I live in Hampshire with my husband and have worked in the insurance industry for my whole career.

In August 2023 I had a grand-mal seizure which was thought to be caused by stress that had resulted in working 80 hours a week in a high-pressure role.

I spent ten days in hospital and at the time, I was the main earner in the family. We have a daughter at university so were funding her accommodation too. In addition, I was made redundant following my seizure.

With one income and a fairly large mortgage, we simply could not cover our essential expenditure, so we had to take a mortgage break.

In March 2024, I met someone from the Charity at an MGA insurance event so heard for the first time what they did and the support they can offer.

I did have some reservations about contacting the Charity but when we did it was a blessing.

We were looking for short-term help to allow me to look for work and organise our finances. The Charity assisted with getting our financial situation back on track and awarded funds to cover groceries and other day-to-day living costs for six months.

Life is still challenging as I am out of work again. Although I have had senior roles in the past, I need to ensure I avoid too much stress to avoid further health complications in the future. I have experienced memory loss and migraines since the seizure, but I’m improving slowly. 

I will be forever grateful for the support you have given my family and would you say to anyone thinking of contacting The Insurance Charity for support to just do it!

*Name changed and stock imagery used for confidentiality