‘Poor Kids’
June 8, 2011
Anyone watching ‘Poor Kids’ on BBC 1 would have got their eyes open to what it is like for a child to grow up below the poverty line in Britain today.
The Programme followed the journeys of 4 small children living in poverty, and showed how families on benefit struggle to meet the most basic needs of their children.
My heart went out to all of the children featured in the Programme, especially 8 year old Courtney. Little Miss Courtney spoke well beyond her years when she described what life was like for her - not having enough food and having to skip meals; not having toys to play with, not being able to go swimming – in fact all the things many other children take for granted. But what I found most shocking from watching the Programme was the state of Courtney’s health and her general appearance, not to mention the conditions she and her family were forced to live in. I don’t think any child in this day and age should have to experience that level of hardship – and yet 3.5 million do.
I hate to say it but in the absence of any renewed efforts to help and support families like Courtney’s the future for many of these children looks bleak.
‘Poor Kids’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vnls
I watched it and flet for all the cjildren featured. I have two children aged 9 and 7 and i will sit down and watch it again with them so they understand how lucky they are.
What i found most striking was the difference in mentality of British people in poverty compared with even poorer people who live in the slums. I find the British attitude to be very negative and helpless whereas the slum occupiers always value education and believe they can find a way out of their situation. The slum dwellers keep their homes tidy and still have pride in their apperance whereas i found that lacking in the Panarama programme i viewed lsat night.
Where have these different attitudes come from and how can we help kids and adults in Britian believe in themselves and feel worthy?
Hi Jo
Thank you for your comment. I think I will follow your example and make my kids watch it as well because I think it is important they know how other children get by on a day to day basis.
It is hard to say why people have different attitudes and perceptions on poverty in Britain, if at all they do, and it is hard to come up with a way to convince struggling families that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The UK is the 7th richest nation in the world and yet if you were to watch last nights programme you would be hard pushed to believe it.