This has probably been done, but it's the first time I have watched the programme as it featured an area I know well.
Why do Ch5 over simplify the issues around poverty? In tonight's episode, someone was offered a cash injection by the rich house, to start a hospitality business in an area where hospitality is all but done for. All hooray for the hero style.
The pretence being this would fix everything. The (unmentioned or acknowledged) fundamental issue is that the poor family are renting in an area where private rent is extortionate due to an influx of short term workers for a large construction project. The mother was also apparently unable to work because of childcare costs (no mention of the universal 30hrs funding), so obviously a start up in an industry that's completely impractical with conventional childcare hours isn't going to be a solution.
I'm not arguing that that family didn't needed some cash. But the reality is when you have debt like they did, pay high rents and have no financial security, starting a risky business is just frankly diabolical advice. Especially as it was mentioned the husband worked extremely long hours. So realistically the woman is left being the primary carer and would eventually have to fit in with school hours anyway.
It just would have been so much more genuine to say "look, let's clear that debt, make sure you've got something behind you for emergencies so you don't get into debt again and have you considered maximising the funded childcare hours so you can try out working in hospitality, see how you like it before starting up".
Appreciate that makes boring telly but this simplification of poverty and the hero help is a bit grim.
I hope people get paid good money to do this show.