“I want to be a fully functioning person in society,” Camille says. “I never want to look back on my life and think I should have done that.”
Camille has certainly achieved a lot in her 39 years – particularly taking into account that she was knocked over by a car when she was 13. This left her with a brain injury and, not surprisingly, mental health problems. Nevertheless, Camille has two degrees – one in economics, law and politics and another which she completed last year in business administration.
She also has two children, a nine year old and a 22 year old. Her older daughter is a nursery practitioner and helps her mum out by paying the rent and council tax. “I’m very proud of her,” says Camille. “She comes from a family of women who have to fight through and carry on.”
Camille has certainly battled through her health issues. She’s worked in management in customer services, hospitality and retail. She’s used to being self sufficient, she says, apart from times when her health isn’t good and she may have to take to her bed for several weeks.
Before lockdown and while she was studying for her second degree, she was doing agency work which meant she could work as many hours as she could when she was well to make up for the time she had to have off to rest.
She also has her own business in skincare and bath products but has found it difficult to get financial backing. “There’s a lot of things I’m interested in and I like to keep busy as it’s better for my mental health.”
She’s found childcare for her 9 year old difficult during the pandemic though. The after school club is only operating at half capacity because of Covid and childminders are only taking children from one school year group. Meanwhile, nannies are expensive, particularly if you’re working anti social hours and don’t have a spare room for someone to live in.
“This pandemic has hit people in all sorts of ways,” she says. “You can’t put a price on good childcare.”
Camille says she doesn’t know what she’d do without a bit of help from the foodbank when she needs it. However, her resilience and energy is impressive.
“Everything I do is to show my children you can achieve anything,” she says. “As long as you keep working at it.”