Proving You’re Struggling: When Asking for Help Becomes Another Battle

February 10, 2026.Reading time 7 minutes.

There’s something deeply wrong with a system where people have to prove their pain before they’re allowed support. Not explain it.Not share it.Prove it. With paperwork.With evidence.With repeated retelling of the worst moments of their lives. For many people, asking for help doesn’t bring relief.It brings another exhausting fight. The Paperwork of Survival If you’ve […]

More Than a Tin of Beans: Food Banks, Dignity and What We Really Need

August 9, 2025.Reading time 3 minutes.

Walking into a food bank for the first time can feel like swallowing your pride in one giant gulp. There’s this idea that food banks are for ‘other people’ — people who’ve messed up, people who haven’t tried hard enough, people who don’t manage their money. But that’s not the truth. The truth is that […]

We’re hiring! Volunteer Fundraiser

July 16, 2025.Reading time 5 minutes.

Volunteer Fundraiser – Role Description Organisation: Mark Hewitson Foundation 💝 Location: Remote / Based in Coventry or surrounding areas (flexible) Time commitment: Flexible – a few hours per week, can vary based on availability Reports to: Trustees ————————————————————————— About the Foundation The Mark Hewitson Foundation 💝 is a UK-registered charity (No. 1194907) set up in […]