Hello people, I’ll get right to it.

Recently, I found out that my landlord is taking legal action against me for just over £9,000. If I can’t raise the funds in time, I’ll be forced into bankruptcy — and once that happens, my guarantor will be dragged into it too. He’s a single parent who was there for me when I was homeless and no one else was.

It’s been a tough couple of years. I’ve fought my way back from homelessness and redundancy. I faced losing everything back then too, but I worked hard to build a future for myself — and I’m proud to say that this August I’ll be starting my first year as a newly qualified secondary teacher in Art and Design.

I’ll be completely honest about how I got here.

When my landlord made me homeless by deciding to sell the house out from under me, I had nowhere to go. I was studying and doing my school placements at the time — and PGDEs are hard enough without being homeless. This was my one shot. I explained this to him, but he wouldn’t listen. He wouldn’t return my deposit so I could find somewhere else. He wouldn’t even give me a month to pass my placement.

Out of desperation, I told him I couldn’t leave. I stayed in the flat, and he went to court to get an eviction order. That’s okay — he won the case. But by that time, I had somewhere to go, so I moved out.

Now he’s come after me again — this time for the costs from that case. And he’s going to win.

I’ve spoken to a solicitor (thankfully I was able to get one through my vulnerable status), and he’s made it clear: either I raise the money, or I go bankrupt. If I go bankrupt, it all falls to my guarantor — my friend who helped me when no one else did.

I know it looks pretty dire. But I won’t give up. I never have. Most people in my situation wouldn’t either. We fight for what’s right — especially when we’re not just fighting for ourselves.

So I started thinking: I’ve got just over 3 weeks. Can I make the money I need?

I didn’t want to be a charity case — I wanted to offer something in return. I’m an artist. I’m a published writer. Years ago, I had a book stocked in Waterstones. I’ve been in a Faber & Faber anthology.

So I got to work.

I wrote a story. I made a zine. It’s called The Man Who Sold His Self (formerly The Deal). It’s dark and strange — think adult Roald Dahl. It’s my own original work.

I’m doing absolutely everything I can.

Thank you so much for reading this.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.

Update: We’ve now raised over £2,000 through sales! Everyone is amazing!