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Name: | Marcus Burns |
Age: | 24 |
Year of the Fix: | 2012 |
Location: | Andover, Hampshire |
Campaign: | Encouraging young people away from drugs |
Four-years ago I was part of the ‘hidden homeless’, caused by lack of employment and places to live because of this. It took me six-months to find any form of solid accommodation, and I did turn to drugs to cope with the strain.
I was depressed, had low self-esteem, and felt trapped. I was taking and selling drugs, living somewhere I did not want to be, and had no family of friends to speak to about anything. I thought no one understood what I was going through.
I needed a means of escape, and this is when I found poetry. I picked up my pen and began writing thoughts at first, but then these became stories from my mind about my life. When I write my poetry, I feel like I can escape. Like a self-harmer with a blade, I am a poet with a pen.
Now I am thankful that something came along into my life to turn it around. This is why I am working with Fixers. I want to encourage young people to have hope, to not give up, and to simply reject drink, drugs and crime.
Times are especially tough these days, and my project aims to inspire young people to turn their lives around, particularly when involved with drugs. There is so much more to life than drugs. Even when you are in the worst circumstances, do not give up or give in.
I have been through some really tough times, but I am trying to advise people to not end up on the same road I did. It is not worth it.
Here is a list of Fixers helping me with my Fix:
Kiki Goddard
Lauren Dempsey
Bryony-Mae Burrow
September 2013
Feedback from my project has been positive and encouraging. Here's what a couple of people had to say about my campaign:
Liam Cullum:
'Marcus has helped me to express myself in a good way. I thought it was a great way of showing the power of poetry'
Trish Cardwell:
'Great piece of work Marucs, this should inspire other young people to speak out in a positive way'
Sam Barakat
Olivia G
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
'Ben'
Shak & Natasha
Fern Lulham
'Kate'
Jo Quinn
Chelsie Brown
Jack H
Fixers
Becky
Shano
Me and my friends want young people to know that calories aren't the enemy!
Macauley Collinson
Liam Thomas