A world in turmoil

In 2020 Andrew’s world turned upside down. His mother died suddenly and as her only child he was left to face both the emotional shock and practical challenges by himself. He describes it as ‘a very lonely place.’ 

“I found it all very difficult to deal with. You don’t realise how much you have to handle when you lose somebody. Not just the emotional side of it, but the paperwork, the probate, the funeral arrangements and everything else that goes on top of it.”

At the same time, he was trying to keep his painting and decorating business running. The constant juggling act—grief, probate, bills, and business—eventually became too much. Burnt out and isolated, Andrew ended up taking quite a bit of time out of work during a slower period. 

Ready to make a change

Looking for a fresh start for himself and his young daughter, Andrew decided to use his time and expertise to renovate and sell the house his mother had left him. Whilst he had the skills to do that, he lacked the funds to support the process. He didn’t need a huge amount of money, just enough to see him through a specific patch of time – funds to cover the renovation costs, solicitor’s fees and daily living expenses.

That’s when Andrew started to explore his options for releasing some equity from the property. After a long and negative experience with one provider, Andrew eventually came across Provira. This was when things started to change for the better.

A transformational moment

He describes his initial phone call with Tracy at Provira as a pivotal moment. It was at this moment he realised things would improve. Tracy immediately understood Andrew’s situation. Her personal, empathetic and kind approach brought him great relief and confidence that Provira had his best interests at heart.

“I had a call with a lady called Tracy, who just put my mind at ease straight away. She was very, very personable, very empathetic to the situation and almost from the get-go, made me feel that this was a company that had our best interests at heart. It gave me confidence to be able to feel that this was the right step to take.”

Peace of mind and breathing space

With Tracy’s help, Andrew went on to secure some immediate funds through Provira’s Inheritance Advance product. A weight was instantly lifted.  He was able to pay off costs and lingering business debts. With these funds, he was now able to concentrate fully on doing up the house as his mother would have wanted. Finally, a new future was looking possible.

For Andrew, the Inheritance Advance he received was so much more than money. It was breathing space. The funds from Provira afforded him the time to pause and consider his options with less haste. He reflects gratefully on being able to take time over important decisions such as what to do with his mother’s possessions. Rather than being forced to sell things in a hurry and part with things he wasn’t ready to, he was able to put many items in storage to revisit later. A simple, yet powerful outcome.  

“When you’re vulnerable, it’s easy to make rushed decisions. What made the experience with Provira so positive was having someone empathetic who understood that, helped slow things down, and clearly laid out the best options without pressure.

Knowing that you’ve got the ability to cover day to day practicalities means you don’t necessarily feel rushed into having to make decisions that you don’t really want to make.”

Andrew recognises that there’s still so much that’s beyond his control and emotional challenges and grief still linger, but with Provira’s help he’s been able to offset some of the more immediate practical challenges that were burdening his life. With Provira’s support Andrew is now focused on carving out a future for him and his daughter. To make her life the best it can be, at a pace that feels right for them both.

 “For me, I think my biggest focus now is on myself, but on my daughter as well. I think that the most important thing is just making sure that I’m in good stead to make her life the best it can be. Provira has helped me see that the best is yet to come.”