How ‘Rich House Poor House’ Changed My Life: Confidence, New Beginnings, and the Journey to the Nigel Prosser Foundation

When I first applied to appear on Rich House Poor House, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I stumbled upon a flyer on social media calling for families in the Worcester area with a child who has a disability, and I thought, “Why not?” The idea of being selected felt like a long shot, but somehow, against all odds, we were chosen. Little did I know that this experience would completely change my life—boosting my confidence, opening doors I never imagined, and helping me to realise that, yes, I can achieve my dreams. Watch the episode here – Nigel Prosser Foundation Rich House Poor House.

The Unexpected Journey

It all started when I saw that social media post. At first, I didn’t think much of it. But a few weeks later, I received a call from Emporium Productions. Honestly, I thought it was a scam at first! It wasn’t until they followed up with an email confirming they wanted to move forward with our application that it truly sank in. The next thing I knew, we were in the top 3 families chosen to have a Zoom interview with the production team. After sending off our interview video to Channel 5, we were chosen as the family to appear on the show. And just like that, we were in the thick of it—less than a month later, filming had already begun.

Preparing for the Rich House Poor House Swap

The nerves kicked in as we began getting ready for the filming. I kept wondering: Am I going to be good enough? Will my kids struggle? Am I making the right decisions? There were so many doubts running through my mind, and I was setting myself up for failure in my head. But I’m so glad I pushed through those fears.

The experience was eye-opening in ways I never expected. Five days of intense filming might seem easy on the surface, but trust me—it’s mentally draining. You repeat things over and over, you do poses for the camera, and you constantly have to be “on.” It was exhausting, but it was also incredibly rewarding. After this experience, I have a whole new respect for reality TV stars—what they do is not easy!

More Than Just Filming

Going into the show, I had two main goals: to raise awareness for disabilities and to learn how to set up a registered charity. Not only did we achieve both of these, but we also gained something I wasn’t expecting: confidence.

Rick and Lorraine, the other family we swapped with, didn’t support us financially in setting up our charity, but what they gave us was even more valuable: their time and their knowledge. Through regular mentor meetings, they’ve given us the tools we need to run the Nigel Prosser Foundation—especially in terms of social media. I had no idea that social media could be such a powerful tool for financial support, and now, we’re using it to grow our foundation and raise funds for others who need it.

A New Perspective

Before Rich House Poor House, I don’t think I would have had the courage to set up the Nigel Prosser Foundation. But being on national television gave me a sense of confidence that I never had before. Let’s face it—after you’ve been on a show like Rich House Poor House, being shy is a thing of the past!

There were some nerves about how the show would be edited. We filmed for five days, but we only had 40-45 minutes of screen time. I kept wondering, What parts will they keep? Will the message come across the way we want it to? But when it aired, I was relieved to see that everything turned out great.

A Shared Experience

One of the best parts of this experience was getting to share it with Sue—my best friend and mother-in-law. She’s my right-hand lady with the foundation, and I honestly couldn’t have imagined going through this experience with anyone else. While my husband chose to stay out of the spotlight, supporting us behind the scenes with the kids, having Sue by my side made it all the more special.

Looking Back At The Nigel Prosser Rich House Poor House Experience

Looking back, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Rich House Poor House. It wasn’t just about being on TV—it was about growing as a person, gaining confidence, and learning how to take steps toward making a difference. We’ve gained so much from this experience, and while I’m not 100% confident yet, I’m definitely on my way and most importantly, we’ve been able to use this experience to give back to others through the Nigel Prosser Foundation.

If you ever get the chance to do something like this, I can’t recommend it enough. Sometimes, you just have to push past the doubts and take the leap. You never know where it might lead.