To wonder what else can be done to break the cycle of generations living off benefits?

[Allonthesametrain]

Sounds harsh because It is. As a former teacher, then eduation social worker, now the past few years more heavily involved with school attendance.

My desire has always been to help children from unprivileged backgrounds to know their worth and achieve the best they can and this has been my career from age 23 to 57.

The number of times I've cried, torn my hair out, is immeasurable. I and colleagues have gone above and beyond to support the families, genuinely care about them, but unfortunately the outcome has been, as I've said in title, it's a continiation of the cycle of being brought up within a small community and low expectations.

So many gorgeous kids (supported throughout their young lives until they leave school) who tell you their dreams of what they want to to achieve in life, we do everything we can to enable it and some have indeed broken out of the circle but unfortunately the reality has been...

Parents who live lifestyles of no bedtime routine, tell their kids not to come back before ...pm, sleep in and don't get them out of bed ready and fed for school and as for weekends, pub and take back a new bloke

Parents who have issues themselves and project them onto DC. The kids soon realise they can stay off school for feigning illness and would actually be a comfort to Mum

The parents who just cba and say shall we just still in bed?

Of course there are so many other mitigating factors but these are the 3 main experiences we've dealt with. Unfortunately it really does come down to poor parenting and no matter what interventions we do to encourage attendance, only a minority are genuine.

So the cycle...DC think education isn't important, parents are hopeless role models and can often be aggressive to teachers, a deflection of blame.

Then oh DD gets pregnant at age 15, DS has been reprimanded by the police for scooting around in a balaclava. Then pure hostility when we try to continue to talk to them and what could be done to help.

Basically it's just such a shame, these sweet young kids who say they want to be ... become so influenced by their homelife, a need to fit in with their family and peers from the same estate, that they ignore the support we give them, don't turn up to appointments etc.

For the genuine cases, DC with SEN, the effort to try and ensure they are in best place is utmost and it's heartbreaking there aren't enough of them. Yes, we do know genuine cases and not just so many parents striving for a diagnosis because they feed DC a terrible diet and let them stay up late so are tired and irritable at school.

Expecting some backlash, whatever anyone says I can reason with.

Well, if it was me, I’d do a weeks work and rent a cheap room, pay for it with the work income, and rinse and repeat until I could afford more stability. I actually did something similar when I was younger and it took a while until I’d saved enough to have a private rented flat. Or I’d look for work that came with accommodation like au pairing to allow me to save, or hotel work which offers accommodation, or farm work that offers accommodation. That would be my go to I think. I’ve no doubt there would be a way to do it.

Sorry not talking about your very specific case.

When you were younger.
How will that work for someone in their 40s with children?

Moving for work is far easier when you are young and single, with no ties to where you currently live

I grew up with this, every single family member I have lives on benefits and so did their parents, grandparents etc., the children in the family now are heading that way too, all of my friends in school aspired to get a council house and so did their families. It’s a very disadvantaged area now and always was.

There will be some excuse why they can’t.

No one said it would be easy. I certainly don’t think that would be easy. But I’d do it if I had to. And it would be a great example to set for my children who would learn you do what you have to to survive and look after your family, you don’t resort to handouts.

Rent a cheap room. I live 20 miles from Glasgow and a room in a flat in my area is 400 pounds a month. In Glasgow it's anything up to 1k a month. How do you afford that after a weeks work?

I am a teacher and feel the same. Mums with latest iPhones, nails, hair extensions etc and children come to school with no breakfast or a coat to keep them warm. Their Grandparents with the same life as their mothers. My heart breaks

Totally, just listen to these people… they have a counter argument for everything. Just get on with it!! Geez..

Oh yes. Like I should have been wheeling myself downstairs to work according to you when I couldn't shower and had to crawl on my hands and knees to get to the toilet.

Not sure it's possible to rent a room a week at a time and you would also need to put down a deposit.

That's not the same in every area. Some people on benefits look after their kids very well

You’ve never worked in it, have you? Tell the truth now!
Tell me, where as a country do we collate statistics on multi generational worklessness and the corresponding reliance on benefits? What survey or system exactly would capture that? We don’t.
You do the job, you go through the rooms full of filing cabinet after filing cabinet about the same families (that is literally how old I am!), you visit these families and these areas and you’ll know. And actually? There is fuck all funny about this. People are absolutely suffering and no one, me included, have been able to do anything to improve things for them.

A months deposit in most cases

Obviously once your leg has healed.

Or alternatively look at evidence and data for an informed view.

Do you people not read posts? I think you just look at a couple of sentences and whip yourselves into self righteous fury because SOMEONE IS WRONG ON THE INTERNET! I didn't deny there are many issues which is why it was a shame to see an interesting thread based on a false premise. I said the claim that multi-generational worklessness and reliance on benefits exists and is widespread isn't borne out by facts. No need to get upset over it.

You would drag your kids out of school and go sofa surfing with them in a strange town in the hope you get a zero hour job out of some misguided principal?

Yes, a young single person can get away with that. That is how some people find a place to settle. But I can not see a middle aged person with children uprooting them unless they had a job lined up elsewhere already, along with accommodation.

That's not exactly what you were suggesting earlier was it?

I haven’t suggested anything.

You could probably rent a room a week at a time in certain circumstances. Well, some posters on this thread are all about being entrepreneurial...

Can you believe how ridiculous some people are prepared to make themselves look in their attempts to prove an unworkable point? As if you can get a job (and live where while you're waiting your first pay?), then get paid in full after only a week which you then use to pay deposit and first month's rent on a "cheap room" (not really a thing these days) and go on from there. Or suddenly become an au pair! 🤣 It's really very funny.

I think the answer is universal basic income (with some kind of disability top up) it would hugely simplify the benefits system and give everyone an equal security net if life throws them a curve ball.

You’d use your noggin. Post online asking for work in exchange for free accommodation etc. Then work morning to night to do a good job, pocket the proceeds and invest in accommodation. Repeat.
I have a polish builder who works Monday to Friday in a job then he’s at mine at 8am Saturday and Sunday the whole day to do extra work. He’s been here with us for 4 months doing bits of work around the house. He works fo friends of mine too. Never takes a day off. He saves it all for his house and family in Poland. He’s pleasant, respectful, tidies up at the end of each day, works hard and does excellent quality of work. That’s a proper work ethic. I said to him wow you must find it a challenge working with the typical British tradesperson..he looked at me and said very modestly, well, yes, I’m not like them. I thought you’re damn right you’re not.

Perhaps there should be some kind of ‘initial deposit’ scheme, a bit like help to buy but for renters? In theory you should only need 1 deposit - then working & earning should see you through to the next.

🤣🤣🤣