Banking on Benefits

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05'I've got a gentlemen I'd like to refer for a food parcel.'

0:00:05 > 0:00:10There are 45 food banks in Wales, and three more are about to open.

0:00:10 > 0:00:13I've no money since I've finished work.

0:00:13 > 0:00:14And it's just a pain in the arse.

0:00:16 > 0:00:22Last year, they distributed over 80,000 food parcels across Wales.

0:00:22 > 0:00:27- Cereal, spaghetti, soup... Can you manage?- Yeah.

0:00:29 > 0:00:32At least 4,000 of those were given out in Rhyl.

0:00:33 > 0:00:35Milk, good, I like milk.

0:00:35 > 0:00:38Thanks to you guys you've saved us, really. We would be starved, really.

0:00:38 > 0:00:40Do you know what I mean? Thanks to you guys.

0:00:40 > 0:00:43We are going to pray for the team that are distributing

0:00:43 > 0:00:46the food for the King's Store House.

0:00:46 > 0:00:49Oh, have I got the right number for Dean?

0:00:49 > 0:00:51Have a look at the flats, they've got damp walls

0:00:51 > 0:00:55and mushrooms growing on them, water leaking in...

0:00:55 > 0:00:58If they've had their benefits suspended or sanctioned,

0:00:58 > 0:01:02then we are ready to get involved.

0:01:11 > 0:01:16A basic safety net that was there to guarantee that people

0:01:16 > 0:01:20would not be left in hunger or in destitution

0:01:20 > 0:01:22has actually been torn apart.

0:01:22 > 0:01:24Welfare reform is fundamentally,

0:01:24 > 0:01:29and it must fundamentally be about opportunity and life change.

0:01:32 > 0:01:34Their mental health is certainly suffering

0:01:34 > 0:01:38because they're more stressed about being sanctioned than anything else.

0:01:38 > 0:01:41More than a quarter of Rhyl's working age population

0:01:41 > 0:01:44claims out of work benefits.

0:01:44 > 0:01:48In one neighbourhood, Rhyl West, it's as high as 67%.

0:01:52 > 0:01:54It wasn't always like this.

0:01:54 > 0:01:56Rhyl was a proud town.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59A leading UK tourist attraction.

0:01:59 > 0:02:03It employed thousands in hotels, arcades, and funfairs.

0:02:03 > 0:02:05It's all gone.

0:02:06 > 0:02:09Rhyl Pier is demolished.

0:02:10 > 0:02:13Ocean Beach Amusement Park, closed.

0:02:15 > 0:02:19Plans to build a retail and leisure complex, postponed.

0:02:21 > 0:02:2518 hotels on Rhyl West Parade, shut.

0:02:27 > 0:02:31A large share of this accommodation has been bought up

0:02:31 > 0:02:35by private landlords and converted into houses in multiple occupation.

0:02:37 > 0:02:40This is typically cheap and very poor quality.

0:02:42 > 0:02:45Houses like these are only attractive to those

0:02:45 > 0:02:49on very low incomes, dependent on welfare.

0:02:49 > 0:02:55We've got a piece of bread, a bit of cheese, little piece of ham.

0:02:56 > 0:02:59And for those who are dependent on benefits,

0:02:59 > 0:03:02the food bank is how they survive.

0:03:02 > 0:03:07We fed a couple who had worked all their lives, both of them.

0:03:07 > 0:03:11And they had both been made redundant at the same time.

0:03:11 > 0:03:15If they've had their benefits suspended or sanctioned

0:03:15 > 0:03:19then we are ready to get involved.

0:03:23 > 0:03:27Sarah and Dave Jones run the King's Store Food Bank in Rhyl.

0:03:27 > 0:03:29They do it in their spare time.

0:03:29 > 0:03:34She is a company director, and he's a mental health support worker.

0:03:34 > 0:03:37Unlike other food bank volunteers,

0:03:37 > 0:03:40instead of expecting people to come to a central pick up,

0:03:40 > 0:03:42they take the food to the people.

0:03:44 > 0:03:46- Somebody called Anne Powys?- Yeah. - That's me.

0:03:46 > 0:03:50I've had no money since I finished work,

0:03:50 > 0:03:52and it's just a pain in the arse.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55'Anne has worked as a cleaner at Pontins Holiday Park

0:03:55 > 0:03:57'for the past seven years.

