Growing up Poor: Britain's Hidden Homeless Kids
Duration: 1 x 46'
Play Trailer Play Screener Contact SalesNarrated by Sheridan Smith OBE actress and singer and directed by BAFTA-winning director Jezza Neumann, this heartfelt film looks at children growing up and struggling with poverty, homelessness and overcrowding.
Spending time with three boys, from the same school, the programmes explores how their families lives have been impacted by a perfect storm of reduced benefits and spiralling costs of living, leaving them as some of Britain’s most vulnerable children.
Kai, Qasim and Yaqub, attend the same school on the edge of Luton. During the pandemic the partial closure of the airport – the biggest source of jobs in the area – hit the town hard. Schools across Luton found families were struggling more than ever.
Kai shares an over-crowded two bedroom house with five others: his mum, step dad, sister and two brothers.
Kai’s mother is bidding for a bigger council house but has been on the waiting list for eight years. Even though his mum has a full-time job as a care
co-ordinator, after paying for housing, utilities, transport and debt repayments, Kai’s family are left with barely enough money to live.
Kai’s family would struggle without the help they get from the school.
The lack of sleep and constant worries over eviction have taken their toll on Qasim’s education too.
Qasim lives in temporary accommodation with his three brothers, two sisters and their dad, Faahid.
As a single dad of six children including twins not yet in school Faahid can’t go back to work, so they live on support. After bills, Qasim’s family are left with barely anything, the equivalent of two high street coffees, and for this they need to buy food, clothing and anything else they need.
Qasim’s 13-year-old sister Naila isn’t only worried about the bills. The family were evicted from their last house with just a week’s notice from their private landlord. She’s haunted by the fear that the same could happen again.
While the end of the school year is welcomed by the kids, for their parents it means 6 weeks of no free school meals… for Kai, Qasim and Yaqub the Farley Junior Academy pastoral care team ensure they receive food and support over the summer holidays.
For Channel 4
Also in this genre
Stacey's Lockdown Heroes
The Beckhams' Billions: How Did They Get So Rich?
Life On The Psych Ward
School of Hard Tricks
Stacey Dooley: The Young And Homeless
Fake Homeless: Who's Begging On The Streets?
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Spy Cam Sex Criminals
The Titan Sub Disaster: Minute by Minute
Ross Kemp: On the NHS Frontline
Poundland: How Do They Really Do It?
Doom Scroll: Andrew Tate & The Dark Side of the Internet
Kashmir's Torture Trail
Hannah Spearritt: Me & Breast Implants
Retreat: Meditations From A Monastery
Jasmine Harman’s Renovation in the Sun
How To Be A Young Billionaire
Prison, My Parents And Me
Paul O'Grady's Little Heroes
Bring Back the Bush: Where Did Our Pubic Hair Go?
National Trust: My Historic Home
Inside the Bruderhof
Sheridan Smith: Becoming Mum
Living with the Boss - Format
Growing Up Poor: Britain's Breadline Kids
Stacey Dooley: Face to Face with The Bounty Hunters
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Mums Selling Their Kids For Sex
Our Soldiers: Return To Civvy Street
Heal Me In The Name Of Jesus
Face The Consequences - Format
The Knowledge: The World’s Toughest Taxi Test
Britain's Child Drug Runners
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Sex In Strange Places
Britain's America's Cup Challenge 4K
Prisoners' Wives: Visiting Hours
Born On The Breadline
Deliveroo: How Do They Really Do It?
Prince Andrew and Scandal in the Royal House of York
Living With My Supersized Pets
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Kids Selling Drugs Online
Michael Palin In North Korea
School of Hard Tricks - Format
Stacey Dooley: On The Psych Ward
Stacey and the Lockdown Babies
Dr Xand's Con or Cure - Format
The World’s Worst Place To Be Disabled?
The Beckham Feud - Truth & Lies
Historic Homes at Christmas
Stacey Dooley Investigates: Gypsy Kids In Crisis
Britain’s Refugee Children
Farther And Sun, A Dyslexic Road Trip
of
Format Info
Growing up Poor: Britain's Hidden Homeless Kids
Narrated by Sheridan Smith OBE and directed by BAFTA-winning director Jezza Neumann, this heartfelt film looks at children growing up and struggling with poverty, homelessness and overcrowding.
Series Duration: 1 x 46'
Resolution: HD
Genres: Human Interest