0:00:03 > 0:00:06Across Britain, in hundreds of towns, cities and neighbourhoods,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09people are struggling with everyday worries
0:00:09 > 0:00:11that have got on top of them.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13But there are places to turn,
0:00:13 > 0:00:15even if it seems that no-one else will help.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19This centre is one of them.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Made unique by the woman that runs it.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26A nun for 50 years...
0:00:26 > 0:00:27Bye-bye!
0:00:27 > 0:00:31..she's made it her mission to get this community back on its feet
0:00:31 > 0:00:36and make a real difference to the lives of as many people as she can
0:00:36 > 0:00:37in her own particular way.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43They don't call me the formidable Sister Rita for nothing.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Today, Sister Rita comes up with an ambitious new plan
0:00:49 > 0:00:51to bring residents together.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54They don't think they need to come out of their homes
0:00:54 > 0:00:56to meet with other people and that's it.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57We have to break that down.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And the sister's 50 years as a nun are marked with a journey
0:01:01 > 0:01:03back to where it all began in Ireland
0:01:03 > 0:01:05and some typical straight talking.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07When Almighty God made Adam,
0:01:07 > 0:01:09he made all his mistakes
0:01:09 > 0:01:12and then he made Eve
0:01:12 > 0:01:13and she was perfect.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15CHEERING
0:01:19 > 0:01:22It's Wednesday morning at the Lalley Centre.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Good morning, everybody.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27And Sister Rita is wasting no time getting her message to the people.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Fill in that form, get a job,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33get up and get out to work.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Along with her team of trusted volunteers,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Sister Rita runs a foodbank and drop-in centre...
0:01:39 > 0:01:44Max tells me somebody's stealing soap from the toilet.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Who is it?
0:01:46 > 0:01:49..offering solutions to money and benefit problems
0:01:49 > 0:01:52to residents of one of the most deprived parts of Manchester.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55You're terribly noisy today. You're worse than the kids.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58When you shut up, I'll talk.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00At the Lalley, she's created an environment
0:02:00 > 0:02:03where people can get the help and advice they need
0:02:03 > 0:02:06but also some much-needed contact with others.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09- Did you hear what I just said?- Yes!
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Thank you. I am deaf.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13The sister's ambition knows no bounds
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and, as a result, things have taken an unexpected turn.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Her bold protestation to the Government
0:02:19 > 0:02:22resulted in an invitation to Westminster
0:02:22 > 0:02:25where she's had a meeting with the Minister for Work and Pensions,
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Iain Duncan Smith.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30I'm hoping that, by the time we've said our bit,
0:02:30 > 0:02:35he will be initiated into making some kind of response.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37To even the sister's amazement,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40her visit led to the government immediately launching a pilot scheme
0:02:40 > 0:02:43at the Lalley, sending officials to the site each week
0:02:43 > 0:02:47to provide on-the-spot advice and help on money and benefit issues.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48If successful,
0:02:48 > 0:02:52the new initiative will be rolled out across the country.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56So don't be coming in telling me you're struggling like mad
0:02:56 > 0:02:58because you have to pay the bedroom tax and you can't cope
0:02:58 > 0:03:01and you're sanctioned when we've got somebody here
0:03:01 > 0:03:03on a Thursday afternoon
0:03:03 > 0:03:07that is ready and willing to help you.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Never one to rest on her laurels, Sister Rita has another plan.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14This one's closer to home.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15She wants to reach out
0:03:15 > 0:03:17to the often forgotten members of her neighbourhood,
0:03:17 > 0:03:20aware that, like every community across the UK,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24there are people suffering from loneliness and isolation.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27She wants to offer them a hand of friendship.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Loneliness can kind of paralyse the person.
0:03:31 > 0:03:36It paralyses them because their ability to think
0:03:36 > 0:03:39is affected.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Their ability to do is affected.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45Their ability to make relationships is affected.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Although you can feel isolated at any age,
0:03:47 > 0:03:52according to Age UK, around a million people in Britain over the age of 65
0:03:52 > 0:03:55haven't spoken to another person for a month.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57Elderly people, who do they have?
0:03:57 > 0:04:00They can't have their family, they're all out working.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02And they have a little clique of friends,
0:04:02 > 0:04:04then their friends start dying.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05That's what happens.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09They don't really know how to make new friends.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12That's something Sister Rita knows she can try and put right.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15She's setting up a friendship group at the Lalley.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The idea is that residents of Collyhurst aged over 50
0:04:19 > 0:04:20will now have a weekly place
0:04:20 > 0:04:23where they can find others from the area to talk to.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28I think friendship groups are a place where relationships are made,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31moulded and deepened,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35and so people come in, they're very lonely
0:04:35 > 0:04:40and they're connecting in with one or two around the table.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Today is the launch of the friendship group.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47The first through the door is 66-year-old Ann Meeham.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49She hasn't got out much since her husband died two years ago
0:04:49 > 0:04:53so Sister Rita's new idea immediately appealed to her.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55I live on my own.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I haven't been out on my own for a long time.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Just thought I'd try it out for one day and see how I like it.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05But it quickly becomes clear
0:05:05 > 0:05:08that, if Sister Rita's latest ambition is going to succeed,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12she'll need to find new ways of encouraging people to come along
0:05:12 > 0:05:14because, at this first meeting, beside Ann,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17just one more person turns up.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20The only others in the room are Lalley volunteer Muriel
0:05:20 > 0:05:22and Sister Rita herself.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25I think apathy is like a big umbrella, you know,
0:05:25 > 0:05:28and it covers a huge variety of things,
0:05:28 > 0:05:32like you don't bother too much about the area you live in,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36you don't bother either about the people maybe who live next door
0:05:36 > 0:05:37or your relationships.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41It can impinge on all those things.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44The lack of numbers doesn't faze Sister Rita.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48She remembers how few people initially came to the Lalley Centre
0:05:48 > 0:05:51when it first opened its doors seven years ago.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- Do you know who came in the first day?- Who?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Nobody.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57This is Collyhurst.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01- Right.- They take a very long time to do anything.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Research has shown that loneliness is exacerbated
0:06:06 > 0:06:08in areas gripped by poverty
0:06:08 > 0:06:10and that older people are particularly at risk
0:06:10 > 0:06:12from social isolation.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14All of which explains why Sister Rita
0:06:14 > 0:06:17is so determined to convince the residents of Collyhurst
0:06:17 > 0:06:20that the friendship group is worth their time.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23They don't think they need to come out of their homes
0:06:23 > 0:06:25to meet with other people and that's it.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27We have to break that down.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33The other person who has come along is Mariama Diabate,
0:06:33 > 0:06:34who's hoping that joining the group
0:06:34 > 0:06:38will help her to meet new people in the area.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Don't think, "This is rubbish, I'm wasting my time."
