Ask for a Pay Rise (Without Making It Awkward)

I want to ask for a pay rise at work but I'm not sure how to go about it. Here are the details:

My job title and what I do: [your job title and a brief description of your main responsibilities]
How long I've been in this role: [e.g. 2 years, 6 months since my last raise]
Why I think I deserve a raise: [e.g. I've taken on extra responsibilities, my performance has been strong, I haven't had a raise in over a year, I know similar roles pay more]
My current salary (if you're comfortable sharing): £[amount or "I'd rather not say"]
What I'd ideally like: £[target salary or percentage increase, or "I'm not sure what's reasonable"]
How I'd describe my relationship with my manager: [e.g. good, a bit distant, friendly but formal]
Anything I'm nervous about: [e.g. being told no, seeming greedy, not knowing what to say if they push back]

Please help me by doing the following:

1. Help me work out a reasonable amount to ask for, based on what I've told you. If I'm not sure, suggest a realistic range and explain your reasoning.
2. Write a short script I could use to open the conversation — something natural I could say in a one-to-one meeting, not stiff or rehearsed.
3. Give me 3–4 strong points I can make during the conversation, based on the reasons I've shared, framed in a way that focuses on value rather than personal need.
4. Prepare me for the most likely responses — if they say yes, if they say no, or if they say "not right now" — and suggest what I should say in each case.
5. Give me a short checklist of things to do before the meeting to feel confident and prepared.

Keep everything in British English. Use a calm, encouraging tone — like a supportive friend who's been through this before and knows how to handle it well.