Hi, my name is Vanessa (Tess) and I'm raising funds to replace belongings that were taken from the house. My own belongings and those of my two teenage kids.

Long story short -

- we had to go into Women's Aid accommodation in 2018.

- Had to move into new council house over Christmas/New Year 2019/20 with no chance to get carpets down before furniture etc.

- Furniture and belongings were moved in in Jan 2020. Belongings from family home and Women's Aid were too much for size of house.

- Lockdown started March 2020

- Everything stopped in Lockdown & it wasn't possible to get anything cleared from house; help to build furniture, move boxes etc.

- I couldn't start work due to lockdown. Only work available was shift work which wasn't conducive with childcare.

- I got a Chemistry teaching job in a private school in Nov 2021. I wasn't paid so left after 3 months.

Hardly any Chem teaching jobs available.

- I retrained & qualified as a Swimming teacher. Started work for a gym but this became untenable because the pool had no shallow end but we were still expected to teach kids from 3 years upwards. As a Chemistry Teacher I'd been responsible for the health and safety of kids in my class/lab. Id always felt completely supported in this by school management. I didn't feel supported by the management of the gym and the safety conditions for the kids were dangerous. So, I left. I plan to teach swimming and/or teach/tutor Chemistry again in the near future.

- I have struggled with my mental health due to the domestic violence and ongoing post-separation abuse but have always been determined to keep going and keep building as best I could for the kids.

Part of the post-separation abuse has been financial abuse. I have wondered, previously, about making a GoFundMe but managed through.

In 2019, I received an amount as divorce agreement. I had a great, sensible plan for this with amounts for setting up our new home, car then having money in savings. Due to not getting work in lockdown, I had to use this money to survive and there was further financial abuse during this time.

- Having realised that I needed some drastic help to get house in order, I researched clearing companies. I went with the one that was most established and had good reviews. The manager visited the house, we did a walk round and he was shown what was to be taken. I stipulated that my bedroom and the living room weren't to be touched.

- A written agreement was sent by email and after a couple of postponements on either side, a date was set.

- I had fully intended to stay whilst the clearance was taking place but became concerned that I'd be too controlling and thought I'd best stay clear. Id left tradespeople to do work on previous occasions in my life and felt confident that a written agreement had been made. In hindsight, I should have got someone to be in the house with me but most folk were on Summer holidays.

- When I returned to the house, I was shocked at the vast amount of things that had been taken. It wasn't just boxes and items that had been set aside. Rooms (including the living room and my bedroom) had been cleared of belongings including bedding, clothing, crockery, cooking pots, utensils etc. Items of value had been taken eg DSLR Camera, Roberts Bluetooth Digital Radio, 3 winter jackets/coats etc etc.

When I called the manager of the clearing company I was told that all items had already been disposed of at a recycling centre and couldn't be reclaimed.

Items that will be extremely difficult to replace have been taken but I am hugely thankful that all of our photos are still here. I'm just a bit precious over photos.

I am pursuing compensation from the clearing company or looking into insurance.

Any monies from those will take time to be agreed and arrive whilst we need to replace the essentials right now for daily life eg bedding, towels, clothing, crockery, cooking equipment etc.

That's why I've made this GoFundMe account. To help us get off the ground immediately.

I realise that times are tight so please don't feel obligated to give large amounts if you are not able. Any amount, at all, is appreciated.

Thankyou so much.