It was the beginning of December and Frank and Iris were approaching their 70th wedding anniversary and they were determined to celebrate. Having met as teenagers they were inseparable. They were best friends and this party was going to celebrate 70 years of that.

The countdown to the big day had begun and Frank had come downstairs to make a cup of tea when he heard a thud on the stairs and found Iris unconscious. Iris had passed away from a heart attack and Frank's own heart never recovered.

He needed someone to talk to which was when he gave the Charity for Civil Servants a call. We were a listening ear for Frank when he needed us most. As well as giving emotional support, our help team talked about the practical side of bereavement. We were there to break things down, going one step at a time together.

Frank was also worried about paying for the funeral. As they didn't have enough money in savings to cover the expense, we were able to pay towards the funeral costs giving Frank the space to grieve without worrying about going into debt.

How you can make a difference

Your incredible festive fundraising will make a big difference to civil servants when life gets tough.