An Important Update - The Big Freeze (Patreon)

Hello everyone, my beloved Patreon members.

Sorry for the little contact, but I have been extremely and profoundly stressed trying to secure a decent financial future for my father and myself.

Cutting short an extremely long story, my last update indicated I'd achieved weekend work. A cause for celebration, right? However...

Due to UK tax laws and laws governing how Agencies handle payroll and their workforce, I can no longer operate as a 'sole trader'.

What constitutes a 'sole trader' in the UK? 

An individual who earns over £1000 per annum working for themselves. If you don't declare that you've earned this to our tax body (HMRC) then an accusation of tax fraud can be levied on you.

Agencies are subject to certain stringent laws that dictate if a 'sole trader' is hired then that employee enjoys benefits and rights above that of a regular 'agency employee'. I'd be guaranteed hours and other legal perks, and the agency would have higher liability in specific areas.

This has made me nuclear in the eyes of agencies, as it isn't how they like to operate. To the point where I have been offered employment contingent on cancelling my sole trader status, which I have now done, as the potential for earnings is far higher in said agencies than that of my page now.

If it isn't obvious at this point, the consequence is that I cannot continue earning through Patreon and subsequently have to freeze my page. I have earned too close to the £1000 cap already (based on the tax year, which is April to April in the UK) and this value doesn't reset when I relinquish my sole trader business/status.

So, what does this mean?

The page shall be free henceforth. I'll be popping back sporadically unless things change, which shall be when I find a job outside the agencies, and if this happens then I'll create a post to inform everyone that I'll be returning.

I'm hopeful for the future, but my circumstances are dire at the moment, by no means did I want to undertake this drastic action, but it is unfortunately required to quite literally not lose everything.

I'll hopefully be back soon and with brighter news. Take care everyone, and thank you for the support and patience that you've all shown.