I'm an academic by profession, and I love both teaching and research.  I've learned so much on my journey as a chemical engineer. Passing this knowledge on to inspire the next generation has been the most satisfying part of my career so far.

Everything changed after I gave birth to my daughter. I suffered a series of pregnancy-related and post-delivery complications and I wasn’t able to return to work after maternity leave like I’d planned. I had to resign from my role to give me time to rest and recover. This was not something I wanted to do, but it was the only choice I could make for my health and for my family.

By the time I was ready to return to work, our financial situation had become stretched. While I was trying to apply for roles, I was living in a state of constant fear and anxiety about how to make ends meet. Money was an ever-present worry. It was hard to see a way forward.

That’s when I reached out to the Benevolent Fund. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the friendly person I spoke to made me feel supported and understood. Applying was so straightforward.

The Benevolent Fund provided me with a grant to help with my living costs. As I no longer had to fight financial fires all the time, it gave me a bit of composure to focus on job applications. The support I received helped reduce my level of panic. It’s made a great difference to the lives of me and my family. I’m now working hard to return to the profession I love and secure our financial future.

If you're going through something similar and having sleepless nights like I did, please reach out to the Benevolent Fund. Even if you don't need financial assistance, they'll direct you to the right source of support. You have nothing to lose by asking!

*Names have been changed to preserve confidentiality. The image used is stock photography.