The Guardian has been working with a group of community reporters in Rochdale who turned the lens on a broken benefits system which they had seen first hand unfairly penalising vulnerable people in their community. The team of reporters met friends, family and others in the community trying to navigate the system while also trying to advocate for change in greater Manchester and across the country. This film was made as part of a collaborative video series called Made in Britain.
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#MadeInBritain #UK #Benefits #Welfare #Politics #News
You in Sunny rdale although it’s not it’s not so sunny at the Minute the idea that we have is around like looking at the benefit system they have your life in their hands basically one wrong move and they can just go B knowledge of the area and we know a lot of people in the area we’ve got a lot of
Links we can get to certain places can’t we we can figure out what’s going on what you think of the benefit system is it helped you it has done but it’s also helped to ruin me I think we need to find people that are actually going through something with the benefit
System now we need to go to them places where the people that are being impacted by this stuff are always pick on me first so look let’s just go let’s talk to him let’s let’s find Out has anyone heard this June this June yeah when you get to the door most of the time when we hear that tune it’s when we’re on hold and we actually feel like the DWP and the uh the system as it set up right now is putting people’s
Lives on hold the DWP stands for the Department for work and pensions it causes a lot of misery for people in our community so I’m pad I work for a project called the elephants Trail and we try and use our lived experience of things like addiction mental health
Domestic violence and stuff like that to change the system I’ve been for dition and homelessness in a matter of fact I used to beg wearing stores for money so I could eat take drugs get drunk whatever I want to change the system cuz it isn’t the system it’s how it’s run
We’re trying to engage the public like you know we’re trying to tell them about some of the stuff that we saw that’s wrong with the DWP you think it’s pretty shocking the way that they treating people I went to the job center a few months back you go in there like
Thoughtful and you come out there depressed and mental more traumas don’t you then you actually you go out with more traumas actually than you’re actually going into the building we’ve been Gathering people’s messages and what they want to say to the DWP cuz we want we want to deliver a message to
Him expecting people with young children to work all hours with no child care being sanctioned if you don’t keep a job due to this is Harsh it’s a joke see what people are saying as well get their stories cuz the more vices that we can gather the more it adds to it do
It it’s not just people out of work who struggle with the welfare system how you doing Pete you all right I’m all right I went to meet my mate Pete who was bouncing between benefits and precarious employment not what we’re talking about have you been struggling to make ‘s meat
Pete yeah Big Tab just have just I mean I I try but it’s just not working it’s just hard at the moment it’s been it’s been a tough tough year in what way just like surviving and gas electric the gas is going around like the clappers it’s
Just it’s just not going would you like a brew P I’d love a brew Peete that would be absolutely amazing I’m trying my best to get a job honestly trying my best I’ve never robbed in my life but I know a lot of people want rubbing um
Through through the cat survive bu is like 550 now the behind the c you sorry behind the c behind the is get nck boy me sleeping pattern is kned what cuz the gas and electric no just like surviving and just want to get a job and it’s it’s just not
Happening what kind of jobs are you looking for well I just want a chance I’m good I’m very confident I’m not shy I’m an our worker I don’t let people down I always turn up so I just need someone to give me a chance at Something it was a Saturday so we went down to a food pantry in the local library for some lunch as well as cheap dinners they also run a food bank this started five six years ago and we provide food where we can at cost price and we’ build up a community
Around us and people are doing things in the community by chance we bumped into a familiar face how come you in NES well I’m struggling H what cuz I’m homeless at the minute I struggle with um getting food and stuff like that so this is like brilliant oh nice one mate thanks for
Sharting No She Lovely this is a form that we ask people to fill out and we chose Saturday for the people that work cuz people who are working are also struggling as well but with the food banks being during the week they can’t actually make it my sister had recently had her
Benefits caught while she was in a psychiatric unit is it on while she was there the DWP had assessed there is having no mental health problems we’re making this film since it’s about the DWP you know I can sanctions and things like that you’ve been going through a
Bit with them aren you terrible time they done a review a year early with no reason and they took me off everything so I’m on hardly any money at all it’s like I’m a slave to the system and I’m running around trying to get food and pay bills and it’s just no
Good I’m left with hardly anything to live on so this like I said this has been a gend there are pantries like this across our community trying to support people the system fails this is Win she’s raised prob two grand or more while people at work are using food
Banks to survive people like Pete want meaningful employment but can’t find it and vulnerable people like my sister are having their benefits cut when they need them most I wanted to go and visit a group in Ashton who had a campaign about the injustices in the benefit system I say it’s very Treet
Walk anyway so what we’re going to do is experiment with one of these scenes uh that we’re doing to show the system as it currently is he was going to listen to us we try tell people about our Liv and then everyone not like they agree but nothing ever changes they were using
