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Original poster

10 years old and living in poverty - channel 5 now

138 replies

PonyoLovesHam · 26/11/2014 22:10

Is anyone watching?

Interesting viewing especially following the recent threads on MN about kids not having Xmas presents. An 8 year old girl was just shown having noodles to eat 3 days a week, telling her mum there's nothing in the fridge.

I know this happens, I've worked with families with these problems, but it's still heartbreaking. Our local food bank I donate to is shutting down because it's being seen as a long term fix (by the council) rather than a short term solution which is what the volunteers who set it up intended it to be :(

OP posts:
mumto3lovelyboys · 27/11/2014 00:42

Here here....

vhlmummy · 27/11/2014 01:01

living day by day is very hard, some of you should try it. I have been off benefits for a year now and live as if I am still on them, all our money goes towards keeping the roof over our heads we pay full rent and council tax and food in the kids bellies,(plus the school trips so far this year £300) every penny 'spare' goes on paying bills and debts caused from living on benefits and not being able to pay for things you could before benefits. Utility bills are crippling when on benefits meaning most end up on meters, then its a toss up between having the heater on or doing the uniform wash on a sunday with only a £1 or 2- in emergency credit may I add and knowing you cannot put any on for another day or two.Until you have lived in western poverty (because there is a difference to the the dying in africa, we have a government that pretects us even when we criticize it-state benefits) you dont really know what it like.My son is 10 and says we are poor because he doesnt have a phone or latest xbox footie kit etc, I try and explain to him and if anything I think it makes him more determined to work hard on his education. I also tell him we are better off than people who live on credit and always owe companies money at least what we buy we own. I felt for the children in the show and desperately wish I could help but it definitely brought back memories of the toughest times we have had. at least we might get a christmas this year, will they??

sweettalker · 27/11/2014 02:05

yes she is a good friend

pipkinsmum · 27/11/2014 09:05

I think Paiges mum needs to put her daughters needs first and swallow her pride by accepting some help from her brother, also free boilers are available through the Government as we had one fitted last year and it is fantastic, no problem you just need to be in receipt of certain benefits and Paiges mum will be if she is working part time. Some times you have to help yourself. I am a single mum living on low wages much less than some featured on the program but we eat really well and have a warm home and no one would ever guess we are skint, pride and self respect goes a long way.

Lushlush · 27/11/2014 09:07

I think if people ring up Channel 5 they should be able to arrange donations of clothing etc. would make nice surprise for families this time of year!

Lushlush · 27/11/2014 09:11

There is a customer services telephone number for Channel 5 online.0208 612 7700 or you can email to [email protected].

nev1973 · 27/11/2014 09:47

Hi i am the mother of the 7 children and they do not live in poverty he is lying and anyone that knows him can tell you that. And yes he is lazy his mum is a magistrate and he was a social worker so he does have shit loads of money the house is a project we bought 5 years ago he is moving into a bought bungalow in two weeks so he is not in poverty they just sold there house.

LegoAdventCalendar · 27/11/2014 10:17

Who runs out on 7 kids? Hmm

nev1973 · 27/11/2014 10:21

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LegoAdventCalendar · 27/11/2014 10:35

Right. So he was 'doing something' with a child and instead of calling the police and getting him kicked out and put in jail you left her and the others there with him. Hmm

nev1973 · 27/11/2014 10:43

As i said a long story tht dnt want to gointo. I will say onething police are a load of crap and she is 18 thats all i saying about tht subject

Talkback2015 · 27/11/2014 11:45

I'm not sure what I found most depressing about this programme. The plight of the children and their almost universal acceptance that this was their lot in life, that it would get no better for them OR the somewhat uncharitable comments made by SOME of the people on this forum. The programme told the story of three families through the eyes of their children. Despite their circumstances, they all seemed to be infectiously positive and very loving towards their families and each other, considerably more so than I have seen amongst SOME rather spoiled, consumerism-driven children. For anyone who might wish to contact the families, I am sure that Channel 5 would be happy to pass on any details at ail [email protected]

Oldraver · 27/11/2014 12:02

All three of these families could of done more for their families...

