'Helped me climb over a mountain of worries'

‘Helped me climb over a mountain of worries’

Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations (HASVO), established in 2004, is an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting ethnic minority residents and the Somali community. They aim to strengthen the links between all community groups within Harrow.

During the Covid-19 crisis, HASVO supported 772 individual clients during the lockdown, focusing on helping young people and their families and vulnerable adults. Their target group is one of the poorest within Harrow and are within the reported socio-economically marginalised BAME group. These individuals are likely to have chronic conditions which put them at a higher risk of Covid-19 associated mortality.

Mrs H, a 50yr old widow and mother of seven, is suffering post-traumatic stress after recently losing her spouse due to Covid-19.

Health issues: Diabetic, high blood pressure, PTSD due to the sudden death of her spouse.
The need for support: Her recent bereavement and sudden change in the household income and benefits change impacted her mental and financial well-being whilst caring for her children. Her husband was pronounced dead after 5 hours of visiting the local hospital due to not feeling well. The hospital called with devastating news, which they are trying to process to this day, even after the burial.

Support provided: Mrs Hwas assisted in submitting a new claim to universal credit and PIP. HASVO’s outreach worker also connected her with the IAPT team, who are offering her counselling. The outreach worker assisted her with communicating a long list of house repair issues to the landlord to be carried out as an immediate action, which he has done.

Mrs H is full of praise and admiration for the work and approach by our team, who expressed:

“HASVO has been a Godsend help, and their timely support had carried over a difficult time and helped me climb over a mountain of worries.”

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