0:03:57 > 0:04:00'It's seasonal work.

0:04:00 > 0:04:03'In the past, during the period she's not working,

0:04:03 > 0:04:05'Anne's been able to claim benefits.

0:04:05 > 0:04:09'Not this year. They've been stopped.'

0:04:09 > 0:04:12I've been signed on since 18th of November

0:04:12 > 0:04:16and I've had no money or nothing. I got no electric, no gas, nothing.

0:04:16 > 0:04:20- Nothing at all?- Nope.- So you have got no electric or gas now?

0:04:20 > 0:04:22- Nope.- So how are you going to cook this food?

0:04:22 > 0:04:25A friend of mine, just lives in a block here.

0:04:25 > 0:04:28If I need anything cooked, I just go round his to cook it,

0:04:28 > 0:04:31because he's a friend of mine, so he lets me cook it round his.

0:04:31 > 0:04:33So he's a good fellow, isn't he?

0:04:33 > 0:04:34Anne's been refused benefits

0:04:34 > 0:04:39because she worked too many hours in her seasonal job last year.

0:04:39 > 0:04:43- That is the most saddest thing I've ever seen in my life.- What?

0:04:43 > 0:04:47- Her crying like that.- And she works. She pays her taxes.

0:04:47 > 0:04:52That is so... How can you... It's so heartbreaking, isn't it?

0:04:54 > 0:04:58You don't know what to say, do you? That is... Oh, I don't know.

0:05:00 > 0:05:04'Her loss of benefits has left Anne dependent on food banks.'

0:05:07 > 0:05:11Dog food, milk...good, I like milk.

0:05:11 > 0:05:13And pasta as well.

0:05:13 > 0:05:15Is it all stuff that you can eat?

0:05:15 > 0:05:17Yeah, plenty.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19Yeah, because I can make meals out of most of these.

0:05:19 > 0:05:22I'm quite a good cook as well, see?

0:05:26 > 0:05:29- Thanks very much.- OK, see you again.

0:05:29 > 0:05:32- Yeah, see you again. - Don't forget you've got our number.

0:05:37 > 0:05:40# Holy, holy, holy

0:05:40 > 0:05:45# The smile of God almighty, you are the... #

0:05:45 > 0:05:49The food bank is run out of an evangelical church in Rhyl.

0:05:50 > 0:05:53About 18/19 months, when we started

0:05:53 > 0:05:56the King's Storehouse Food Bank...

0:05:57 > 0:06:01..I remember saying to Sarah, well, look, let's keep it small

0:06:01 > 0:06:04and lets grow with it.

0:06:04 > 0:06:07And, um, it ended up with,

0:06:07 > 0:06:11I think they call it a Facebook page, whatever that is.

0:06:11 > 0:06:15And we're just experiencing the goodness of people

0:06:15 > 0:06:17and the blessing of God.

0:06:17 > 0:06:21Apart from the generosity of Mike's congregation,

0:06:21 > 0:06:24it's the local people that donate the food.

0:06:26 > 0:06:31# And I will adore you. #

0:06:32 > 0:06:33You won't believe it,

0:06:33 > 0:06:37we could run out of food like we ran out of eggs last week.

0:06:37 > 0:06:41And just out the blue a lady knocked on the door to say

0:06:41 > 0:06:43that her chickens had gone bananas all weekend,

0:06:43 > 0:06:45and she brought us 30 eggs.

0:06:45 > 0:06:47So, no, we never run out.

0:06:49 > 0:06:54The food bank also relies heavily on food bins placed around the town.

0:06:54 > 0:06:56Might as well carry it to the car, yeah?

0:06:58 > 0:06:59There we are.

0:07:04 > 0:07:07What we've got to be careful of when we get these donations

0:07:07 > 0:07:09is the dates on the tin, really.

0:07:12 > 0:07:14There you are. That's something disgusting, isn't it?

0:07:14 > 0:07:17Somebody has thrown their chewing gum in there.

0:07:17 > 0:07:19- Not going to be donating that to the food bank.- No.

0:07:22 > 0:07:25Donations come from all local sources

0:07:25 > 0:07:27and nothing is refused.

0:07:27 > 0:07:30Even mince pies in March.

0:07:35 > 0:07:37Thank you, wonderful.

