My name is Craig and over the past 18mnths I have faced some enormous challenges and overcome some incredible hurdles to be where I am today.

What started with a life full of wild parties and recreational drugs galore soon became my biggest nemesis and it wasn't long before my partner at the time became pregnant.

With no other children and little insight I fumbled my way through and sure enough when my son was born he was taken into care.

This was the start of my story.......

Through hell and high water I successfully got sober and provided regular drugs tests to social services.

Due to the birth mother not making the same life changes I was then offered a 14 wk stay at a private house in Weson-s-mare that is run by social services. Here I was taught how to be a perfect father and every move I made was monitored, recorded and judged.

Life was tough, sobriety was a test and having no friends or family near I was desperately lonely.

Sure enough, I did it! And I am now living in emergency homeless accommodation in Barnstaple with full care of my beautiful baby boy who is now 16mnths old.

Recently I have been offered a permanent home in Goodleigh. The house obviously has no flooring, I have no white goods of my own, little furniture and the clutch has just gone on my car!

I have to accept the house, so am reaching out to the good people of Barnstaple and beyond to ask for help... I am unable to get a UC loan as I had an advance 12 mnths ago to buy a cot and baby goods.

Please dig deep and help me forward on my journey to providing a good life and settled home for my son.