Vicky fled from home with her three children in 2002 - her husband was struggling to get his alcohol problem under control and she had become constantly fearful of his violent behaviour.

“The Single Parent Family newsletter was my first link with Care for the Family. It was such a relief to know I wasn’t the only one facing the disintegration of my marriage and struggling to parent alone. I then attended Single Parent Family Days and a Take a Break camp, which helped so much. The children were given lasting, positive memories amongst so many difficult and traumatic ones.

In May 2003 two policemen came to my house - I knew he was dead; their faces told it all. I felt completely numb, but also relieved that the nightmare had ended – and yet I still loved him loads.

When I heard about A Different Journey, I couldn’t get the guts up to register. But three days later I found myself amongst all these other people whose partners had also died. Everyone was so supportive, and it was a huge turning point for me.

I am now training to be a How to Drug-Proof Your Kids presenter. I want to help parents so they don’t ever have to see their children come to the same end as my husband did.

I don’t know where we would be as a family if it hadn’t been for Care for the Family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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