0:07:37 > 0:07:39There's three boxes for you.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42Amazing. I'll have to take the trolley out.

0:07:42 > 0:07:45And there'll be some more, so I'll get in touch with you next time.

0:07:45 > 0:07:48Thank you, you've got Sarah's number, haven't you?

0:07:48 > 0:07:50How many mince pies has he got there, then?

0:07:50 > 0:07:53There's 120 in each box.

0:07:53 > 0:07:55Wow, 360 mince pies.

0:08:00 > 0:08:02And while Mike stocks up,

0:08:02 > 0:08:04Dave and Sarah are out distributing.

0:08:05 > 0:08:08This is some people we have met.

0:08:08 > 0:08:12She's severely diabetic so she collapsed, basically,

0:08:12 > 0:08:14because she hadn't been eating.

0:08:14 > 0:08:18So we were able to help her with her food situation.

0:08:19 > 0:08:22The couple are embarrassed about their living conditions,

0:08:22 > 0:08:24and have asked not to be filmed.

0:08:26 > 0:08:28It's emergency accommodation

0:08:28 > 0:08:32but they're still paying £100 a week for this kind of thing.

0:08:32 > 0:08:35She has to... If you have a look at the towels on here,

0:08:35 > 0:08:37they are absolutely soaking wet.

0:08:37 > 0:08:40If you felt them yourself, they're soaked.

0:08:40 > 0:08:43Water is running in and she has to mop all this every morning.

0:08:46 > 0:08:49Now, he works full-time

0:08:49 > 0:08:51and she's in college,

0:08:51 > 0:08:53so, you know, they are not benefit scroungers

0:08:53 > 0:08:57or anything like that, like people would probably say to me.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00He actually does a full-time job.

0:09:00 > 0:09:04The call originally came from the benefits advice shop,

0:09:04 > 0:09:06and the chap that rang us, to be fair,

0:09:06 > 0:09:10he was quite upset because she was seriously ill.

0:09:12 > 0:09:15The next referral comes via the local MP.

0:09:17 > 0:09:21I'm close to tears, somebody needs to come and see this.

0:09:23 > 0:09:27This place is not fit for a squatter.

0:09:27 > 0:09:29You need to come and see it.

0:09:29 > 0:09:34I'm choked. I'm trying not to cry to show myself up here.

0:09:39 > 0:09:42I'm ringing you by a window because he's got no electric.

0:09:42 > 0:09:44He can't afford to put the electric on

0:09:44 > 0:09:46and it's absolutely black in here.

0:09:48 > 0:09:53I can understand now, when he told me last night he wants to go

0:09:53 > 0:09:55in a tent with his dog

0:09:55 > 0:09:58because the tent is more palatial than this place.

0:10:00 > 0:10:03One part of Damien's benefits has just been stopped

0:10:03 > 0:10:06because he hasn't convinced the authorities

0:10:06 > 0:10:09he's actively looking for work.

0:10:09 > 0:10:13Apart from his housing benefit, he has nothing else to live on.

0:10:13 > 0:10:15I've already worked out that if I end up on the streets

0:10:15 > 0:10:19I'd be £90 a fortnight better off.

0:10:19 > 0:10:22And, it's obvious, a lot safer, as well.

0:10:22 > 0:10:25And there's not the damp I have to worry about,

0:10:25 > 0:10:27there's not the break-ins I have to worry about.

0:10:27 > 0:10:28I'm £90 better off, as well.

0:10:31 > 0:10:33How much are you paying for this place now?

0:10:33 > 0:10:34£80 a week.

0:10:36 > 0:10:39That's not including, like, £40 a week electric.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43And how much a week do you get in total?

0:10:43 > 0:10:47I get £71-something off the Jobseeker's Allowance a week.

0:10:49 > 0:10:51Yeah, that's nearly the whole money gone.

0:10:53 > 0:10:54How do you live, Damien?

0:10:56 > 0:10:57I don't really, I just survive.

0:11:06 > 0:11:09Oh... How do you explain people on benefits?

0:11:09 > 0:11:12I think it's... I just see it's probably in two categories.

0:11:12 > 0:11:16You've got those who deserve to be on benefits and have no other way.

0:11:16 > 0:11:19There's those who choose to be on benefits.

