I'm spending the summer trying to raise some money for my school. A group of governors and parents and members of the local community set up this charitable trust to help provide for the education of our children. It provides for some of the things that our budget won't and allows us to make sure that if there is something that is going to make a difference, then we can get it. The funding of education has been stifled and suffocated over the years and we've had to cut back on things that we used to take for granted. You can find more information about the trust and what it does here. https://www.grayshott.hants.sch.uk/acorns-to-oaks-trust-and-easyfundraising/

So, in order to support the trust and my school, and to keep me busy during the summer holidays, I decided to raise awareness and hopefully a little bit of money that will go towards the children. I'm doing this through the thing I love doing best - writing.

I'm holding a poetry marathon during the month of August. All you have to do is donate and tell me what you want a poem about, and I'll make it happen. For donations of under £10, you'll get a haiku and a shout out on my website, www.richardaustinwriter.com and your own dedicated haiku.

Between £11 and £30 will get you a haiku video on my YouTube channel, WhattheHaiku! Twin Peaks Poetry and more.

Over £30 and I'll even throw in some backwards talking if I can get the software to play ball.

I'll throw out a few more ideas for you too... you just have to come up with a theme or subject for your poem. Bear in mind if I don't know anything about it, I might have to use artistic license.

<£10 - haiku on website

£11-£30 - haiku, cinquain or nonet on website and YouTube

£30-£50 - sequence of five or more haikus on a theme, on YouTube and the website, with backwards talking if available.

>£50 - a sonnet or longer ballad around your chosen theme, on the website and on YouTube