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Give it a bit of time.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46You will meet lovely people in here
0:06:46 > 0:06:49because lovely people come in.
0:06:49 > 0:06:50Despite today's turnout,
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Sister Rita is characteristically undeterred.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56I'm not disappointed or anything.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58I know this is what's going to happen.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Take time but we'll do it.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Sister Rita's keen to see what activities might encourage
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Ann to come back regularly.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Well, I thought you were doing something about computers,
0:07:08 > 0:07:09that's why I come down.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- Computers?- Yeah.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13There's a good idea.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16Showing, learning how to use computers.
0:07:16 > 0:07:17Well, well, well.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- Even me?- Do you know how to use computers?- No.
0:07:20 > 0:07:21No, I don't, either.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23So we can do that, yeah.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Eh, now we're getting places. What else do you want to do,
0:07:28 > 0:07:30do you want to learn to tap-dance?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32Oh, no, thanks!
0:07:32 > 0:07:36Many libraries and community centres across the UK offer computer and
0:07:36 > 0:07:40internet courses as a proven way of reducing loneliness and isolation.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43It's a suggestion Sister Rita's delighted with.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48You know, when she said that today I could have kissed her.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I thought, "This is brilliant," because if you're able to
0:07:51 > 0:07:56be on the internet, you can be more connected to the world around you.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58I'm not good at it, you know,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01only I'm different to them, I don't want to be good at it.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03You and I, love, if it's only you and I,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06- we'll have a good chat next week. - Yeah.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And we'll wait for the next week when you'll be able to come.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14To make the friendship group the success she's confident
0:08:14 > 0:08:17it can be, Sister Rita knows she needs to get the word out to
0:08:17 > 0:08:19all the residents in the area.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22So she starts hatching a plan for how she can target the high-rises
0:08:22 > 0:08:25nearby, where there are plenty of people on their own.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31What we need really is to get them from the big tower blocks
0:08:31 > 0:08:35and to come out and meet one another. When we get this up,
0:08:35 > 0:08:41we WILL get it up, I think a lot of other things will flow from it.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46In the meantime,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50not everyone who comes to the Lalley is looking for friendship.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Many of those who call in to see Sister Rita do
0:08:52 > 0:08:54so because the questions, paperwork
0:08:54 > 0:08:58and processes of the benefits system can often seem baffling.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Beatrice Bona suffers from severe arthritis
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and has previously been declared unfit to work by her doctor.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11She's upset and confused as to why the Department for Work and Pensions
0:09:11 > 0:09:14has now sent her a letter telling her that she's
0:09:14 > 0:09:16going to lose her Employment Support Allowance,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and be moved back on to Jobseeker's Allowance instead.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Beatrice is desperate for help
0:09:23 > 0:09:25but she's come to the right person to sort it all out.
0:09:25 > 0:09:30I am a great advocate for people to get up and get out to work.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33I don't believe in being, you know, sitting around
0:09:33 > 0:09:34and claiming benefits.
0:09:34 > 0:09:35She's different.
0:09:35 > 0:09:40She's different. This woman is ill, she's disabled.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Beatrice also struggles with her English,
0:09:42 > 0:09:46creating an extra layer of difficulty with the forms
0:09:46 > 0:09:49that are part and parcel of claiming benefits.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51But Sister Rita should have a quick way of getting to the
0:09:51 > 0:09:55bottom of what's gone on in this particular case.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Since her meeting with Iain Duncan Smith,
0:09:57 > 0:10:00the government minister responsible for benefits, she's been
0:10:00 > 0:10:03given a unique direct phone line to his department.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07Sister Rita hopes that means she'll avoid the wait you might get
0:10:07 > 0:10:10calling the general number and provide a faster
0:10:10 > 0:10:14explanation as to why Beatrice has had her benefits changed.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17It's that they don't want to give her at all what she's getting
0:10:17 > 0:10:19right now.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22But her government hotline has gone distinctly cold.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26With no answer, and Beatrice becoming increasingly agitated,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Sister Rita tries the public number instead, where she waits...
0:10:32 > 0:10:35CLASSICAL "HOLD" MUSIC
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Love it. We love it, listening to this.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41..and waits.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46- AUTOMATED VOICE:- Please hold and your call will be answered as soon as possible.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Beatrice has already been signed off from work for 16 months.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57But as this period is about to end, Sister Rita wants to know
0:10:57 > 0:11:00if she's been back to her doctor to be reassessed.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- Have you been back to the doctor? - Yes.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04- Did he give you a letter?- Yes.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10Sister Rita's convinced the issue could be down to the DWP not
0:11:10 > 0:11:13having received the latest doctor's letter confirming Beatrice
0:11:13 > 0:11:14remains unfit to work.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18And when the call is finally answered,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21she hopes her hunch will prove correct.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23They have sent her a letter, right,
0:11:23 > 0:11:28the letter is saying they won't give her what she was on before.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Now, I'm a social worker. Anyone who would expect this woman
0:11:31 > 0:11:37to work, well, quite frankly, they haven't a clue about human nature, have they?