0:11:19 > 0:11:22Sadly, we have people who are so bone idle

0:11:22 > 0:11:25that they not interested in getting a job,

0:11:25 > 0:11:29so I agree with the government where we've got to stop

0:11:29 > 0:11:33this massive amount of money that we pay out on benefits.

0:11:33 > 0:11:37However, by just stopping the benefits,

0:11:37 > 0:11:39it hits those who are genuinely being hurt.

0:11:43 > 0:11:46- All right, so you left him in there? - Yeah.

0:11:46 > 0:11:50You discussed everything except food in there. Has he got any food?

0:11:50 > 0:11:51He can't afford to cook it.

0:11:51 > 0:11:55That's... I'm going to come back I think with some bread,

0:11:55 > 0:11:59cereal, milk, and tinned ham.

0:11:59 > 0:12:03Because, like he said, his electricity is £20 a unit,

0:12:03 > 0:12:06erm, 20p a unit,

0:12:06 > 0:12:09and to cook £1 Fray Bentos pie

0:12:09 > 0:12:11it takes £3 out of his meter.

0:12:13 > 0:12:16He's got no gas cooker but he quite obviously said

0:12:16 > 0:12:18he couldn't afford gas, really.

0:12:18 > 0:12:20Cos he's just such on a tight budget.

0:12:22 > 0:12:27We try to find out whether they are truly in need of benefits.

0:12:27 > 0:12:31We had one guy who phoned me and I asked him about his benefits

0:12:31 > 0:12:33and he was getting...

0:12:33 > 0:12:38I think it was £200 or £300 a week and he told me that.

0:12:38 > 0:12:40So I said, "Where is your money?"

0:12:40 > 0:12:43And he had bought a hi-fi for his car.

0:12:43 > 0:12:45And I sort of laughed in disbelief and said,

0:12:45 > 0:12:48"Look, you spend that money on a hi-fi,

0:12:48 > 0:12:50"we're not here just to pay your food bill

0:12:50 > 0:12:53"because you think a hi-fi is your main priority."

0:12:53 > 0:12:55So we refuse to help.

0:12:55 > 0:12:59Our responsibility is to try to meet people's needs,

0:12:59 > 0:13:03not to encourage them to rely on us

0:13:03 > 0:13:06or not to encourage them to develop bad spending habits.

0:13:11 > 0:13:14Better make sure the car's locked.

0:13:14 > 0:13:17It's a bit of a dodgy area, we don't want all our food stolen.

0:13:19 > 0:13:22Sarah's back at Damien's house.

0:13:25 > 0:13:28THEY MURMUR

0:13:35 > 0:13:39You've got bread...

0:13:39 > 0:13:42beef slices...

0:13:42 > 0:13:44stuff you can cook... stuff you can eat

0:13:44 > 0:13:46without needing a cooker, basically.

0:13:49 > 0:13:52Obviously, you can't boil the kettle for your soups

0:13:52 > 0:13:54but will you get some electric at some point?

0:13:54 > 0:13:57Don't know how much electric I'll get, probably about a tenner.

0:13:57 > 0:14:00That'll last me about two days.

0:14:00 > 0:14:01Costs about £5 a day.

0:14:02 > 0:14:05And how do you get the electric in here? Is it on a card meter?

0:14:05 > 0:14:07Yeah, I buy them straight off the landlord,

0:14:07 > 0:14:11but the landlord leaves some electric cards with the woman next door

0:14:11 > 0:14:14so I can buy them off her if it's too late or if he's not around.

0:14:14 > 0:14:17And has she got any electric cards now?

0:14:17 > 0:14:20- She should have, yeah. - I can't leave him like this.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23Well, go and get some, yeah, we best get you some electric, then.

0:14:23 > 0:14:25Is she in now?

0:14:26 > 0:14:30- Possibly.- Could she sell me £10 worth of electric?

0:14:35 > 0:14:40Damien is just one of 41,000 benefit sanctions

0:14:40 > 0:14:43which took place in Wales last year.

0:14:43 > 0:14:45Another person affected is Anne.

0:14:47 > 0:14:53- You actually needed help immediately from the food bank?- Yeah.

0:14:53 > 0:14:55Having lived on nothing for three months,

0:14:55 > 0:15:01seasonal worker, Anne, has just been given an emergency payment.

