I’m 46, with a small family – it’s just my mum and me. However, I have two chihuahuas called Del Boy and Coco. In my spare time, I love weight training at the gym, reading, and watching films.
I have worked within the insurance industry several times since I was 20. Firstly, for Norwich Union working in pension valuations and then temping for them six years later when I was between jobs. I then joined Aviva in 2019.
I first contacted The Insurance Charity in February 2026. For several reasons, I’d had a very turbulent past 12 months, which severely impacted on my mental health, resulting in me not receiving my bonus as anticipated. This left me in financial hardship, and I had a huge dental bill to pay for essential work that I desperately needed done.
I had been on a phased return to work at Aviva, and one of our group income protection team members told me about The Insurance Charity. I was at a point where six of my top front teeth needed removing desperately, and they were in such a state I was having to hold two of them together with glue cured under UV light. I knew this couldn’t go on any longer.
I was nervous about applying. I’d never had to ask anyone for money before, as I’ve always been pretty self-sufficient. But everyone at the Charity I’ve dealt with has been exceptionally kind, very sympathetic, and didn’t make me feel like I was asking for anything unwarranted.
The Insurance Charity supported me by paying my dental bill upfront, directly to my dentist, which took away the stress of worrying about where the money was coming from or having to pay the dentist myself. My caseworker was extremely sensitive and explained everything to me clearly.
Despite having to have my front top six teeth removed and having a partial denture made for them, I also have had a permanent bridge fitted for my bottom two front teeth, which previously had a very poorly fitted denture from another dentist. I was having to use denture fix several times a day just to keep this in place, so not having to do this anymore is such a relief and has made such a difference to my daily life. With my brand-new denture on my top teeth, I can now at least bite into food properly, and for the first time in my life, I have straight teeth.
It’s a real pleasure to be able to smile with my mouth open, rather than keeping it closed in pictures. You don’t realise how important teeth are until you have to lose them, and how much they can affect your confidence.
My mental health has massively improved since March, most of that being down to my own hard work and self-care, but I have to give credit to The Insurance Charity for taking away the one big stress that I had left to deal with.
I cannot thank the Charity enough for the support they’ve given me. It’s exceptionally kind, and I feel incredibly grateful.
To anyone who is considering contacting the charity for support, I’d say, what are you waiting for? The team is kind, sensitive, and used to helping people. Don’t feel ashamed, and don’t be too proud.
We all need a little help sometimes in life, and The Insurance Charity is a wonderful organisation.
*Name changed and stock image used for confidentiality.