Dean used to work at the steelworks in Scunthorpe, but now he, his wife and their seven children and stepchildren get by on benefits. Dean is a guide to his world, where being out of work is nothing out of the ordinary, where people do what they can to survive and where keeping your kids on the straight and narrow is a challenge. On Dean's estate, the film follows the shoplifter who sells stolen deodorant on the cheap and a 15-year-old boy who has been excluded from seven different schools. For them and many others across the country, this is what it means to be skint.
Dean's wife Claire became a mother in her teens and is determined her daughters won't go the same way. It's difficult not to worry that her 15-year-old daughter might follow in her footsteps when she has been driving around with an older boy. Sixteen-year-old Jemelia left home at 14 and by 15 had a baby, who was immediately taken into care. The film follows Jemelia during the build-up to the court's decision about the future of her baby and Jemelia speaks honestly about her reaction to the verdict. Relying on benefits to support your children is no easy option either, as Dean and Claire are well aware. Hayley is just 21, but has five children. Neither she nor her partner work and they're hoping to get married, until their child tax credits are cut off. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Fergie is wanted by the police and is worried about whether his new girlfriend will wait for him if he ends up in prison
The final episode follows 37-year-old Dean, his wife Claire and their seven children and step-children as the local pub – The Desert Rat – re-opens. Three months ago, The Rat was attracting so many problems with customers that it was shut down. Now Claire’s cousin Denise is taking it on and wants to make it a success, without the previous unwanted attention. For Dean and Claire this is a rare night off from the children to go to the opening night. Just outside the pub is ‘The Wall’ where people congregate – often when they have nothing better to do. The Wall regulars are sure that the pub re-opening spells trouble with the draw of daytime drinking. The film features some of The Wall regulars. Thirty-five-year-old Kieron used to shoplift to feed his drug habit until it he was banned from Scunthorpe town centre with an ASBO. Kieron is now trying to go straight, volunteering at a local church drop-in centre, but his road to recovery is bumpy. He is made homeless, sending him to the streets in an anxious and upset state. Meanwhile Dean, his family and some friends are heading off on holiday. As six adults and 11 kids squeeze into a caravan in Skegness, tensions begin to brew between Dean and his step-son James. Of Dean and Claire’s brood of seven, James is the first to finish school and is thinking about going into the army. But when his GCSE results come in all he gets is one ‘D’, Dean and Claire are worried that James will end up as one of The Wall’s regulars. Frustrated with the lack of work in the area, is Shane – who used to be Dean’s son-in-law and has been out of work for nine months. Shane had been working in Abu Dhabi with his dad, but came back to be with Dean’s step-daughter. With work scarce however, their relationship has hit the rocks. Shane’s dad is now moving to India to find a job, but Shane decides to stick it out in Scunthorpe to be near and provide for his daughter. Wanting to avoid a path that many friends in
Bringing up children when work is scarce is never easy, but it becomes an uphill battle if you are also struggling with addiction. This episode follows the impact that addiction can have on family life. Gail's partner died of alcoholism in his 30s and Gail is now trying to keep her daughter, who was deeply affected by the loss of her stepfather, from going off the rails. Emma wants to keep her family together, but can her son's dad stay free from alcohol and tablets? Meanwhile Dean has been helping his little brother Greg with his job search.
The documentary follows more stories of people living in poverty in Grimsby. In the 1950s, the Lincolnshire town was the largest fishing port in the world, but it has experienced almost the complete loss of the industry and there are just four trawlers left. From fishermen out of work after a lifetime at sea, to people doing whatever they can to make ends meet, the programme highlights the reality of deprivation for many people in the UK, and gives a voice to those suffering the impact of long-term unemployment
The documentary follows more stories of people living in poverty in Grimsby. In the 1950s, the Lincolnshire town was the largest fishing port in the world, but it has experienced almost the complete loss of the industry and there are just four trawlers left. From fishermen out of work after a lifetime at sea, to people doing whatever they can to make ends meet, the programme highlights the reality of deprivation for many people in the UK, and gives a voice to those suffering the impact of long-term unemployment. Last in the series
The documentary following people living in some of Britain's most deprived areas heads to Merthyr Tydfil, the former industrial powerhouse in the south Wales valleys. It's more than 30 years since the coal mines and ironworks closed, and unlike their forefathers, who had jobs for life, the younger generation live in a town with few opportunities and one of the highest unemployment rates in Wales. This week, 23-year-old Ash goes for his first job interview in four years, while mother-of-seven Hayley redecorates with the help of loans
In a town famous for its boxing, locals in Merthyr Tydfil gather for the annual Battle of the Martyrs charity event. Rachel is one of this year's contestants and a fighter in more ways than one. She talks about her battle with addiction and her focus on getting clean and going to university. Rob has recently come out of prison, and with his teenage girlfriend Leanne about to have a baby, he's determined to find work. There's also Jaki, who has to rely on food banks when she loses her job looking after public toilets
The final programme tells the stories of some of Merthyr Tydfil's most deprived young people, who don't have a place to call their own. Si and Nicola have a tent they pitch in the hills and they skip-dive for food, and Simon sofa-surfs at his brother's bedsit while trying to hold down a zero-hours contract at a factory. Chrissy alternates between sleeping on the floor and on top of a washing machine in a shed.