Theat based on their own experiences to push for systems change it would help a lot of people with mental health if they could just survive with just a little bit more wealth hey [Applause] this campaign what we’re doing all get our voice heard and know for summer we
Change as well as the campaign the group were also running boxing classes for people in the community they invited me along and Nick told me he’d just been sanctioned for his campaigning what they saying can’t fing because you’re not actively looking for work so you rather got a be actively
Looking for work yeah all if you want a volunteer you’ve got to land in a signal yeah so you don’t have to look for work you could a volunteer and you s menia you’ve been out of work for a bit it’s hard to jump straight into a job I mean
Is so people volunteer to build themselves back up to get into work hly when you get sanctioned yeah you have 2 68 in your account that’s a fortnite when you get sanctioned 268 that’s a cost as much of the tin of beans out these days I don’t want my
Daughter around what I was around you I mean I got around drugs on my life alcohol on my life but I just want my doctor just have a normal life it’s degrading me it’s so destroying man not me 10 seconds f as you can come on how you think other people have been
Benefiting from like s the things that have helped you it’s not just the boxing I do I’ve set up my own Community Center in Ashton and I’ve R workshops it really helps me because we’ve all got similar stories and we’re all in recovery big part of my recovery is giv back to the
Community I get satisfaction from seeing other people do well he’s heartbreaking really cuz he’s talking about the shame and the humiliation of it you know for wanting to be a good father yet feeling like he can’t provide he’s actually putting himself in a better position he’s like he’s helping
Others and he’s helping himself and that kind of stuff should be being celebrated he shouldn’t be being punished for it you should be trying to encourage it not discourage it the whole thing seems counterproductive to me back in bar I get a call from Pete who tells me he’s got a job
Pete we got you say um You’ got to work you’ve got to work no matter what it is so I don’t like working for ages be truthful because they give you one day two days and all that and it’s not going but they told me it’s ongoing work so we’ll
See is it a Lun we get in the bus yeah lot we get in the bus we got this one get this one yeah the anti G in this right this is your an G yeah a job’s a job is it g need to get a job can’t on that Universal qu any
Longer shocking yeah get off here there’s a gaze there oh my God how that go all right go take care see youe I could see the Gratitude on him and how desperate he was to make it work and how he didn’t want to get laid off
It’s going to have to cycle here every day you know like he do have the luxury of getting buses and stuff I’m still hoping that today goes well and it doesn’t knock his confidence and uh you know and that they take good care of him in other positive news my sister has
Been given a flat by the council but she’s still fighting to get her benefits back got to POS this today what it what’s it you want me to read it you quickly K is a 43y old female who has a diagnosis of schizo affective disorder bipolar effective disorder and
Functional neurological disorder so it’s just stating that I have got my conditions and how do you feel about the fact that we said that you don’t have Angry Angry Angry because and shocked cuz at the end of the day I spent 20 4 years in the system mostly mostly sectioned if I’m being
Honest on and off sectioned on my life and for them to turn around and say look there’s nothing wrong with you it’s like say my whole life it’s been a lie it’s a nice arey is it yeah it’s really nice I’ve landed with this flight it’s a nice
Flight this is the intercom to let people in and out okay at the you know at the bottom door it’s just finding the money to get it all done cuz I’ve got no nothing I’ve got no furniture so does it feel like a fresh start it’s got to be a
Fresh start and it feels like one yeah it does key I’ve got it it’s nice out here is it have you seen the garden there’s a bird feeder There this story has obviously taken on a personal element for me it’s really difficult to see my sister struggling against a system that is meant to help her lately I’ve been thinking about maybe becoming like drugs counselor or something yeah yeah but using that lived experience yeah to help people get off
It cuz I think I would be good at that I know for a fact you’d be good at it I believe in thank you when you give people encouragement not coercion they have more of a chance to Succeed soon after I get a call from Pete who tells me he’s lost his job unfortunately due to low requirement shift has been canceled please do not attend work today I set off I’ve made it for work and they just say no work that’s it you just going on and said it
The last 3 days now you’re trying to get on your feet and it’s just knocking you down the H again you’re trying your best you’re getting up for work and then you just get phone card like that I hope you’re not feeling too blue Peete I’m feeling a bit down
We’ve seen by making this film that the benefit system is just not doing what it’s supposed to communities need to be empowered to flourish and this can’t happen when they are being penalized I think it’s important that we’re telling them stories because we live in the communities we’re seeing it dayto day
The system can be intimidating but we’re going to keep making films about the things that most affect our communities do it again definitely definitely definitely that’s a w I think the messages are there for the government no h no security then you get laid off they’re going to be putting
People in jail just because they’re trying to feed themselves and feed the families what do you think it is any guesses going around in circles it’s a revolving go away we should have prizes for that cuz it was it was a bit crew
40 Comments
Britain's broken welfare system is leaving our community on the brink. 14.3.24. Erm….stop ripping off the system or the people utilizing it. the personnel are just as fadeless as the claimants…
So, you're blaming the system and society for YOUR actions and self indulged issues. There's a real disconnect there and it starts with YOU!! Stop relying on a government bureaucracy.
