In the summer of 2018 my children moved with their mum from Birmingham, where we all lived, to remote Northern Ireland. In January 2019, after talking with work, it was agreed that i could keep my job and work remotely, travelling back to England for one week a month to work from the office. This was the perfect arrangement as it meant I could maintain my relationship with my children and, crucially, have an income which, in county fermanagh, is hard to come by.

Unfortunately, within a matter of weeks, the directors at work, whom i considered friends having worked with them since 2013, changed their minds, despite it being written in to my contract and initiated what can only be described as a bullying and isolation regime that was full if threats, intimidation and bad mouthing. Why this happened, i can only conclude, was due to my on going struggles with mental health, particularly exacerbated by the isolation of leaving all of my friends and family behind and the hostility from my bosses towards me.

After meetings full of horrible and utterly unfounded accusations, despite trying to focus on my children and not let the bullying affect me, i could cope no longer and i, shamefully, attempted suicide.

Shortly after, i was fired and given no reason for my dismissal.

I am now faced with the prospect of having to move away from my children again, simply to find work.

I have sought legal action and have been reassured by two lawyers that I have a claim. I have managed to find a lovely and understanding lawyer who is prepared to work on a no win no fee basis pending an initial £500 fee. I can not afford this fee and am hoping to raise the funds to pay for this.

I have sent my lawyer the following statement and it is really important that i share my motivation with you as well.

“I am not out to “make them pay” or to punish in any way, [the company].

Despite my absolute and unequivocal disapproval of their treatment of employees, especially their treatment of employees with mental health issues, I seek only to protect my relationship with my children.

I moved to a very remote part of Northern Ireland so that I could continue to have the strong and loving relationship that I am lucky enough to have with my three boys.

My prospects of now finding another job out here are very slim.

I hold my employers responsible for the situation I am now in and furthermore believe they acted from a place of discrimination due to my struggles with mental health. Therefor, I feel it only right that they take responsibility for the situation I am now in.

I want to work. And, out here, to be able to stay near my children, I will need to start my own business again. However, I can not hit the ground running with that. It takes time to build a new business and it is my opinion that [the company] should pay for the time needed to build that business to a point where it can sustain my children and I.

With that in mind, I am looking to be compensated between 6 and 9 months (after lawyer and legal fees) of my original salary.

I want to make it very clear that I am not out to punish or hurt anyone, simply to ensure a future with my children.”

All i want is to be a father to my children and hopefully, if i can raise these funds, i will be able to.

Thank you so much for reading this.

Andy