This week, we’d like to help two young boys, aged 9 and 11, who have been left without their parents.

The children’s parents have been sent to prison. They were at risk of being put into care, but their nan has stepped in to look after them. One of the boys has additional needs and both are struggling emotionally. Their nan has moved in with them so they can stay in their current school and keep life as normal as possible, but things are very tough.

As their nan is not classed as the tenant, she so far hasn’t been able to claim housing benefit and so rent arrears have built up. It means the boys and their nan are at risk of having eviction proceedings begin against them. The nan is doing everything she can to prevent that, and she’s being supported by social workers who are trying to sort out the complicated housing/benefits situation they're in, but right now she is struggling. On top of the rent arrears, the boys’ beds are damaged and barely usable, they have very few toys and are in need of warm clothes as well.

The children have been through a terrible time, through no fault of their own. They were exposed to criminal activity, they are without their mum and dad for the first time, and they are scared of losing their home.

They were nominated by the children’s social worker, who said: “This has been devastating for their emotional health and wellbeing and they need some stability. Any support would be such a relief for them.”

We’d like to do what we can to make this time easier for them. With your help, we’d like to cover some living costs to take the financial pressure off their nan, replace their damaged beds, provide them with some toys and warm clothes, and also buy some Christmas presents for their nan to put away for them.