Prevent home loss due to redundancy

Aim

Stop me losing my home

How it started

I grew up in poverty and was determined that my child wouldn't experience the same. I worked hard, developed skills, and was never out of work.

Through all of this I always said that I preferred to rent my home and would only ever buy when mortgage payments were cheaper than rent. This came to pass in 2022 when at the age of 47 I bought my first home. It's nothing flash, there's no garden, there is no private parking, it needed updating after 40 years of neglect, but it's mine.

How it's gone

All was going well, then in January of this year the roof needed urgently replacing. I had no option but to take a loan to pay for the urgent repairs. Then in April my trusty car of 10 years broke down and was beyond repair. Unfortunately as a consultant working for a consultancy I needed a car. Again I had to turn to a loan to buy a car so I could continue working. I was stretched but not drastically so, it was manageable.

The Problem

Last week, after 8 years of dedicated work and winning millions of pounds in business revenue for the company, I was told that I was being made redundant. I'll get statutory redundancy and no more. That will last me 2 months at best.

On average it is taking people 4 months and 162 applications to secure a new job. However, for people over 50 that doubles. In the space of a week I have applied for over 80 jobs using my professional qualifications and experience, 20 jobs just to get by - including delivery driver, bar work, and shop work, I've tried to launch my own business supporting Small and Medium Enterprise businesses, but the market is tough.

My biggest fear is losing my home. Other than my son, I have no family. I was raised by my grandparents and they passed away years ago. My son lives in a HMO almost 200 miles away as that was the only place he could find work.

I am out of options despite all of my hard work for the last 30 years. 

My Ask

It could take me 8 months to find a new job, it may take longer given the state of the UK job market. It feels such a big ask yet such a small thing to support my mental health; I'm asking for help meeting my mortgage payments for one year. 

I honestly believe that with my skills and experience I can find work within 12 months, even in the current climate. My union has provided me with a financial advisor to help restructure the loans, but can't help with the mortgage payments. Without help my only option would be to sell, which I can't afford and I'd still owe the mortgage company as the mortgage is only 3 years old. Selling would leave me homeless as there is no way to rent without having a job.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 23rd December 2025