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Beatrice.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Sister.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44When we've finished this, I'm going to phone the doctor
0:11:44 > 0:11:48and I'm going to tell the doctor we want an update letter that
0:11:48 > 0:11:54he'll fax to me, and you will take it this afternoon to the Job Centre.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57But even the formidable Sister Rita can't avoid being passed on to
0:11:57 > 0:11:59another department.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04And I know that they're under pressure, I do understand that
0:12:04 > 0:12:08but, you know, they don't see the person at the other side, do they?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11The person she finally speaks to can only confirm what
0:12:11 > 0:12:13she already knows,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16that Beatrice is now deemed fit to work.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21Let me try this number again. DWP gave us a special number,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24so we wouldn't have to go through all this carry-on
0:12:24 > 0:12:27when somebody is in a state, like Beatrice is.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- AUTOMATED VOICE:- This is the Vodafone voicemail service...
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Go away.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35With still no answer on the direct line, she leaves a message.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37And then targets the GP.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40But it's a similar story calling the doctor.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43- AUTOMATED MESSAGE:- Please hold, your call will be answered shortly.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Oh, not our day, is it, Beatrice, eh?
0:12:48 > 0:12:51You'll be smiling at the end of the day.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Though this whole process is a reminder of how unwieldy
0:12:55 > 0:12:59the system can sometimes be, Sister Rita's efforts have at least
0:12:59 > 0:13:03spared Beatrice the time and cost of calling the DWP herself.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I have no concerns about the fact I won't be able to pay
0:13:08 > 0:13:12the phone line. They have, when they're ringing.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15They can't afford to ring, most of them, and she doesn't
0:13:15 > 0:13:19understand all the questions they ask her. It's not that she
0:13:19 > 0:13:22doesn't want to answer them, but she doesn't understand them.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27At last, Sister Rita speaks to Beatrice's doctor who
0:13:27 > 0:13:29confirms that Beatrice is unfit for work
0:13:29 > 0:13:31and will send Sister Rita
0:13:31 > 0:13:35a letter that she can pass on to the Job Centre later that afternoon.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40So, right now, what Beatrice needs to know is that her benefits will
0:13:40 > 0:13:44continue, and of course they'll continue, she's on a sick note.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49Sister Rita's special contact at the DWP soon calls back too.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55I just know, I know with a certainty that this woman will not be
0:13:55 > 0:13:56able to work.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58As Sister Rita had expected,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01it's confirmed that Beatrice needs to go back to the Job Centre
0:14:01 > 0:14:05with the updated doctor's letter for her reassessment.
0:14:05 > 0:14:12With this letter it'll be sorted out and she'll be happier, that's
0:14:12 > 0:14:16really what I want. The direct line will be very good in the future,
0:14:16 > 0:14:21I'm positive it will be, but it didn't work out for me today.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24With the doctor's letter they needed,
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Sister Rita's leaving nothing to chance, and to make sure all
0:14:27 > 0:14:31is resolved, she takes Beatrice to the Job Centre appointment herself.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35I've given you a letter to give to the manager. That belongs to you.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36I'll put it in here for you.
0:14:37 > 0:14:43Right, all this is yours. Look at me. Everything is going to be fine.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45OK?
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Beatrice, you did bring the brown envelope, didn't you?
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Yes, you gave me.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59All the best. Look after yourself.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00All right.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Sister Rita's support has led Beatrice to the answers she needed.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Helping people navigate their way through a system that can
0:15:09 > 0:15:12seem unfathomable is a key part of the work of drop-in
0:15:12 > 0:15:14centres like the Lalley.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Have we not got proper, real envelopes? They're rubbish.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22One of the key ways she wants to bring the community together
0:15:22 > 0:15:24is through her friendship group.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26In recent years, the number of people living in the UK who
0:15:26 > 0:15:30describe themselves as lonely has rocketed.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33So, to tackle that, Sister Rita is organising weekly
0:15:33 > 0:15:37sessions for local residents to come and meet new faces.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40But she's not remotely put off by the fact that the first week,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42only two people turned up.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Now we have started it, but we knew, didn't we?
0:15:46 > 0:15:49We knew this wasn't going to happen in a day.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Rome wasn't built in a day, remember.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55The sister's come up with a plan to make sure she gets the message
0:15:55 > 0:15:58out to those living in the nearby tower blocks,
0:15:58 > 0:16:01a part of Collyhurst that, so far, has proved resistant
0:16:01 > 0:16:03to even her formidable charms.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And she's got a man on the inside she hopes can help.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09Don't tell me he's not in.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13'Hello.'
0:16:13 > 0:16:14John, how are you?
0:16:15 > 0:16:16Thank you.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20A regular at the Lalley Centre, John Compton has had some
0:16:20 > 0:16:22challenging times.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26He was living on the streets before Sister Rita took him under her wing.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Since then, he's found the support
0:16:28 > 0:16:31and services provided by the nun and her team an enormous
0:16:31 > 0:16:35help in overcoming the loneliness he's experienced first hand.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Everybody needs friends, and all my friends that
0:16:37 > 0:16:41I moved round here with have gone, dead or moved out.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46You know, I've been here on my own, and to be quite honest
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I've felt really lonely in this area since they've all been gone.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51I think if it wasn't for people like Sister Rita
0:16:51 > 0:16:53and the people there, where would I be?
0:16:54 > 0:16:56Because he's had such a positive experience of how
0:16:56 > 0:17:00places like the Lalley can make a difference, Sister Rita,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03along with volunteer Muriel, has come to visit John at his flat,
0:17:03 > 0:17:08to see if he's prepared to help drum up interest in the friendship group.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11He's very tuned in to the area, isn't he?
