprises gave Veronica’s mum a range of support and enough so that if someone was on holiday there would be someone else available to help. Veronica is so happy with the arrangement. She knows that her mum is in the best possible hands and that a variety of people are visiting throughout the week.
There is a notebook where Chipo, Mark and Hannah record what’s been happening and share messages with each other or Veronica. And her mum quite enjoys reading it too and reminding herself of everything that they have been up to. What is equally lovely for Veronica is that she has been able to spend more time doing nice things with her mum, becoming her daughter again rather than a frazzled and exhausted person.
“I’m so grateful to my helpers, my gang, they have made such a difference, they are so kind and always happy to help with anything that I ask them, I couldn’t manage without them.”
Three community micro‑enterprises, each small and personal created support that felt natural and human. Several factors made this approach so effective:
This is the essence of personalised care in action.
“Mum feels much more in control of things and feels listened to and respected. Her helpers have been quick to help to restore an albeit different, but a new sense of normality. She is much more interested in what is happening around her, in making plans for the week, for things that she would like to do.”
Veronica’s mum has experienced a renewed sense of purpose and increased confidence after illness and falls. There is more social interaction and stimulation, a feeling of being valued, not ‘cared for’ and a fresh sense of normality and routine. Her ‘gang’ or circle of support is a lifeline – emotionally, socially and practically. For Veronica, the transformation is equally powerful – she has regained time for her own life, felt reassured by regular, trusted check‑ins, and no longer feels overwhelmed or alone in supporting her mum and can enjoy being a daughter again.