23 Oct Free house cleaning for Essex parents with life threatening conditions
A social enterprise has launched to provide practical support to families in Essex dealing with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.
Grant a Smile, founded by Essex woman Joyce Obaseki, offers to clean the homes of families diagnosed with a serious illness, free of charge.
The organisation also helps to grant wishes to children whose parents are battling illnesses that reduce life expectancy and the quality of life.
Joyce, 42, from Loughton, said: “Grant a Smile is the only social enterprise providing such practical support for families with life-limiting conditions. We support families who are drained by the emotional, physical and mental struggle of being ill. We go into their family homes to clean, declutter, iron, do the gardening – all for free.”
She added: “Often social services are the only option for many families and we want to create a safe place where parents and children can turn to without the fear of being separated.”
The mum of three, who was a secondary school teacher for 16 years, set up the social enterprise after coming into contact with students whose parents were fighting severe illnesses.
To qualify for support, parents fighting life-threatening conditions must have children living with them. Eligible families can refer themselves for support or can be referred by family, friends, GPs, schools, hospitals or social services.
To find out more visit www.grantasmile.org.uk