0:17:11 > 0:17:13He knows a lot, he has his eyes and ears open.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Like other parts of the UK affected by poverty, here in Collyhurst,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20it can be hard to persuade people that there's someone prepared
0:17:20 > 0:17:23to help, or even simply listen.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25So, convincing people the weekly gathering
0:17:25 > 0:17:28really will be in their best interests is a major hurdle.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34The problem we have here is the apathy that goes around Collyhurst
0:17:34 > 0:17:38now, why we're starting the friendship group
0:17:38 > 0:17:40is to try to break that down.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43As a nun, Sister Rita recognises that not every resident will
0:17:43 > 0:17:46welcome her intentions.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50I'm kind of an alien being to the people here, but we're
0:17:50 > 0:17:54talking about everybody who lives in the flats. So, in order
0:17:54 > 0:17:59for that to be broken down, to begin with you need two people
0:17:59 > 0:18:02who'll be willing to push a thing in and try and say,
0:18:02 > 0:18:03"Can we talk to you?"
0:18:03 > 0:18:07I don't mind chapping on people's doors and just saying,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09"I'm representing the Collyhurst community,
0:18:09 > 0:18:12"we've got a community get-together on a Monday."
0:18:12 > 0:18:17So many people are so lonely around this area and we're trying
0:18:17 > 0:18:21to, you know, just help them to take the first step.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25John's first suggestion is to broaden the age of the friendship group,
0:18:25 > 0:18:30so it's open to people over 40, rather than 50 as it is now.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Because I know what it's been like. I've lived here 16 years
0:18:34 > 0:18:36with my mental health and depression,
0:18:36 > 0:18:41didn't have anywhere half the time to go, so I've stayed in here.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Were you there when these young women were saying, "Why can't
0:18:45 > 0:18:48"you start it at 40 or 30, instead of 50?"
0:18:48 > 0:18:54Now that's your idea, where they said, "We want to be there as well."
0:18:54 > 0:18:57If you remember, I said to you 40-plus at first.
0:18:57 > 0:18:5940's fine, we're happy with it.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01John's delighted to be able to give something back to a place
0:19:01 > 0:19:03that's helped him so much.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07And a date is arranged for him to begin leafleting the area.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10You don't have to be stuck in your flats, depressed
0:19:10 > 0:19:14and lonely on your own, there's people out there.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Getting the friendship group off the ground is
0:19:18 > 0:19:19important to Sister Rita
0:19:19 > 0:19:23because she has a deep-rooted belief in the importance of community.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26Though she's spent most of her adult life in Manchester, she's
0:19:26 > 0:19:30never forgotten the people and places in her native Ireland.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32And she's still a Cork girl at heart.
0:19:33 > 0:19:40I suppose I would say that Manchester is like my mother...
0:19:42 > 0:19:46..whereas Ireland is like my husband. I know I haven't got one
0:19:46 > 0:19:50but it's a bit like that kind of relationship, really.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Every year she makes an annual trip back home.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57But the visit she's making now has an added significance.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00It marks her 50th year as a nun.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03And her family and friends aren't going to let the moment pass
0:20:03 > 0:20:06without a celebration or two - including an official ceremony,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09to be attended by the Lord Mayor.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12The trip's not just a break from her work in Collyhurst,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16it's a rare chance to catch up with her four sisters.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18No matter where you go, you know,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22and no matter how successful your life is, there's always
0:20:22 > 0:20:26a part of you that wants to go back to where you came from.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33Half a century after she first left, it feels good to be back.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37It would be unthinkable of me not to come back to Cork.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40I've come from a good place.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45The value of Sister Rita's work is recognised as much in Cork
0:20:45 > 0:20:46as it is in Collyhurst.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50So first stop is the City Hall, for an official reception.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53# Welcome, come on in... #
0:20:53 > 0:20:57The Lord Mayor of Cork is due to begin the ceremony.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59But he's nowhere to be seen.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02And Sister Rita doesn't like to wait for anyone.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Can I just tell you... Where's Patrick?
0:21:05 > 0:21:07The Lord Mayor is late.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09You don't keep us late.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11I want to go home now. Do you?
0:21:13 > 0:21:14The Lord Mayor finally arrives,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18to congratulate the nun on her 50-year milestone.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19It's a huge honour for me
0:21:19 > 0:21:22to have this opportunity to do that as the first citizen
0:21:22 > 0:21:25to someone like yourself. To mark it is a lovely thing.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Yeah, but thank you very much.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29And I think that's the important thing.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33To mark the occasion, Sister Rita is invited to give a speech.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38Women are extraordinary beings, truly they are.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- I'm not saying I don't love men. - LAUGHTER
0:21:41 > 0:21:45But, you see, when Almighty God made Adam,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47he made all his mistakes with Adam.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49LAUGHTER
0:21:49 > 0:21:53And then he made Eve, and she was perfect.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56WHOOPING
0:21:57 > 0:22:00It's a bit overwhelming, actually,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02to see so many people here today.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05It's, erm... It's very emotional.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Sister Rita left home at just 17 to join the convent.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Her sister Norma remembers how little they saw of her.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19It was very sad for all of us, because she was young,
0:22:19 > 0:22:23and I was very young, but we were able to go and see her...
0:22:24 > 0:22:26..not very often,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29and she was only allowed home every three years,
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and that was very hard,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34but that's the way convent life was back then.
0:22:34 > 0:22:40With the formal ceremony over, the celebrations move to a nearby pub.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44THEY SING
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Already they'll be saying I'm drunk, and I don't drink at all.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56Goodness only knows what they'd be saying if I did drink.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59SINGING CONTINUES
0:22:59 > 0:23:02The celebrations are in full swing, but, slightly taken aback
0:23:02 > 0:23:06by all the fuss, Sister Rita soon finds a moment to slip away.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Phew!
0:23:08 > 0:23:10What a day, yeah, what a day.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13It was phenomenal, really.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Very, very enjoyable.
0:23:15 > 0:23:16Very enjoyable.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18It's my time to go now.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Yeah, it's my time to go.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Back in Collyhurst,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26the Lalley is open as usual for anyone who needs its help.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And one person the Sister and her team have been particularly
0:23:29 > 0:23:32keen to find solutions for is Julie Keeling.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34She's a frequent user of the foodbank.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37But over the last few months it's not just practical support
0:23:37 > 0:23:40she's had from Sister Rita, it's emotional too.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42She was just brilliant.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46I mean, I was sat here for about 20 minutes crying me eyes out
0:23:46 > 0:23:48and she put me at ease
0:23:48 > 0:23:52and she says, "Don't worry, we're going to help you."
0:23:52 > 0:23:56For 23 years, Julie has struggled with alcohol.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58In that time she's brought up two children
0:23:58 > 0:24:00and battled depression.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Was about three years ago I had quite a major breakdown...
0:24:05 > 0:24:07..and, erm...
0:24:08 > 0:24:10..the drink got hold of me.
0:24:10 > 0:24:15I had to...leave my house, my home.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17My kids.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21It's Julie's addiction that Sister Rita particularly wants to tackle.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24But she knows key to that will be encouraging Julie
0:24:24 > 0:24:26to take more responsibility too.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30It's certainly harder to help people with addictions, yeah.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Erm, sometimes you think...
0:24:33 > 0:24:35.."Should I even try?"
0:24:35 > 0:24:39And that's a temptation that you have to get rid of very quickly,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41because you have to try.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Number ten, Julie.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- See you tomorrow, love.- See you.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47With the help of Sister Rita and her team,
0:24:47 > 0:24:50Julie says she's now starting to turn her life around.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53She's following advice from doctors and gradually cutting back
0:24:53 > 0:24:57on alcohol, in the hope that she'll be able to give it up completely.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Lalley social worker Lorraine has been paying particularly
0:25:00 > 0:25:03close attention to Julie's progress.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05She's very, very vulnerable, Julie.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06Really vulnerable.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10I don't judge her, on her life or things that have happened, because,
0:25:10 > 0:25:11you know, she's probably...
0:25:11 > 0:25:15there's probably a lot more to Julie than we'll ever know.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Julie's come today for help with her finances.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20She's been behind with some of her bills,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23but, thinking she'd got on top of that, she's confused by some
0:25:23 > 0:25:26extra money she's paying her landlord each month.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29She's hoping Lorraine can get to the bottom of what's going on.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32Hello, Julie, how are you?
0:25:32 > 0:25:34- Not so bad.- Good.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36I've brought all my paperwork...
0:25:36 > 0:25:40Julie's monthly rent is close to £500, with most of that
0:25:40 > 0:25:42covered by her housing benefit.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44But there's a shortfall of £58,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and Julie pays that top-up direct to the landlord.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51Over the last few months she's been paying him
0:25:51 > 0:25:54an extra £17 as well, and she isn't sure why.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56It doesn't add up.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59I tried to add it up and it just doesn't seem right.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02Because I think this...
0:26:02 > 0:26:06There's a difference of £17 there and I don't know why.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Julie's worried her landlord may be overcharging her.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13But when Lorraine calls him there's a much simpler explanation.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17It seems Julie had missed some of those top-up payments,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20so the additional money is helping her catch up.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23'The rent is £115.37 a week.'
0:26:25 > 0:26:26Right. OK.
0:26:26 > 0:26:32'So £115.37 minus £101.98
0:26:32 > 0:26:35'means the shortfall is £13.39 a week,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38'but of course she hasn't been paying it all the way through
0:26:38 > 0:26:39'so there's arrears accrued.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43'The total arrears are £211.54.'
0:26:43 > 0:26:46- £211.54.- 'Yeah.'
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Is it possible you could send a rent statement out to Julie
0:26:49 > 0:26:52so that we can... I can help her budget?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54'Yeah, I'll do that this afternoon, no problem.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57'Does Julie not know all this? She paid nothing in January,
0:26:57 > 0:26:59'she paid nothing in February,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01'she paid nothing in March, that's the reason why.'
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- All right, thank you very much, Peter.- 'Is Julie there?'
0:27:04 > 0:27:06- Oh, she's there.- Hello, Peter.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08'Hello, Julie, you all right?
0:27:08 > 0:27:11- 'Well, between us, we'll sort you out. All right?'- Oh, thank you.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14'Cheers, Julie, thank you. Bye.'
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Thank you.
0:27:16 > 0:27:17The mystery charge is
0:27:17 > 0:27:21because Julie's landlord has spread what she owes throughout the year.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24But Lorraine's keen to make sure everything is clear.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28So that was a bit of a shock to you, to find out your arrears were £211.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Especially since I've been paying £80 a month,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34£80 every four weeks.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36But then the weeks that you're not paying
0:27:36 > 0:27:38sets it all back again, doesn't it?
