Urgent Appeal for Support for Me and My Twin Babies

My name is Franca, and I am a Nigerian mother of 4-month-old twin babies, I am currently at risk of loosing my babies due to financial instability and lack of permanent housing. Your support will help me secure safe accommodation while I resolve my immigration status and work to provide a stable future for my family. Every contribution brings me closer to keeping my babies with me during this critical time.

I am currently residing in the UK. I came to the UK four years ago on a student visa to study International Business. While studying, I worked to support myself and eventually graduated with all the relevant qualifications.

During my studies, I entered a romantic relationship with a Scottish citizen, which quickly progressed. Within a year, I had moved into his home in a new city, leaving behind my job and the friends I had made. I soon found myself a first-time mother to twins, financially dependent on my partner. Unfortunately, due to my short employment history, I was not eligible for maternity pay, which gave my ex-partner complete financial control over me. I was not allowed access to credit for my mobile phone, leaving me unable to contact friends or family for support.

Recently, with the help of Women’s Aid, I have come to understand that I was a victim of domestic and emotional abuse. On December 13, 2024, my ex-partner locked me out of our shared home and withheld my babies from me for 12 agonizing days. During this time, I sought legal assistance and was fortunate to find a solicitor who successfully applied for the immediate return of my children. My twins were returned to me on Christmas Day, and since then, I have been focusing on bonding with them.

Women’s Aid also helped me secure temporary refuge accommodation, funded for four weeks by a local church. This was a critical step, as I am in the process of applying for a parental visa to gain access to public funds. However, my ex-partner has withheld all my documentation, personal belongings, and clothing, further delaying the visa application process. I am now in the process of reapplying for these documents, but time is running out.

The funding for my current accommodation at the refuge is set to end in a week. My ex-partner is threatening to seek custody of my babies, citing my financial instability and lack of permanent housing. I am deeply concerned that the court may side with him due to these circumstances, despite the emotional and developmental harm it would cause my babies to be separated from me at this critical age.

I am urgently appealing for financial support to sustain my current accommodation while I work to resolve my immigration status and secure public funds. Any assistance during this challenging time would mean the world to me and my babies.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your support could make all the difference in keeping my family together.

Sincerely,

Franca