0:15:01 > 0:15:03When you came in that day

0:15:03 > 0:15:08- you were really emotionally very bad, weren't you?- Yep.

0:15:08 > 0:15:12And I felt very concerned for your safety at that point.

0:15:12 > 0:15:16So, we discussed going to the doctors on an emergency appointment

0:15:16 > 0:15:18- and you agreed, didn't you?- Yep.

0:15:18 > 0:15:21So you went to the doctors, you got a fit note, came back,

0:15:21 > 0:15:23and we did an immediate claim

0:15:23 > 0:15:26- for employment and support allowance.- Yeah.

0:15:26 > 0:15:28Even though she's received some help,

0:15:28 > 0:15:31Anne only has £52 in her bank account.

0:15:31 > 0:15:35I try and put a brave face on everything, but...

0:15:35 > 0:15:37I try my best, that's all I can do.

0:15:40 > 0:15:44She's had a breakdown with what she's gone through,

0:15:44 > 0:15:47and it's going to take time... time to get back her equilibrium.

0:15:49 > 0:15:53It's quite worrying that as a holiday area that people

0:15:53 > 0:15:57may not choose to go into the seasonal work any more

0:15:57 > 0:16:00if this is what's going to happen to them.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07The referrals Dave and Sarah deal with change daily.

0:16:09 > 0:16:12- You all right, Cameron?- You all right, mate?- Where do you want it?

0:16:12 > 0:16:13Just on the bed, please.

0:16:15 > 0:16:19What is this a hotel, or a bedsit, or a homeless shelter?

0:16:19 > 0:16:20- Homeless.- Yeah.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23How long have you been here?

0:16:24 > 0:16:26Quite a while now.

0:16:26 > 0:16:30Well, say about four months ago is when I first came here.

0:16:30 > 0:16:33And then they stopped my housing benefits.

0:16:33 > 0:16:36- And then I was in the night shelter after that.- OK.

0:16:36 > 0:16:40So then, after that, they put me back here for the moment.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42Denbighshire has.

0:16:42 > 0:16:44OK, are you...you don't work, no?

0:16:44 > 0:16:47- No.- No, OK, are you looking for work?

0:16:47 > 0:16:50- Not at the moment no. I'm on the sick.- Ah, right, OK.

0:16:53 > 0:16:55How long have you been on the sick?

0:16:57 > 0:17:02- About four or five months.- Oh, yeah?

0:17:02 > 0:17:05What's wrong?

0:17:05 > 0:17:08- Alcohol, it is. I'm alcohol dependent.- Are you?

0:17:09 > 0:17:12You're only young though, aren't you?

0:17:12 > 0:17:15- Rum... Blimey! - How old are you, Cameron?

0:17:15 > 0:17:21- 20.- How many bottles would you go through those a day?

0:17:21 > 0:17:25- About 1.5 of them.- 1.5?- A day?

0:17:25 > 0:17:29We'll always give to alcoholics, and we'll give to drug addicts

0:17:29 > 0:17:31and I learned a big lesson...

0:17:31 > 0:17:34Even though they're spending the money on other stuff?

0:17:34 > 0:17:37Well, I think... I mean, we'd need to look into it,

0:17:37 > 0:17:39but when we first started,

0:17:39 > 0:17:43I was not prepared to give money to drug addicts,

0:17:43 > 0:17:48and I remember having a conversation with a lovely lady in Rhyl

0:17:48 > 0:17:52based at the Dewi Sant Centre, called Ruth.

0:17:52 > 0:17:54And I was talking to Ruth about, you know,

0:17:54 > 0:17:57if we are going to give them food,

0:17:57 > 0:18:01all they are going to do is buy drugs and we end up paying their food bill.

0:18:01 > 0:18:03And she looked at me and she said,

0:18:03 > 0:18:05"Mike let me tell you something,

0:18:05 > 0:18:09"with drug addicts their first responsibility is to buy drugs.

0:18:09 > 0:18:12"What you're doing is keeping them alive,

0:18:12 > 0:18:14"giving somebody a chance to work with them."

0:18:14 > 0:18:18And that really changed the way that I think.

0:18:21 > 0:18:23He's been evicted, if I can help it.

0:18:23 > 0:18:25- Having drug addicts and- BLEEP - there everyday.

0:18:28 > 0:18:29- Put that on your- BLEEP- news.

