Episode 4 Sister Rita to the Rescue

Across Britain, in hundreds of towns, cities and neighbourhoods,

people are struggling with everyday worries that have got on top of them.

But there are places to turn,

even if it seems that no-one else will help.

This centre is one of them.

Made unique by the woman that runs it.

A nun for 50 years...

-HORN BEEPS

-Bye-bye!

..she's made it her mission to get this community back on its feet,

and make a real difference to the lives of as many people as she can.

In her own particular way.

They don't call me the Formidable Sister Rita for nothing!

Today, Sister Rita launches a new crusade to clean up Collyhurst.

I know what's going to happen,

I will be on my own at the litter pick, and all of you will be in bed,

is that right?

Bring the kids, they're nearer to the ground than I am.

And with the help of the Sister's Job Club,

a five-year hunt for work finally ends in success.

A fella told me this morning he's got a job.

Will you give him a clap, please?

CHEERING

Now you follow his lead. All of you.

Like most days at the Lalley Centre,

this one starts with Sister Rita taking the mic.

Don't you dare be scared of me.

Are you listening?

And the redoubtable nun is taking no prisoners.

Er, do you want to be thrown out on your ear?

With her team of staff and volunteers,

Sister Rita runs a food bank and drop-in centre

helping with all of life's essentials.

The hairdresser's coming this Monday.

If you want your hair cut,

-wash your hair before you come in here.

-Did you hear that, Steve?

Did you hear that?

All of you, never mind Steve.

The Sister's established the Lalley as a cornerstone of the community.

Offering practical support to those who need it,

in one of the most deprived parts of Manchester.

Take the form.

Fill it in with the children you have.

Her determination to improve the lives of people in the local area,

and beyond, has won her friends in high places.

The Government's Department For Work And Pensions

has set up a pilot scheme that,

once a week, sees officials come to the centre

to give out on-the-spot advice on benefit issues.

Is that it, Max?

Is there another page?

I'll be here all day!

And the first stage of Sister Rita's plans to bring the community together

has started to bear fruit with the creation of her new Friendship Group.

There's a lot of buzz of conversation,

and people actually looking and talking at one another.

That's all brilliant.

No-one could doubt that it's Sister Rita who's the

driving force at the Lalley.

But she couldn't achieve all she does by herself.

There's one key ingredient that makes all her projects possible.

I think that all volunteers at the Lalley know that we rate them very highly.

And we really appreciate,

and there would be no Lalley without them.

The Lalley has a small number of paid staff

like the Sister's deputy, Max, and right-hand woman, Kath.

But what really keeps things on track is the efforts of the 15 volunteers

who give up an hour, an afternoon, or in some cases longer,

to cook, help at the food bank, or generally get stuck in.

I've worked in other places and nothing compares to our volunteers.

Unlike Sister Rita, the volunteers are rarely trained social workers.

And when they first walk through the door, few of them have

any of the training and experience required to deal with some

of the more challenging situations that can occur daily at the Lalley.

Even though sometimes we get visitors who drive you daft,

they just do, you can't let that show.

You know, you have to be as polite as you possibly can.

And they do try very, very hard, I have to say.

But you have to have training.

If you have a sheet that you can show everybody...

You could type that up for us!

Yeah, no...

I've dug myself another hole, haven't I?

You could type that up for us...

The much-needed training is laid on regularly by Sister Rita

and her core team.

There's a focus on health and safety,

and helping volunteers understand the complex social and mental health

needs they're likely to encounter when helping many of the visitors.

Would it be an idea to allocate somebody to do that task each day?

Some of Sister Rita's band of volunteers, like Yvonne,

are required to help out here as part of the conditions of getting

their Jobseeker's Allowance.

Although it's not at all unusual

for several to continue volunteering even after they find paid work.

I love it, I love meeting new people. I like helping people.

So I enjoy it, I love being in the kitchen. You've seen me

with my apron on every day since I started here.

Others come to help because they've benefited from the services

at the Lalley in the past and want to give something back.

But the majority, like Michael, are here because they genuinely

want to contribute to the greater good of the community.

I just think I'm trying to make a difference, that's all, to

people of the area, some less better off than I am.

One of Sister Rita's longest standing volunteers is Muriel,

who has been helping out for almost five years.

Well, Muriel lives in the parish where the Lalley operates from,

and obviously our first port of call was to ask parishioners

if they would help in the running of this centre.

So I guess that's a help for her,

to feeling very much part of the Lalley Centre and the way it's run.

She's a total gem.

I can't imagine working at the Lalley Centre without Muriel.

I retired five years ago, and about six months after I retired

I came here in the summer and I've not been away since.

Volunteering keeps you occupied, and knowing you're helping somebody

makes you feel better about yourself.

Nearly 14 million people in the UK regularly give up their free

time to work as unpaid volunteers for organisations and charities.

Without such willing helpers,

centres like this one couldn't function.

Sister Rita considers people like Muriel to be

the lifeblood of the Lalley.

And she's relying on their enthusiasm to kick-start her

next big idea.

She wants to foster a better sense of community in Collyhurst

by encouraging the locals to take pride in where they live.

So she's working with Margot, who heads up

the Collyhurst Big Local community group,

and together they are organising a monthly litter pick that they

hope will bring people together to transform their surroundings.

You know, we have a beautiful country here

and I think we should look after it.

And I think that the environment is vital to all of us.

I think that going out in fluorescent jackets

and showing people that we're picking up litter

just makes them think for a couple of seconds about what's going on

and about the importance of keeping the streets and the areas clean.

It's Saturday morning

and there are high hopes for Collyhurst's very first litter pick.

Although a lot of the areas are very clean, a lot of the residential

areas are quite clean but the areas that aren't lived in can tend to

have quite a lot of rubbish so we decided to get together.

But it quickly becomes clear that almost all the people who've

turned up to muck in are the people who helped arrange

the litter pick in the first place.

Only two other people from the community have come along.

I'm a bit disappointed but not massively disappointed because it's

the first time we've done this, and we are going to make a difference.

Undeterred, Muriel and the others roll up their sleeves

and get stuck in.

You know, it shows we have some respect for it.

If you try to get the kids to do it as well,

that's the main thing, get the kids doing it, cos they are going to be the next ones to care for the area.

And local councillor, Julie, is also keen to get involved.

That bag there, somebody's just come along, seen this rubbish,

it's unkempt, and thrown it away. So, by keeping it clean,

it stops that casualness of just throwing stuff over a wall,

hopefully, fingers crossed

While the litter pick can be a fun way to stretch your legs and

make a difference, it doesn't come without risk.

Muriel comes off worst in an encounter with a rogue branch,

and needs first aid.

-It's only a scratch.

-I'm doing blonde, not red.

THEY LAUGH

I gave my blood for this place!

But before long, they stumble on a much more serious problem.

I would be very surprised in an environment like this

if we didn't find any drugs paraphernalia at all.

But I'm surprised and I'm really, really pleased that so far

in this area we've found so little, so that's really good for this area.

Community litter picks are becoming increasingly common.

And the Campaign to Protect Rural England has advice

on its website for anyone looking to organise one in their area.

Here in Collyhurst,

despite the turnout limiting how much of the local area can be covered,

Sister Rita's team can congratulate themselves on a promising start.

18 bags,

-18 bags of rubbish and all this, this is the difference...

-Say a round 20 and have done with it.

..it makes today for this environment

and the people of this area.

It's great. Thanks, guys!

Yay!

I think if you work in Collyhurst, you really have to have drive,

you have to be determined, you have to be optimistic,

and it's difficult at times, when time and time again you feel let down.

Time and time again people won't turn up.

Now, if you don't

have that single-mindedness, and that determination,

then you wouldn't

make any difference in Collyhurst, and I actually think I have that.

A much more established part of what the Lalley can

do for the community is the centre's weekly job club.

We are having a new job club on a Monday as well as Thursday.

And the Monday job club is at the same time, one o'clock until three.

Figures show that around half a million people who haven't

got jobs have been unemployed for 12 months or more.

So the purpose of job clubs like this one,

run in hundreds of drop-in centres around the country, is to

help provide new skills and offer support to people looking for work.

The job club that we have on a Thursday afternoon helps people

with their computer skills - some of them have, some of them haven't.

With their CVs, with the job searching.

The other thing is, they have people around them,

around the table, that they link into to say, "How do you do this?"

And that helps them grow in confidence.

Sister Rita knows the encouragement the job club provides makes

a real difference in maintaining motivation.

As it has for Tommy Hibbs.

He's been unemployed for five years,

despite constantly applying for work.

