WE all know the saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Hard luck and hard times can hit any of us at any time. No-one is immune.

Barry May worked helping to house vulnerable people and offering a lifeline to those in need.

Then tragedy hit with extraordinary force when his parents and sister died within three days.

Barry’s life imploded.

Suddenly he found himself sleeping rough and helpless.

Thankfully, help was at hand in the form of Les Nicoll, who runs a walk and talk event for isolated people, and the charity Emmaus.

Barry was helped to get back on his feet and back into work. He was helped in rebuilding his life again.

This is how society should work, helping those in crisis. We are blessed to have a social system where no-one should go homeless or hungry and where health care is free at the point of need.

We also have the “third sector”, charities, which are increasingly picking up the pieces caused by Government funding cuts.

The country would probably grind to a halt without them.

So while Britain might feel broken, there is help at hand.