Prom Girls Mum could get a free boiler so no need to go and beg showers elsewhere and cleaned the fucking house

Clarences Mum was just vile and despite never having worked from 17 seems to think she can waltz into a part time office job. Get yourself to Asda woman. And although her girl was sweet they would of had free meals at school so were not actually starving and I wonder where she got the idea that 'its not fair people who dont work dont get the same money as those that do'....this frankly is how it should be. and cleaned the fucking house

7 kids man just came across as a lazy arse.... all his girl wnated was a nice house and nice things to live in....instead she gets a filthy trashed house and he could of cleaned the fucking house

Original poster
PonyoLovesHam · 27/11/2014 13:31

I was thinking about the programme this morning, and unfortunately agree with you OldRaver.

I felt like the dad of 7 sounded really self pitying when he was saying he couldn't work because he was looking his kids, he sounded like he was blaming them. Except they're old enough to look after each other after school and maybe grandma could help out?

Aniya's mum didn't speak to the children very nicely did she, was she having to prioritise debts over food it seemed? It would have been good to know if she'd been to CAB for help.

OP posts:
ChoochiWoo · 27/11/2014 13:37

Marcus-its a well known issue that obesity is a poverty linked disease in this country, because its cheaper to eat shit than eat well.

KingJoffreysDodgyEars · 27/11/2014 14:34

I've just received a badly worded PM for saying Clarence and Aniya's mother was vile for the way she spoke to them.

dosnt make her vile..she aint beating them its just words get over it

Hmm

Anyone else?

ChoochiWoo · 27/11/2014 14:38

Not me...hmm think it could be a rel?

Original poster
PonyoLovesHam · 27/11/2014 14:50

Hmm Joffrey. Maybe that person should know that how you speak to kids can have just as much of a negative effect as beating them.

OP posts:
KingJoffreysDodgyEars · 27/11/2014 14:59

Yes, I'm still recovering from being spoken to badly by my parents.

Being told that they wish they'd never had me, that I was thick, that the only good thing about me was that I was pretty and other general put downs.

And they weren't half as bad as Clarence's mum. There was a bit at the beginning where she called him and he said, "What's wrong?" Implying that he only gets any attention when there's a problem.

Hideous.

Beautiful children though.

sweettalker · 27/11/2014 15:02

i wrote that!! i know the family personally and know 1 bad day dont make u a bad person stress goes all round for every1 and as we all know tv is about ratings and u only c 20mins of their life ive seen 11years!! she a fantastic mum who only tries her best with what lil she does have and her kids have more manners than some people i know that have everything we share the good and the bad dont judge a book by the cover!!

shazzy181072 · 27/11/2014 15:03

Watching kids in poverty last night makes you realise how lucky we are poor kids no food, others need new clothes why cant we start a collection to help these poor children if everyone could spare a £1 or more these children could be much happier food, clothes, hotwater, furniture can channel 5 start a charity for these PLEASE X

Blondeshavemorefun · 27/11/2014 15:24

I always wonder what happens to these familiies after being on tv. Obv the tv channel makes huge money and the way they show them will cause conflict and high ratings

But what happens to the familiies? Are they better off?

Do the familiies get paid? Helped out by the tv documentary?

And yes sad fact - healthy food and fruit and veg is often more exp then pizza and chips - so families will go and buy the 'junk' food as least means their children eat

Tho there are cheap healthy filling meals like Jacket potato and beans - that's got to be better then noodles :(

KingJoffreysDodgyEars · 27/11/2014 15:27

I'm surprised there aren't more 'schemes' to help people with new boilers/plumbing/basic repairs.

Or solar panels.

And I'm sure you can apply for help with school uniforms.

KingJoffreysDodgyEars · 27/11/2014 15:45

I've just reached the wardrobe bit.

That was pretty hard to watch.

:(

Original poster
PonyoLovesHam · 27/11/2014 15:48

I hope blondes that they're are offers of help for the families which get accepted following the programme?

Joffrey sorry about how your parents spoke to you. I hate it when people justify speaking to a child like shit, because the alternative is they could be hitting them :( I hear kids around here get called little twats etc out in public, so god knows what it's like at home.

Sweet talker agree the children did seem to have lovely manners, aniya seems a clever and articulate girl. It's sad she associated mums happiness with getting her benefit money.

OP posts: