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Original poster

1949 benefits programme on C4 now..who is watching?

389 replies

Allthingspretty · 12/08/2013 21:13

anyone?

OP posts:
difficultpickle · 26/08/2013 21:57

Very different attitude to the previous week's apparently workshy candidate. Impressed that Vanessa has had a complete change in attitude.

twistyfeet · 26/08/2013 21:59

No idea Dandy, I dont know what her illness is but many things you do get good days and bad days. Friend of mine has MS. Some days she cant get out of bed, other days she can dance the Macarena.

Ashley seems to have changed a bit.

dandydorset · 26/08/2013 21:59

amazing the change,hope things work out

twistyfeet · 26/08/2013 22:00

awww such a shame Michael is still looking for work

difficultpickle · 26/08/2013 22:00

They said that Vanessa has fibromyalgia. Shame that Michael hasn't got a job.

farrowandbawl · 26/08/2013 22:02

Ashley's not as cocky as he was. He's sitting straighter and not leaning forward resting on the table. I'm impressed with him as well.

I'm gutted for Michael, he's not workshy, his attitude is great, there is just a lack of jobs around for him.

The computer course will be brilliant for that woman, I went on it and even though I knew my around a computer, I still learnt a lot that's come in very useful time and time again.

Tasmania · 26/08/2013 22:12

twisty You can work - even with a bad back. However, you also need to take care of your back.

Slipped disc - had that many years before being diagnosed with virtually NO discs in the lower part of back (i.e. they wore out in the end) which was my diagnosis a few years back... it's OK, definitely workable and I work more hours than many people out there.

Yoga, Pilates and a lot of determination work wonders for it.

alemci · 26/08/2013 22:13

why is the grandmother puffing away if she is so ill plus her dd could work if grandma is around to look after dc. she does show claimants in a bad light and the family look unhealthy

AcrylicPlexiglass · 26/08/2013 22:59

Vanessa's son seems like a lovely lad. Is he at school still or also out of work atm? I like her too. Hope she gets some good part time work.

StephenFrySaidSo · 26/08/2013 23:03

acrylic the very tall boy wasn't her son but a friend of the family- I agree he seemed lovely and very supportive/encouraging of her going back to work. she had two younger children a boy and a girl although I don't think it said their ages. at a guess I would say 13-16.

AcrylicPlexiglass · 26/08/2013 23:50

Oops! They seemed so close I assumed he was her son! Thanks for letting me know, sfss.:)

StephenFrySaidSo · 26/08/2013 23:56

I thought he was her son too until they clarified with the family intro that they do.

JakeBullet · 26/08/2013 23:57

A friend of mine has fibromyalgia...some days she can't get out of bed and is in terrible pain but other days she does well. All depends on various things. ...she is better in warm weather and has had a good few weeks. Winter can be dreadful for her.
Terrible condition.

JustBecauseICan · 27/08/2013 06:34

Hopefully after the programme lovely Michael will get a job.....I agree Vanessa turned out Ok....it was a shame she couldn't do the recycling thing, because she did come to life and really seem to enjoy it. She wants to get rid of the old grandma to be honest, it's probably been her holding her daughter back all this time, seeing her bad attitude. (she could maybe move in with gobby Karen from week 1? Grin)

I think, channel 4 objectives and benefit bashing aside, it's been an interesting series because it's shown how the mindset has changed over the years. Vanessa I think summed it up when she was praising Mrs Townsend saying although she had been harsh, she had cared about the claimants and wanted the best for them.

alemci · 27/08/2013 08:27

yes the grandma was toxic and she really lowered the tone when she 'f' ed at the lady. i think she was workshy. Also did you notice there were no older males around in either of the families which i don't think helped.

The single guy deserved a chance and he was lovely.

also with Ashley it was good that he did see the positives of working.

very interesting programme, i think the system does need a huge kick.

farrowandbawl · 27/08/2013 09:11

What on earth does having older males around in the families got to do with anything?

StephenFrySaidSo · 27/08/2013 09:19

why would older males have helped? and what would they have helped with? Confused

Soditall · 27/08/2013 09:21

I think it's a brilliant program,I wish they'd show the attitudes of the past now when it comes to claiming benefits.

They offered support back then for all sorts of reasons and helped people to help themselves back into work.

alemci · 27/08/2013 09:23

because then Ashley would have a male role model possibly working. there has been some research around this subject. I know it is not fashionable or pc to comment on this issue.

Where is his grandad or dad? or in the other family lead by a mouthy grandmother who seemed quite controlling towards her dd.

farrowandbawl · 27/08/2013 09:50

A working role model would have benefited him, the gender is irrelevent.

Nothing to do with fashion or PC.

StephenFrySaidSo · 27/08/2013 09:52

"Where is his grandad or dad? " living in another house probably, maybe not willing to take part in the show because in fact Ashley inherited his lazy workshy jean from his father and the nation might see it?

how on earth do you know Ashley doesn't have a plethora (haven't used that word in ages Grin) of male rolde models?

all you know is what channel 4 want you to know. remember your brain is being told what to think when watching this stuff.

StephenFrySaidSo · 27/08/2013 09:57

soditall yes I agree- that was the difference I noticed between then and now- back then there seemed to be far more individualised support with people physically coming to your house to help and assess your needs for getting back to work. you rather than seeing you fortnightly for 90 seconds in their office without giving you any eye contact at all whilst they tick all the right boxes on their screen.

although i'm not sure how accurate it is that the welfare officers found all those jobs and work experience days for people. does anyone know?

StephenFrySaidSo · 27/08/2013 09:58

Grin workshy gene

Elsiequadrille · 27/08/2013 10:12

"A working role model would have benefited him, the gender is irrelevent."

Agree with this.

williaminajetfighter · 27/08/2013 10:22

I do think the thing a lot of these families have in common seems to be a background of poor parenting and/or a long history of not working in families. It is a hugely determining factor and it leads to situations where 3 and even 4 generations of families don't work.

In this case the rough grandmother couldn't have been a particularly good influence. Getting the daughter and her children mixing with others who provide an alternative worldview and perspective is so critical to them realizing that there is a life out there that you can have without benefits.