Famous, Rich and Homeless

[expatinscotland]

Anyone watching?

annabelle was only doign what comes naturally to lots of people.

ooh!! will have to watch it again on iplayer. thanks for that

We have a specialist mental health Homeless team here in Birmingham (NHS)- same as a community mental health team, but for the homeless.

Well I thought that was a terrific programme. It has certainly got me thinking. I am guilty of walking by although I always say no thank you to the big issue sellers rather then just ignoring them.

For those of you that work in the system what would you suggest is an effective way of helping them?

I think this has been a really excellent documentary , but very to watch.

We work very closely with street outreach - they really do their best to make sure everyone who needs help gets it. And i was very surprised at the comment amde about 'very few day centres' There are lots in London for a start!

I found the scene at the homeless graves with Bruce both very sad and moving. Those poor people was it six bodies in one unmarked grave.?? what a way to finish your life................

Yes that was very sad Lottie

well quite coolma. cutting room floor eh...

mawkish and irritating.morally wrong to mimick a true social problem.what the fuck next celebrity psychosis

some rich gits having a Oh my gawd moment - big blah blah.

but i am surmising haven't watched it

the actual grind of the unsafe scary reality of street homeless is the ongoing grind.no end in site (not 5 days or whatever the schlebs get)

the real scandal is the amount of ex-serviceman with mental health issues on the streets (higher than non military personnel)

Scottishmummy - that's a rather silly thing to say when you didn't see the prog! How else in our 'celeb' obsessed culture (not sure culture is really the right word) can people be made to take notice of a problem. I am very cynical and can't bear mawkishness and oversentimentality but the prog wasn't like that.
It has definately changed me, even if only a tiny number of people have had their awareness raised it's got to be worth it!

I missed last night's ep. Why do you think they didn't show the services on offer. I wonder if they thought it would lessen the impact?

And again, suggestions please for what is the best thing that we can do to help, ie best place to send donations, and is it better to give cash or food to people we see? (I'm not brave enough to volunteer to work on the streets though).

bambipie - you could always volunteer in a day centre or similar? Just an hour a week would be a huge help! Seriously though, I understand the fear people have about confronting the reality of homelessness. I was terrified on my first day! Apart from that idea - I guess that now, having been here and knowing the people I work with, I would give food to someone on the street, but would love everyone to just give a fiver a year towards their local homelessness charity. Sorry repeating myself, but it's a lifeline to a lot of people!

Scottishmummy, please try and watch it!

There's a (reputedly) very good show on at the moment by Cardboard Citizens - a theatre company of homeless and ex-homeless people given training in theatre and drama and working professionally here

oooh, I want to work for them!!

I really wanted to hear more from the participants at the end...their reflections on thier experiences, whether it has changed them, whether they will make any changes in their own lives...

I thought Annabel Croft was particularly lovely and had a lot of respect for all the participants excepting of course Jamie Idiot Ponce Boy Blandford! The only way he could do the programme justice he claimed was by getting a good night's sleep in a 5 star hotel...err right you are Lord James

I was hoping that the 'buddies' may have been given a little help by the makers..maybe they were...

When I first started working in London, the number of homeless on the streets begging was something that really affected me. I was reluctant to give cash that may go on drugs or drink, so I started a monthly direct debit to a homeless charity (in my case Centrepoint). I don't give a lot, but I feel that at least my money is going towards providing a young person with a bed or a meal. No individual can solve this problem but many people can make small contributions. And to be honest, I probably did do this to slightly ease my guilty conscience. There but for the grace of God go any of us.
I have also sky plussed this but found all the comments above interesting and look forward to watching.

^^Love people like you! Thank you!