0:18:34 > 0:18:3955-year-old Stephen is an alcoholic and has next to nothing to eat.

0:18:39 > 0:18:42What have we got in the fridge?

0:18:46 > 0:18:48There's nothing in the fridge.

0:18:48 > 0:18:53He's got... It looks like a piece of bread, bit of cheese,

0:18:53 > 0:18:57little piece of ham, little bit of milk.

0:18:57 > 0:19:01They weren't very happy, was she, when we came in?

0:19:01 > 0:19:03No, she wasn't no.

0:19:03 > 0:19:06She thought it was drug addicts and alcoholics coming round, so...

0:19:06 > 0:19:10No, they're only mates, they're not druggies, no.

0:19:10 > 0:19:14You know, they don't come every day, only when I, you know...

0:19:14 > 0:19:18I do get a bit lonely, but I do have to be careful who I let in, you see?

0:19:18 > 0:19:22- Have you not met your neighbour yet, then?- Yeah, spoke to her.

0:19:22 > 0:19:25- The woman next door. - Oh, on that side?

0:19:25 > 0:19:28- No, this side.- No, I haven't really spoke to that lady.

0:19:28 > 0:19:30Haven't spoke to that lady, then?

0:19:30 > 0:19:32No. I think they've got a couple of babies in there

0:19:32 > 0:19:35but I don't make a noise or anything.

0:19:44 > 0:19:47Well, to be honest, I'm a little bit annoyed

0:19:47 > 0:19:49that we took a food parcel there,

0:19:49 > 0:19:54because, you know, we're feeding people that have got nothing.

0:19:54 > 0:19:58And quite rightly so, he had nothing.

0:19:58 > 0:20:01But until we've got in there and seen

0:20:01 > 0:20:07that he's got three bottles cider on the floor is a shade annoying.

0:20:09 > 0:20:11HE MUMBLES

0:20:14 > 0:20:18Accompanying every food parcel is an invitation

0:20:18 > 0:20:20to attend Pastor Mike's church.

0:20:20 > 0:20:24Not everybody takes it up, but Damien has.

0:20:24 > 0:20:26Welcome, Damien, for the first time.

0:20:26 > 0:20:28So we are going to carry on.

0:20:28 > 0:20:31Mike started last week, doing characters from the Bible.

0:20:31 > 0:20:34So today, I've told everyone, Mike, that it's Jacob,

0:20:34 > 0:20:35so I hope that it is!

0:20:38 > 0:20:42I reckon he had these big wild eyebrows,

0:20:42 > 0:20:47a bit like, who was that politician that had those big eyebrows?

0:20:47 > 0:20:50- Denis Healey?- Denis Healey!

0:20:50 > 0:20:54I don't believe in God, but I don't not believe in God either.

0:20:54 > 0:20:57You see, when it boils down to it, I don't really know what to believe,

0:20:57 > 0:20:58because I've seen so much in my life.

0:21:00 > 0:21:03I think it's safe to say that he's an atheist,

0:21:03 > 0:21:05and, yeah, I love atheists!

0:21:05 > 0:21:07And the thing is God loves atheists,

0:21:07 > 0:21:10and for me it's not particularly important does he believes in God.

0:21:10 > 0:21:12What's more important is that God believes in him.

0:21:12 > 0:21:16God might well believe in him, but the Job Centre doesn't.

0:21:16 > 0:21:21"Dear Mr Jones, a doubt has arisen on your claim for Jobseeker's Allowance,

0:21:21 > 0:21:28"as it appears that from 11 January to the 24th January 2014,

0:21:28 > 0:21:32"you may not have taken sufficient or appropriate steps to find work."

0:21:32 > 0:21:35This is like the sixth time I've been sanctioned in a row now.

0:21:37 > 0:21:38It's always the same thing every time,

0:21:38 > 0:21:41that I am not doing enough effort to look for work.

0:21:41 > 0:21:45I'm not participating in this, I'm not doing that, all the time.

0:21:45 > 0:21:47And the more I do, the worse it seems to get, as well.

0:21:47 > 0:21:53So when your Jobseeker's Allowance gets stopped,

0:21:53 > 0:21:54that means...?

0:21:57 > 0:22:00- I have no money at all. - Nothing at all?- No.