0:27:38 > 0:27:42And the weeks you're not paying the top-up adds onto your arrears.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45'Trying to keep on top of things
0:27:45 > 0:27:48'when your mental health's on a decline,'
0:27:48 > 0:27:50it's really difficult.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Things like this aren't your priority,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56and, you know, you lose sense of time,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59you know, you lose the ability to budget properly.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02Helping people manage their finances
0:28:02 > 0:28:05is a key service that neighbourhood centres like the Lalley,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08or Citizens Advice, can provide.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11But it's clear to Lorraine that Julie needs assistance
0:28:11 > 0:28:13working out a budget she can stick to.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16She's hoping that when Sister Rita gets back the pair of them
0:28:16 > 0:28:21will be able to work out a strategy to help Julie get back on her feet.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24£17, it doesn't seem much to some people,
0:28:24 > 0:28:28but...at the end of the day it is a lot of money.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Back in Cork, having enjoyed her reception with the Lord Mayor
0:28:34 > 0:28:37earlier in the week, Sister Rita is bracing herself for
0:28:37 > 0:28:41another round of celebrations marking her 50 years as a nun.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Wow, look at that.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45I remember that photograph.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48This time, it's a party friends and family have thrown in her honour.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53I can't believe it. I don't know where she got them from.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55Honest, half of these I haven't seen.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57With the celebrations under way,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Sister Rita takes to the stage to get things going.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03So, let's have it.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07MUSIC STARTS
0:29:07 > 0:29:08Do it again.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10MUSIC STARTS
0:29:11 > 0:29:13- How about I start?- You start.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18I always say the men should follow the women.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20CHEERING
0:29:20 > 0:29:23- OK. - SHE CLEARS THROAT
0:29:23 > 0:29:27# When I was just a wee little lad
0:29:27 > 0:29:29# Full of health and joy
0:29:29 > 0:29:35# My daddy homeward came one night and he gave to me a toy... #
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Commemorating the year she joined the Church reminds Sister Rita
0:29:39 > 0:29:43of the values that drew her to it, and still shape her thinking today.
0:29:43 > 0:29:48The most important thing in life is to have contentment.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52Not money, not power.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57But somehow our world is hung up on power and money,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01and it never, ever brings happiness, really.
0:30:01 > 0:30:02Back in Collyhurst,
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Lorraine's working hard in Sister Rita's absence.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10And top of her in-tray is a meeting with John Hughes, another person
0:30:10 > 0:30:15who's reluctantly found himself a regular face at the Lalley.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18John returned to the UK 18 months ago after the IT company
0:30:18 > 0:30:21he worked for in Thailand got into financial trouble.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25He's been on benefits while trying to get the skills he needs to
0:30:25 > 0:30:28set up his own business, but was sanctioned after the Department for
0:30:28 > 0:30:32Work and Pensions decided he wasn't doing enough to look for work.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34With less money,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37he says the Lalley Centre's foodbank has been a lifeline.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Certainly for the last four or five weeks, with lack of funds
0:30:40 > 0:30:44due to the sanction, erm, I wouldn't have eaten without the foodbank.
0:30:46 > 0:30:47Simple as that.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51John's been living in a small flat with virtually no furniture.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55And as he does courses and training to get himself back into work,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58there's one item above all that he could really do with having.
0:30:58 > 0:31:03The only thing I'm without at the moment which I would like is a bed.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06But, already unhappy at needing to use the foodbank,
0:31:06 > 0:31:08John's been unwilling to ask for any more help.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Even though it's meant he's been sleeping on the floor.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14I think it's very difficult for men to come in
0:31:14 > 0:31:18and talk to a woman about what's going on in their life, actually.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22I think that society has put this spin on men,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24they're masculine, you know,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27they're strong and, you know...
0:31:27 > 0:31:32helper of everybody else around them, which is a total farce.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36Back at the Lalley, Lorraine catches up with John,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39and it's not long before the issue of the bed comes up.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41Why haven't I asked prior to this?
0:31:41 > 0:31:44I'm not... I feel I can actually do this meself.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Right, OK.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50It's bad enough coming getting food, it's so embarrassing. My own requirement is now...
0:31:50 > 0:31:54My...I would say a need...is a bed.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56- Right. I can help you with that. - Which...
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Well, if you could that'd be great
0:31:58 > 0:32:00but it's not something I actually...
0:32:00 > 0:32:03I know in a couple of weeks I'll be able to sort it out meself,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05- and I'm very, very conscious... - Well, d'you know what?
0:32:05 > 0:32:08You need to look at things a little bit differently.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11There's times in our lives when we all need support.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Nice to meet you, John.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Lorraine's next step is to contact a local charity
0:32:16 > 0:32:19that's supplied furniture to the Lalley Centre before.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22He's sleeping on the floor, and I just wondered -
0:32:22 > 0:32:26it's only a tiny flat apparently - whether you had a single bed?
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Oh, you have. Oh, brilliant.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34Oh, that'd be amazing.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36Though she admires John's determination to stand
0:32:36 > 0:32:40on his own two feet, for Lorraine it's vital that people understand
0:32:40 > 0:32:43there's no shame in asking for help when you really need it.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Yeah, he wants to do it on his own, but what I don't want him to do
0:32:47 > 0:32:50is, if he's starting his own business and things,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54you don't want to start off with being in lots of debt.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57He still wishes he hadn't had to ask,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01but John's relieved he can now look forward to a proper night's sleep.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05She said, "Right, well, if you need a bed, you'll get a bed,"
0:33:05 > 0:33:08and basically one's being delivered on Friday night,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11which was very, very nice, erm...
0:33:11 > 0:33:13of course very, very grateful.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18However much he might want to do things himself,
0:33:18 > 0:33:20the whole purpose of centres like the Lalley
0:33:20 > 0:33:23is to offer extra support at times when you most need it.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25And that's why Sister Rita is
0:33:25 > 0:33:27so keen to get her friendship club off the ground.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30She wants people to know they don't need to feel isolated or alone,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33and that there is a place where someone will always be
0:33:33 > 0:33:36prepared to listen and help.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39To boost the numbers at the upcoming meetings, the Sister has
0:33:39 > 0:33:42asked local resident John Compton to spread the word.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45- Morning, John. - Hiya, you all right?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47This is just to let you know that we've started
0:33:47 > 0:33:50a friendship group at the Lalley Centre.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54It's on a Monday, it starts from 11am till 2pm.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56People just come in, sit, chat,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58bingo, board games.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00It's all free, there's nothing to pay at all.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03That's a leaflet, we'd like to see you on Monday,
0:34:03 > 0:34:05- it's between 11 and two. - OK, brilliant.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07And I look forward to seeing you there.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13It's a good idea just to bring more...the community more together,
0:34:13 > 0:34:17you know, get people out of their flats a bit more.
