​Mother and wheelchair user Hasna has become a prisoner in her own home after suffering a serious neurological disorder.

She urgently needs adaptations to her home; however a flawed government formula means her struggling family must find thousands of pounds to help pay for the work.

Hasna, aged 49, who lives with her husband and three of the couple's five children in a social housing property in Richmond, is being supported by the local disability charity, Ruils Independent Living, but she needs help from the local community.

In 2019, Hasna was hospitalised due to a number of serious health complications and was left with paralysis in her right leg and significant weakness in her left.

She urgently needs adaptations to her home; however a flawed government formula means her struggling family must find thousands of pounds to help pay for the work.

She was later diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder and is now a full-time wheelchair user. Having had no previous health issues, her life dramatically changed overnight.

Hasna said: "My world was completely turned upside down. I went from being able to do live independently to suddenly having to rely on my family for everything, including getting in and out of the house.

"The home that I was once able to easily get around, has become a prison."

Most of her days are spent in her bedroom because there is no safe access to move around in the house. And even simple tasks like making a cup of tea can result in injury.

The lack of ramp access means Hasna must be physically lifted out of the house, which has left her frightened to go out.

Hasna said: "Every day that I am trapped inside is another day that I am stripped of my independence, dignity and will to carry on. My family has been massively impacted by this situation and we are desperate for this to

change."

Ruils has worked with the Victoria Foundation, a local medical-based charity, and they have pledged £2,500 towards the works if Hasna can secure the rest of the money.

This leaves Hasna's family needing to find £6,904, which is impossible for them to afford, especially in the current cost-of-living crisis.

The local authority will not proceed with the work until payment is made in full.

As a result, the family has set up a Go Fund Me page to try to raise the necessary money to carry out these vital alterations and they are reaching out to anyone who might be able to support.

Details on how to support the family can be found here – https://www.gofundme.com/f/freedom-and-independence-for-hasna

The Ruils chief executive, Cathy Maker, said that there are many others in Hasna's situation across

Richmond Borough.

"Sadly, Hasna's situation is not unique. We support many people in the borough who live in inaccessible social housing properties; from clients being trapped in their bedrooms to wheelchair users living in second floor properties without lift access, we've seen a range of people who have fallen through the cracks," she said.

"Tenants often wait for years for proposed changes to be agreed and then they are expected to come up

with thousands of pounds to cover the costs."

* Visit www.ruils.co.uk for more information about the charity and the work it does.