The Elephant's Trail are community reporters based in Rochdale, working on a series of collaborative videos with the Guardian. Their first film was on the constituency's 2024 by-election: https://youtu.be/h4vYG1gPPgg
The US system is a mess. You move one inch to try to become independent the best one can, especially if you’re disabled, one can only make so little, otherwise you’ll lose needed benefits. And, once you are eager to live above the poverty line, you’re no longer seen as disabled. Many disabled can and want to find something they are capable of doing. Now, we people who are falling far behind are starting to find themselves homeless. Housing is basically non-existent; no counsel housing. 8-12 year waits to get to the top of a housing list. And, that’s expensive for anyone of a fixed budget.
It's almost like over a decade of austerity & privatization was a terrible idea. Who knew.
Universal basic income now. The state should celebrate volunteers, value unpaid carers.
Absolutely amazing tells emotional stories and how hard life is getting really enjoyed making this and meeting new people we will change the 1 step at a time❤
this stuff has been going on for decades and not nuch has been changed for the better. the countries economy was declining and there simply was never a chance for everyone to find fair employment. some people are always left out and get told that its theyre own fault while cutting them off from support or pushing them towards directions they dont want to go. this system is picking on the weakest.
As an American, these accents are wild
Really great stuff – between this and Anywhere But Westminster, you guys are doing awesome work bringing light to what most of the journos in Westminster don’t bother with
This is more about mental health than anything else. We need to support people to have lives. Making mental health affected people work in mainstream jobs is like them being made to go through mainstream schooling and expecting success.
I work in disability support as supervisor and it is incredible how people flourish when given the right support and understanding.
This is preposterous! As if austerity never brought anything good! The millions in the pockets of the wealthiest are testament to the wisdom of Tory rule. Look at our PM, I am so proud he almost is a billionaire now! We should praise poverty of the many, widespread inequality and extreme wealth of the few. I am proud of Britain. I blame the refugees for the few minor ills in our society.
Learning about this system is devastating but those in this video battling it to succeed are inspiring. I can't think of anywhere else that you can get this sort of insight. More of this please @The Guardian. Well done all involved.
Yeah I'm not going to shed any tears here. They get more then enough help.
I'm on benefits JSA and pip the problem is that it helps you but holds you back as well
So brexit fixed it right?
And the neo-Fascist junta are just laughing all the way to the bank 🤮💩💩 #makefascismhistory
Keir Starmer approves
Sow seeds!!!😢😢😢
It's like people in the UK (and here in the US) we suddenly find that we're living in an English-language version of the old Soviet Union.
When I was in UK. I saw empty boarded up streets under a constant grey sky, litter everywhere.
Homeless people sleeping in doorways. A women with cat whiskers makeup casually walking into Tesco with her pajamas. Opioid addicts out of their mind and women so drunk they urinated on the streets.
It's a sad declined country.
…honest question…are these accents easy to understanding in the UK? I know that they're speaking English, but I find it hard to follow at times …it's like the movie Snatch
DWP no use to man or dog.
We need an actual real living wage, and to properly tax the millionaires and billionaires!!
I really hope the tories who voted for this come to use the system they created.
Well done my good friend Paddy 👏 much love ❤️ and respect 🙏 going out to you mate 👍🏻 keep it up my friend, God Bless you and all around you 👍🏻
Dwp saved my life from destitution multiple times
Capitalism requires haves and have nots. It needs desperate people, poor people, people in poverty. It needs inequality so people are forced to work jobs they hate. This entire system doesn't work.
What was the reason Pete lost his job? I'm gutted for him 😢
Wow maybe the DWP can tell all sorts of people on NHS waiting lists that they’re not suffering. Waiting list problem solved!
Welcome to America- oh wait !
Why not take out a bank loan and do a degree?
I know you might spend most of your working life repaying the money back to the financial institution, but, at least, you might find some white-collar work.
Additional advice=> Learn how to write codes using Python or any other data sciences Language.
That sort of computing/coding skillset is in great demand these days, and, once you learn machine learning, data visualization, predictive analytics, etc. you won't go hungry.
Wish you the best of luck!
I see people go through treatment like this, with my own eyes.
Bureaucracy gone seriously wrong.
The most horrible part is that that horror, maladministrated, bureaucracy is itself eating up funds allocated for helping people.
Thank you Guardian. This is independent journalism at it's noblest.
Money taken from the poorest and most politically isolated in order to pay off the government debts. Debts created by asset flogging to the wealthy 1%. Tax the rich til they f*cking squeal.
In the face of continuing dehumanization, the individuals we meet in the video are doing everything they can to re-humanize themselves and their communities. No matter what the politicians and managers say, it starts with humans and ends with humans, and dehumanizing the system is a lose-lose situation that, at best, gets you some quick results but never works out in the long run.
Perhaps it works out for their careers, though, I do suppose.
Welcome to Tory land
4:56 no money and a smoker?
but dont worry you government is working on a new tax cut and help programmers for the rich and capital companies and they will save you and your country by getting you a higher bill
These people just need to work a bit harder
shes left with hardly anything to live on…. whilst smoking a cig. she cant afford food BUT she finds money for smokes??? cant put the gas on BUT she finds money for smokes??? why should taxpayers contribuate to people like that when they spend the little money they already get on smokes???????????