Groups founded to help professions have been forced to play a much greater role for workers affected by the pandemic
Claire Cain was struggling to meet her rent last summer. The 46-year-old bank cashier worked for Santander UK for 11 years before a benign brain tumour, chronic pain and migraines forced her to take leave. Two of her four children moved back home to Dover during the pandemic, adding extra pressure to her finances, just as her 12 months of long-term sick pay ran out.
The single parent said she had no choice but to borrow money from her 24-year-old autistic son before Santander referred her to the Bank Workers Charity (BWC) in June.