0:22:03 > 0:22:05How do they expect you to live?

0:22:05 > 0:22:07It's not their problem. I've asked them that before

0:22:07 > 0:22:10and that's exactly what they tell me. It's not their problem.

0:22:11 > 0:22:13You've got two new computers.

0:22:13 > 0:22:16They are not new, they're all built by myself.

0:22:16 > 0:22:19- You built these computers?- Yeah.

0:22:19 > 0:22:22Could you fix any computer?

0:22:22 > 0:22:24Yeah, pretty much. And laptops and phones as well.

0:22:24 > 0:22:28Phones are just mini computers to me, they all work the same.

0:22:28 > 0:22:31Why are you not working, Damien, if you've got these skills?

0:22:31 > 0:22:34Why are you not putting them to good use?

0:22:34 > 0:22:36That's why I'm seeing her on Wednesday,

0:22:36 > 0:22:38to see if I can start my own business doing it.

0:22:40 > 0:22:42He may want to start his own business,

0:22:42 > 0:22:46but the job centre wants him to get a job, any job.

0:22:46 > 0:22:49Problem is, with local unemployment so high,

0:22:49 > 0:22:53the chances of finding one are slim, and he's choosey.

0:22:53 > 0:22:57But Anne isn't, and she's trying hard to find one.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00It's something to do with cleaning because I'm fully qualified for it.

0:23:00 > 0:23:02Keep my fingers crossed I can get it.

0:23:02 > 0:23:06It'd be nice, but I don't know yet. I've got to wait and see.

0:23:06 > 0:23:08Just I've been busy everywhere today.

0:23:08 > 0:23:11Now, last time I saw you, you were crying.

0:23:11 > 0:23:15Yeah, I know, cos I was crying cos of things going on with the Social

0:23:15 > 0:23:18and things like that, but at the end of the day,

0:23:18 > 0:23:21I went to Open Doors and things are looking a bit, bit better.

0:23:21 > 0:23:24It's just so annoying when I've got no money or anything.

0:23:24 > 0:23:27- It's so annoying. - So you haven't got a penny?

0:23:27 > 0:23:31Nope, not a penny at all. Not one penny at all. Nothing.

0:23:33 > 0:23:35Anne's already had two food parcels.

0:23:35 > 0:23:38Today, she depends on her neighbour to eat.

0:23:38 > 0:23:42What he's doing, it's a mince dinner and it's absolutely gorgeous.

0:23:42 > 0:23:45He always does it, and it's really nice.

0:23:47 > 0:23:50I have rice and naan bread with it.

0:23:50 > 0:23:52Don't we, don't we, Danny?

0:23:55 > 0:23:58The pressure on trying to feed those

0:23:58 > 0:24:01that might be slipping through the net are growing.

0:24:01 > 0:24:06You guys are working probably seven days.

0:24:06 > 0:24:10Now, I know you're a big guy, but I'm bigger.

0:24:12 > 0:24:14And I know you are going to argue with me

0:24:14 > 0:24:17that you're not doing too much. I'm telling you, you are.

0:24:17 > 0:24:19Because, if you end up burnt out

0:24:19 > 0:24:23because you're constantly out serving the needs of others,

0:24:23 > 0:24:27that's going to be no use to us when you burn out.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30The second thing, and when my dad was alive,

0:24:30 > 0:24:33he talked to me about the same thing is...

0:24:33 > 0:24:36You can be so involved that eventually

0:24:36 > 0:24:38it'll wreck your marriage.

0:24:38 > 0:24:42And that's a reality that we've got to look at, I've got to look.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45And I've got to look at for people who are involved

0:24:45 > 0:24:48in all the various departments in the church.

0:24:49 > 0:24:51Damien's being evicted.

0:24:51 > 0:24:56His loss of benefits means he can't afford to top up his rent.

0:24:56 > 0:25:01Yeah, hiya, we've arrived here to help Damien with the move.

0:25:01 > 0:25:04The landlord's been here,

0:25:04 > 0:25:07and he's just given us a couple of hours to do it,

0:25:07 > 0:25:10so I really need all hands on deck, please.

0:25:10 > 0:25:13If anybody...you could get anybody to give us a hand.

0:25:13 > 0:25:16His new flat isn't big enough for all his furniture.

0:25:16 > 0:25:18Some of it is only fit for landfill...

