Ivy-Lee's story: the light through stained glass

Ivy-Lee's story: the light through stained glass

For Ivy-Lee, family has always been at the heart of everything she does. As a member of the Traveller community, family connections, caring for one another, and being there through life's challenges are values that have been passed down through generations, and remain central to her daily life.

Ivy-Lee is a carer with significant caring responsibilities. She provides support to her elderly parents. This includes her mother who is living with Alzheimer's disease. Alongside this, she also cares for two of her children, both of whom have autism and global developmental delay. Balancing the needs of multiple family members requires patience, resilience, and dedication every single day.

In addition to her caring role, Ivy-Lee manages the day-to-day running of her home and family life. Much of her time is spent ensuring that everyone else's needs are met, often leaving very little time for herself.

During conversations with a Community Worker, Ivy-Lee spoke about the importance of finding small moments of respite within her busy life. Leaving home for a traditional break was not always practical, but she recognised the value of having something that was just for her - an activity that could provide relaxation, creativity, and a chance to focus on her own wellbeing.

With support, Ivy-Lee applied for a Time to Live microgrant. The funding enabled her to purchase a copper foil, stained glass crafting kit, providing everything she needed to begin a new creative hobby from home.

The stained glass kit offered Ivy-Lee a meaningful and flexible break from caring. Unlike activities that required travel or fixed times, she could work on her projects whenever she had the opportunity and around her caring responsibilities. The craft allowed her to channel her creativity into designing and making beautiful pieces, while also giving her space to rest, reflect and recharge.

Importantly, the support also helped to strengthen the relationship between Ivy-Lee and her Community Worker. Through ongoing conversations and engagement, other areas where support could be beneficial were identified, helping to ensure that Ivy-Lee and her family were connected to the wider assistance available to them.

Find out more about Time to Live here.