0:34:17 > 0:34:18There's a lot of apathy
0:34:18 > 0:34:21that needs to be broken down, I'm afraid, round here.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Many factors can contribute to feelings of loneliness -
0:34:24 > 0:34:27a family bereavement, change in personal circumstances,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30or friends dying or moving on.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Whatever the cause, John's hopeful his door-knocking will show
0:34:33 > 0:34:36how Sister Rita's friendship group could help those affected
0:34:36 > 0:34:39make new connections with people nearby.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41If you ring this number even before as you're coming,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44one of us can always come and meet you outside,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46- and then take you round. - That would help.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48- At least I can find where I'm going. - So that's not a problem.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50No, please do come, I look forward to seeing you.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53We're trying to get people out of these blocks
0:34:53 > 0:34:55and into socialising with everybody.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59I think it is a really good idea, because there a lot of lonely people
0:34:59 > 0:35:00on the blocks, and they don't,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03you know, have anybody coming and visiting them.
0:35:03 > 0:35:04'I think it went very well,'
0:35:04 > 0:35:08we got a lot of good positive feedback from it.
0:35:08 > 0:35:13I think this group is going to start working slowly but surely.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15But only the turnout at future meetings will show
0:35:15 > 0:35:18if John's efforts really have made a difference.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21Across the Irish Sea in Cork,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Sister Rita has come to the North Presentation covenant school,
0:35:24 > 0:35:28where her journey into religious life first began.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30That's the school there.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Er, behind that you have the cathedral,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36and the sisters weren't allowed to go out in those days.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Looking down from her classroom, a young Sister Rita became
0:35:41 > 0:35:45fascinated by the nuns who walked in the garden where she is now.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48There was a kind of an awe about it.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50It's difficult to express, really.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53A kind of an awe that was different
0:35:53 > 0:35:56to anything else that you knew in life when you were young.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Inside the convent, Sister Rita catches up with
0:35:59 > 0:36:02one of the nuns who used to teach her as a young girl.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04And it was all very different then,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08but there were still some villains in the class, wasn't there, Gabriel?
0:36:08 > 0:36:10Yeah, but they were afraid of me.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14- My eye. - You're absolutely right.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17I think she's a wonderful woman, I'm very proud of her.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20That I taught her.
0:36:23 > 0:36:26Sister Rita had always set her heart on becoming a nun.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29And after a visit from some sisters in Manchester,
0:36:29 > 0:36:33she knew it was there she wanted to take her vows.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36I don't remember ever wanting to do anything else.
0:36:36 > 0:36:40In my head, in those days, if you went to the convent
0:36:40 > 0:36:42you never went home again.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46You're giving up a family, giving up somebody to love exclusively,
0:36:46 > 0:36:50erm, and rearing a family and all that,
0:36:50 > 0:36:52and I remember, before I made my vows,
0:36:52 > 0:36:55thinking, "Do you really know what you're doing?
0:36:55 > 0:36:58"This is different, it could be very difficult."
0:36:59 > 0:37:0250 years on, and Sister Rita is happy not just to have
0:37:02 > 0:37:04maintained her roots in Cork
0:37:04 > 0:37:07but to have established such strong ones in Manchester.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11She'd like everyone where she lives to feel the same sense of belonging
0:37:11 > 0:37:15to a community, and to get support from that whenever it's needed.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19For some, that might just mean a listening ear.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22For others, like John Hughes, it's something more tangible
0:37:22 > 0:37:24that will help them make a fresh start.
0:37:24 > 0:37:28John's been sleeping on the floor, or on this chair.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31But today the second-hand bed Lorraine arranged for him
0:37:31 > 0:37:33is being delivered.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36Well, it's going to be a lot more comfortable than that,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39but I wasn't complaining about that, you know.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41But, yeah.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Nice fleece mattress protector as well,
0:37:43 > 0:37:44so it's going to be nice and warm.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47Yeah, well chuffed.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50And there's more good news for John, too.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52His benefits have been temporarily cut
0:37:52 > 0:37:54by the Department for Work and Pensions
0:37:54 > 0:37:58and as a result, he's been surviving largely on a hardship loan.
0:37:58 > 0:38:00But his sanction is now up,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03meaning he can once again obtain his benefits.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07Well, today is the first day I've actually received any benefit, where
0:38:07 > 0:38:11I can go and pay me bills, hopefully not having to worry about things.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13What's more, John had disputed
0:38:13 > 0:38:16why he was even sanctioned in the first place.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18And the decision has now been
0:38:18 > 0:38:20successfully overturned at a tribunal.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23John's now hoping that the skills he's been building up
0:38:23 > 0:38:25from the courses and training he's been doing
0:38:25 > 0:38:29will help him firm up plans for starting his own business.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32I'm not exactly getting ahead of meself but I'm catching up
0:38:32 > 0:38:35and, you know, hopefully it's going to get to an even keel
0:38:35 > 0:38:37which will allow me to concentrate on
0:38:37 > 0:38:40what I'm going to do in the future.
0:38:40 > 0:38:44Back at the Lalley Centre, Sister Rita's returned from Ireland.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47And it's no time at all before she's thrown herself into
0:38:47 > 0:38:50what she does best - sorting out people's problems.
0:38:50 > 0:38:55First on her agenda is devising a strategy to help Julie Keeling.
0:38:55 > 0:38:59Julie's battling an addiction to alcohol and depression.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01She's fallen behind on her rental payments
0:39:01 > 0:39:04and is over £200 in debt.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06What kind of things have you had to cut down on?