0:25:20 > 0:25:21..so it's being thrown out.

0:25:23 > 0:25:26I'm sorry, Riley, I'm sorry.

0:25:26 > 0:25:28Moving to a new place now, eh?

0:25:29 > 0:25:32No, get your snout out.

0:25:32 > 0:25:36It's dirty rubbish. It's all dirty rubbish.

0:25:36 > 0:25:39What do you think about all the help you are getting to move?

0:25:39 > 0:25:42It's amazing. I've never had this much help in my life.

0:25:42 > 0:25:46I've always been on my own since I lost contact with my family.

0:25:48 > 0:25:52He knew that he had till today to move out and I think he saw

0:25:52 > 0:25:55that place and thought, "How am I going to do it?"

0:25:55 > 0:25:57But that's where we come into it, really.

0:25:57 > 0:25:58You know, we are there to help.

0:26:01 > 0:26:06Do you think circumstances, though, of life in general

0:26:06 > 0:26:09- have made you very low... very depressed?- Yeah.

0:26:11 > 0:26:14- And that is why this place had got in such a state?- Yeah.

0:26:16 > 0:26:18I'm no expert, but...

0:26:18 > 0:26:21My stuff, my personal belongings and things like that were a mess,

0:26:21 > 0:26:24because, yeah, when I'm feeling down,

0:26:24 > 0:26:27I haven't got the motivation to do anything.

0:26:27 > 0:26:29I mean, I wasn't even eating properly, so...

0:26:29 > 0:26:31You're starting fresh tonight.

0:26:31 > 0:26:34And as I say, me and Dave don't want to be like Kim and Aggie

0:26:34 > 0:26:37coming round, checking up on you.

0:26:37 > 0:26:40But we shouldn't have to, really.

0:26:40 > 0:26:44I think your fresh start, I reckon you could...

0:26:44 > 0:26:47Things are on the up for you now. For you and Riley.

0:26:48 > 0:26:52It's a new start for Anne. Local people are now being recruited,

0:26:52 > 0:26:56and despite being able to claim sickness benefits,

0:26:56 > 0:26:59Anne has decided to go back to work.

0:26:59 > 0:27:03I was here, like, seven years ago and I filled an application form in,

0:27:03 > 0:27:07got my job back, and now it's my 8th year here again now.

0:27:07 > 0:27:08So, loving it!

0:27:08 > 0:27:11At the end of the day, the work that's round at the moment

0:27:11 > 0:27:13is seasonal work, and I know I have to come off for a few weeks

0:27:13 > 0:27:17and telling us not to have any benefits is absolutely annoying.

0:27:17 > 0:27:18I've just seen myself.

0:27:18 > 0:27:22It's terrible, but now, as you see now, I'm happy as Larry!

0:27:22 > 0:27:23So, yeah, fine now.

0:27:26 > 0:27:29In the last 12 months, Sarah and Dave have delivered

0:27:29 > 0:27:36over 2,000 food parcels to families and individuals living in Rhyl.

0:27:36 > 0:27:39It's work they vow to keep on doing.

0:27:39 > 0:27:44The only thing I think to myself when I see this, how fortunate am I?

0:27:44 > 0:27:46And, you know, sometimes I whinge

0:27:46 > 0:27:50if I haven't got Heinz baked beans in the cupboard... And I think,

0:27:50 > 0:27:54"Pull yourself together, woman, you've got beans in the cupboard."

0:27:54 > 0:27:56You know, these people have got nothing.

0:27:56 > 0:27:59By giving them food, it actually gives us an access

0:27:59 > 0:28:04to be able to go to these people and say, "Look, there is help."

0:28:04 > 0:28:08I'd like a few MPs to come out with me and come and see

0:28:08 > 0:28:12what I have to face. Have a look at the flats that have got damp walls

0:28:12 > 0:28:16and mushrooms growing on them and water leaking in.

0:28:16 > 0:28:20You just see flat doors you don't know what's behind those doors.

0:28:20 > 0:28:22You don't know what kind of lives they're living

0:28:22 > 0:28:25until you actually get invited behind those doors

0:28:25 > 0:28:28when we deliver a food parcel.

0:28:28 > 0:28:30And you're right, you take it home with you.

0:28:30 > 0:28:34And you think, you know, these poor people.