Why Sixpence Support UK Exists

I am dyslexic, live with disabilities, and have suffered with anxiety and depression. Communicating with people can be very difficult for me. Complicated websites, medical information, referral systems and official letters can feel overwhelming — particularly when I am already worried or uncertain.

There have been times when I was told that I would be referred for a hospital review or another appointment, but I received no confirmation letter, email or appointment date. Being left without knowing what was happening or whom to contact made an already difficult situation more stressful.

I also faced an extremely challenging period when my parents died. While grieving, I had to understand and deal with hospitals, death certificates, funeral directors, burial arrangements, power of attorney matters and probate. I had to manage many of these responsibilities while living with my own health difficulties and trying to look after myself.

During this time, I also encountered many different people and services, including care homes, carers, probation services, hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), and safeguarding teams. Knowing which organisation was responsible, whom to contact and what to do next was often confusing and exhausting.

I managed to get through it, but it was very difficult. It made me realise how easily somebody who is grieving, disabled, anxious, dyslexic or struggling to communicate could become overwhelmed by these systems.

That is why Sixpence Support UK includes information about bereavement, funerals, probate, power of attorney, care homes, carers, hospitals, PALS, safeguarding and other services. These pages are intended to help people who are facing — or may one day face — some of the situations that I experienced.

I understand that GPs, hospital teams and other professionals work under enormous pressure. This is not about blaming individual people. It is about recognising that people can sometimes become lost between appointments, referrals and different services, especially when they have a disability, learning difference, mental health difficulty or problems communicating.

I also find today's world very different from the one I grew up in. Communication has changed, many essential services have moved online, and people can sometimes feel increasingly disconnected. At times, the world can feel strange and unsafe, particularly for someone who already feels vulnerable or finds it difficult to ask for help.

These experiences inspired Sixpence Support UK.

Our purpose is to provide clear, plain-English, properly sourced information; help people find appropriate services; and offer support with writing letters and emails when they do not know how to explain their situation.

Sixpence Support UK does not replace qualified medical, legal or financial advice, provide diagnoses or offer emergency care. We want to help people feel better informed, more confident and less alone while they look for the appropriate professional support.

If any part of my story feels familiar, please know that you are not alone. Please share Sixpence Support UK with someone who might need it. If you can volunteer, partner with us or help us develop this independent service, we would be grateful to hear from you.

I created Sixpence Support UK because I do not want other people to face the same confusion, delays and difficulties that I have experienced — and continue to experience — when dealing with complicated support systems.

The purpose of this website is to help people understand their options, find trusted information and take a clearer next step. I want Sixpence Support UK to grow into a place covering as many important issues, services and organisations as possible.

I cannot build everything alone. Visitors can help us improve by suggesting missing topics, sharing useful feedback and supporting our work.

My hope is that Sixpence Support UK will help people find the information and support they need when they need it most. If this website helps even one person through a crisis, or helps to protect or save a life, then all the work behind it will have been worthwhile. Knowing that it may help one person—or many others—gives me a real sense of purpose and makes me feel that I am giving something meaningful back to society.

Please care for others and remember that not everyone is in the same position or has the same support as you. A little kindness, understanding and practical help can make a greater difference than we sometimes realise.

With the help of others, this newly developed website can grow into a truly valuable source of support for people across the UK.