In five months I've applied for 400.

I've had two answers. Both of them were basically no.

That's how hard it is.

When they come in and they tell you how many times they've applied

and they've not even had anything back,

that's soul-destroying for them.

So I would say, "Don't give up on this, literally, because you can't.

"Don't give up.

"Keep on searching for jobs, keep on trying to get a job,

"because, believe me, you will get one in the end."

Tommy has signed up to a number of agencies in the hope that

getting a short-term contract might lead to something longer-term.

Today it seems there IS the prospect of a job.

But to firm it up he has something very simple Sister Rita can

help him with.

Come on, Tommy, sit yourself down, love.

Good morning.

How are ya?

Aye.

Tommy was rung with news of a possible short-term

painting-and-decorating job.

He's supposed to call back,

but he doesn't have any credit on his phone.

I got a phone call from me advisor.

He said it's only eight weeks but I said

if I work hard, get my head down, I might get kept on, there's

always a chance, so that's the one I'm trying to get hold of now.

That is brilliant. Well, please, God, you will.

If you need to use the phone, the phone's there.

Yeah, I do need to use the phone.

Hiya, I phoned up this morning about a job,

and I was offered it yesterday and someone was supposed to have phoned me,

but they never did. I've just got me work boots and that. I've just got no brushes or anything.

All right, thanks a lot, bye.

Sister Rita has a solution for that, too.

To help Tommy afford the new brushes he needs, she reminds him

about a government work programme that lends job seekers

the money to buy the necessary tools or equipment for a new job.

It works like a loan - so once you're earning,

you pay the money back.

So Tommy wastes no time hotfooting it down to his local DIY store.

Roller, radiator brush. Well, I couldn't have afforded it.

I've got everything I need now.

For Tommy, the chance he'll be able to live on more than benefits

is the break he's been waiting for.

You've got a better lifestyle.

You feel happier in yourself when you're working.

The only way, in my book, out of poverty,

and the only way to have good wellbeing in your self, is to work.

Tommy's had a difficult life, and hasn't always made the best choices.

But in recent years he's been determined to turn things around.

And getting back into work will be a huge step forward.

I was taken into care when I was ten.

And from there, I just went through everything then,

one home to another home, then approved school and borstal and prison.

And it was only when I got to 40 and thought, "What have I done?"

But just as the future appears to be looking brighter for Tommy,

he gets some unwanted news.

Hello?

Job's fell through.

HE SIGHS

HE EXHALES HEAVILY

That's fell through.

You get your work stuff ready and everything,

and then they tell you it's been pulled.

This is what you get, you know what I mean?

And you wonder why people get fed up.

Despite yet another knock back, Tommy's not giving up.

He'll be back at the Job Club next week.

Collyhurst has higher than average unemployment,

but in Britain as a whole,

the number of people in work is at a record high.

Wages too are rising faster than they have for years,

although not for everyone.

Sister Rita regularly sees people coming to the food bank

who HAVE jobs but need a bit of extra help to get by.

I have no problem with people who work coming to the food bank

because some people who work just can't make ends meet.

Why would we punish them for that,

when they're getting out of bed in the morning,

getting out to work, doing their bit,

trying to keep their children happy and fed,

and yet not making enough to make ends meet?

Among the people in that position is Tanisha.

Her 15 and a half hours a week as a teaching assistant

just falls short of the 16 hours she'd need to work to qualify

for the Government's Working Tax Credits,

designed to top up the wages of low-paid workers.

So, to keep on top of things, she's found herself

relying on the Lalley's food bank.

I'm sure there are people that just dip in and out

of food banks as and when they need them.

We have young children. We struggle, and that's it.

Her top-ups from the food bank mean she doesn't need to worry about

whether she can afford to provide three meals a day for her children.

My kids used to say things like,

"Are we going to get lunch today or are we just having dinner?"

And there was always this sort of anxiety, "Is this lunch or dinner?",

but now that stress has been removed.

My heart goes out to these people.

They have all the pressures of a working day,

but not the benefits. The pay is so pathetic

that they can't really manage their lives on what they're getting.

So I just think they need even more consideration

than the people who can't get jobs and are coming in for food.

I'll hold your tea for you.

When I first came, I was expecting that there would be people

homeless or...I don't know, druggies.

