Julcine's journey: Tackling life with toddler twins and a smile
“Damp everywhere, the walls were covered. We just couldn't stay there anymore. So then we got put into a hotel. One room for me and twin babies with no kitchen It was hard.”
Support worker, Julcine and her twin boys feeling festive
Salford-born Julcine had just completed her Masters Degree in Social Pedagogy, when she found out she was pregnant. With twins! Forced to abandon her budding career in social care, Julcine has dealt with homelessness and fought for stability for her little family. Her journey shows just how far strength, support, and a little bit of help from others can go.
Double Trouble
Julcine’s story started in a tough place. Her partner, who had been living with her in the UK, couldn’t return from The Congo because of visa issues. Left to care for her two young boys alone, she found herself without a home. She was passed from pillar to post, temporary accommodation to hotel and back again, trying to escape damp and desperate for space as the boys grew more mobile.
“I was working full-time as a support worker here in Altrincham and then found out I was pregnant with twins. I went on maternity leave and couldn't go back full-time because of childcare. A lot of damp started appearing where we were staying and continued getting worse and worse. We just couldn't stay there anymore. Damp everywhere, the walls were covered. So then we got put into a hotel. One room for me and the boys and no kitchen It was very hard.”
Food, glorious food
After yet another move, Julcine spotted a poster promoting The Bread and Butter Thing on a noticeboard and the rest is history. “It made such a big difference,” she says. “It meant I didn’t have to stress about where our next meal was coming from, so I could focus on other things, like making sure my boys were okay. And get some vegetables into them too They’re hungry boys! I feel being part of Bread and Butter has actually allowed me to save quite a lot. Come on, it's a bargain £8.50 for all the food we get!?” That’s what we like to hear!
“I cook every day. We get frozen foods, lots of vegetables like carrots and parsnips. It depends, this week we got some chicken. I cooked that yesterday, it was nice and the twins enjoyed it too and we finally used up all the carrots! We’ve had carrots coming out of our ears! And I hate to waste food. I’m one of these people that makes sure everything gets used.”
The future’s bright
After a rollercoaster three years, Julcine is now slowly rebuilding her life, and creating a stable home life for her boys. They finally feel safe, secure and warm in a new flat which is part of a specialist housing scheme for families. The twins have settled into nursery which means she can return to work as a Support Worker and enjoy some adult conversation again! Her partner has even managed to make it over to the UK for three months to spend Christmas with them, their first together as a family. She’s enjoying the extra pair of hands to help about the home and the fact she can say yes to even more work shifts.
It’s a big moment for Julcine and a sign that all her hard work, sacrifice, and determination is finally paying off. “I absolutely adore Christmas. I'm excited for it. This is our first ever Christmas when I'm actually decorating my own space, so like I'm ready to like go crazy! Hopefully next year, we'll have our own house and we’ll definitely go big then.”
It takes a village
The biggest challenge right now is keeping the lively twins entertained and toring them out. Everything is double the cost and when she’s on her own, she can’t take them out to the park. “Luckily, I've got great friends and my family nearby” says Julcine.
Her background in social care and knowledge of the systems has helped Julcine along the way, but what’s made the biggest difference has been the support she’s received from local organisations, her family and friends. Being a solo parent can often feel isolating, and the emotional toll can be just as hard as the financial one. But thanks to her community, Julcine has found the help she needs to keep going.
Though the financial challenges aren’t completely gone, Julcine is staying strong and positive. She’s determined that they will attend grammar school and to give them the best future possible, no matter what.
Listen to Julcine’s podcast right here.
A big thank you to Julcine for having us and sharing their story. If you’d like to share yours, we’d love to hear from you. Pop us an email and we’ll be in touch.