0:39:06 > 0:39:08Well, like me water.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11You know, I've been missing a few payments here and there.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Right, so what do you do about clothing?
0:39:14 > 0:39:17- Erm, charity shop mostly. - Right, OK.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Lorraine calculates that, with a weekly spend of £140,
0:39:21 > 0:39:26Julie's spending around £39 more than she has coming in.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29So Sister Rita wants to find a way to help her manage her budget
0:39:29 > 0:39:33and take responsibility for tackling her addiction.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36What we want to prevent more than anything
0:39:36 > 0:39:40is you losing your property, you losing your tenancy,
0:39:40 > 0:39:45so your...your rent and council tax are really, really important.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Just feels like you're robbing Peter to pay Paul all the time.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52The only realistic way Julie can pay off her debt
0:39:52 > 0:39:54is to reduce her alcohol intake.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57Sister Rita's satisfied that, under medical supervision,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00she genuinely is doing that.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02So she comes up with a plan to encourage that further
0:40:02 > 0:40:07and help Julie pay the bills until the debt to her landlord is repaid.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10She'll put money towards Julie's gas and electric bill each month,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12provided Julie continues to prove
0:40:12 > 0:40:15she's cutting down on what she drinks.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19I am cutting down, I've cut down drastically on me drinking
0:40:19 > 0:40:21since I've had me drinks advisor.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Well done, you, because the thing is, then you could,
0:40:25 > 0:40:27if we did that for you once a month,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31you would then have a bit of money to pay off some more of the debt,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34and you're very brave to sit there and talk about this,
0:40:34 > 0:40:39because it's not easy, but the thing is, you're not on your own, love.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Some may question her tactics,
0:40:41 > 0:40:45but after years as a social worker Sister Rita's confident that helping
0:40:45 > 0:40:49Julie invest in her own future is the approach most likely to succeed.
0:40:50 > 0:40:55She's on to a good thing here now and hopefully she will do it.
0:40:55 > 0:41:01We will pay the electricity and the gas only if we see evidence
0:41:01 > 0:41:05that she's doing what we asked her and what she agreed to.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Every Monday we have the Lalley friendship group
0:41:09 > 0:41:15and we're going to drop the age from 50...is it to 40?
0:41:15 > 0:41:17So I can come now.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19LAUGHTER
0:41:19 > 0:41:22It's another Monday at the Lalley Centre, and almost time
0:41:22 > 0:41:25for another meeting of the newly formed friendship group.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28The first time, just two people turned up.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31But what a difference there is today.
0:41:31 > 0:41:37There are a lot more people here today, and there's a lot of buzz
0:41:37 > 0:41:39of conversation, happy conversation,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42there's a lot of humour and people actually
0:41:42 > 0:41:46looking and talking at one another, that's all brilliant.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51This time, 13 people have come along.
0:41:51 > 0:41:55And one person especially delighted with the turnout is John Compton...
0:41:55 > 0:41:56Wow.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58..who Sister Rita had asked to get the word out in the high-rises.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00Morning.
0:42:00 > 0:42:01Wow...
0:42:01 > 0:42:04HE COUNTS UNDER HIS BREATH
0:42:04 > 0:42:05Yes!
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Can't you see this smile? I think we are starting to get there.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16What's more, Mariama, who came to the first meeting, has come back
0:42:16 > 0:42:21and has vowed to make the friendship group a weekly fixture in her diary.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23More people in...
0:42:23 > 0:42:25I feel comfortable, I enjoy.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27Yeah, very happy.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30I think since they've dropped the age group,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33I think a lot of the younger ones do want to get involved.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36It's good, because you're bridging the gap between young and old.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Well, there's more people here.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42It makes it more enjoyable, you know, when there's more here and...
0:42:42 > 0:42:46perhaps we can get different things going, different things doing.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Standing around watching this makes me realise that this group was
0:42:49 > 0:42:54exactly what I wanted, and this is what I want for the community.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Dorothy Colwell has a particular reason for seeking out
0:42:57 > 0:42:59the companionship of others.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02My husband just died in February.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04It's just knowing that there's somewhere...
0:43:04 > 0:43:07a reason to get out of bed, and somewhere to go,
0:43:07 > 0:43:10can make an awful difference.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13With the friendship group's fortunes looking up, Sister Rita is
0:43:13 > 0:43:17convinced the meetings will go from strength to strength, and provide
0:43:17 > 0:43:22a real focal point for those in the area who feel isolated or lonely.
0:43:22 > 0:43:27I'd say today is the first day I've seen a major change
0:43:27 > 0:43:30in the numbers coming into the Lalley Centre.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32And, while she's got plenty more ideas for how
0:43:32 > 0:43:35she can bring the community together, Sister Rita is
0:43:35 > 0:43:40well on her way to making her golden jubilee as a nun a year to remember.
0:43:40 > 0:43:44Well, I would love if my legacy was that I was kind to people,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47that I had a really good sense of humour,
0:43:47 > 0:43:51and that, even with all the faults that have gone on inside me,
0:43:51 > 0:43:54that I did have time to listen to them
0:43:54 > 0:43:59and that maybe I was able to reach out to them in their darkest hour.
0:43:59 > 0:44:03Next time, as Sister Rita continues her mission to make a difference...
0:44:03 > 0:44:06the streets of Collyhurst get a makeover when she launches
0:44:06 > 0:44:08an anti-littering campaign.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11You did us so proud today.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15And the Sister treats her band of volunteers to a trip to the seaside.
0:44:15 > 0:44:16Will you shut up at the back?
0:44:16 > 0:44:20In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
0:44:20 > 0:44:24Lord, we ask you today to protect us, to help Rita to be able
0:44:24 > 0:44:27to drive the van, be able to find all the controls.
0:44:27 > 0:44:28We're off, people.