And then when I came in and I saw,

"Oh, look it's mums and families,"

you know, I saw one or two people in their work uniforms

There have been dissenting voices amongst some of the others

using the food bank, who don't agree that the service

should be available to people in work,

assuming that having a job brings in enough money

to buy food, rather than take it for free.

And while, for Tanisha, the top-up supplies

she gets from the Lalley make all the difference,

her situation has made her question whether she'd be better off

if she DIDN'T have a job.

What I think is happening is that those who are working

and are trying, we get penalised more than those who are not

doing anything at all.

It's really, really stressful.

'Being on benefits is much more easier, I reckon.'

Tanisha would like to work more,

but can't due to her son, who has medical issues,

and relying on benefits wouldn't be the right choice for her.

So, she's sticking with her job and using the food bank

as and when she needs to, depending on what bills need to be paid.

Sister Rita doesn't make a distinction between those

who need short-term assistance and those who come back week after week.

She just wants to help, no matter what.

Er, no.

When you've finished talking... Thank you.

But she knows the secret to keeping the centre running smoothly

is the volunteers who give up so much time to help.

She's keen to make sure they understand just how much

their contribution is valued.

Right, girls, come on, let's get out.

So today she's rewarding her faithful team with a day out

and taking them to Blackpool.

Well, I would like to do far more for the volunteers, actually,

than what we do, but we do take them for a day out in Blackpool.

Now, they're very happy with that.

We have great camaraderie in the bus, great fun, great laughter.

Even on days out, it's Sister Rita who has her foot on the gas.

Will you shut up at the back!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord, we ask you today to protect us,

to help Rita to be able to drive the van,

and to able to find all the controls.

We're off, people.

Are we going to hit that blue car?

-Oh, my God.

-Keep going.

-It's tight.

-It's fine.

Safely parked up, the volunteers are free to enjoy

the sights and sounds of the seaside.

FAIRGROUND MUSIC PLAYS

-Are you going on the Big Dipper?

-No.

-THEY LAUGH

-Now listen...

-I want to come to watch you.

No, let's get this straight, I am going on no Dipper.

I've always liked Blackpool. The air is nice.

Beautiful day. We're very blessed.

And while riding the Big Dipper doesn't appeal to Sister Rita,

she takes pleasure from watching her team make the most of the rides.

Oh, my goodness.

I hope then can walk when they get off that.

Days like this are a rare opportunity for her volunteers

and staff to mix, away from the constant demands

of their work at the Lalley.

You can relax more, you're not seeing to anybody else.

It's our free time, between ourselves,

get to know each other better, outside the Lalley.

Cos we never get a minute to chat when we're at the Lalley,

or spend any time or have a cup of tea together.

It's all full-on, isn't it? So these days are great.

Sister Rita's delighted to have found a moment to show her team

that without them, she wouldn't be able to get on

with the job of helping the people of Collyhurst

No one person runs the Lalley Centre.

It's a team effort and if we haven't the team,

we can't do it.

-SHE LAUGHS

-Come on, Anthony!

THEY CHEER

But all too soon, it's time to get back to the Lalley.

Is everybody in?

Very, very, very successful day.

I'm so pleased that they all enjoyed themselves and I know that they did.

Once back in Collyhurst, it's business as usual.

The team has heard from a local couple with an unexpected

need for help, and no idea where to start.

So Sister Rita's despatched Kath to make a home visit.

Well, Kath is a law unto herself, and she goes in...

She'll go the extra ten miles

because she has a heart as big as a mountain.

We want to do it because people can't always get out to us,

and we want to do it. That may not be physical.

That may be mental, and that may be that they can't face it.

Kath's going to meet Edward and Hilary,

who until recently were both in work.

Take your time.

I am. I'm all right.

But their lives were turned upside down when Edward

suddenly became seriously ill with a disease that weakens the muscles,

and had to give up his job as a forklift truck driver.

His wife has also had to stop working to be his full-time carer.

I can't get up the stairs. That's why I'm sleeping down here.

I can't wash myself properly.

I'm reliant on her 24 hours a day.

I'd be lost without her, to be honest with you.

I'd never tell her that.

You've just told me!

With both of them suddenly no longer working, the couple's income

has fallen from around £350 per week,

to Edward's statutory sick pay of £88 a week.

They've asked for help identifying what support or benefits

they may be entitled to.

And on top of everything else they're dealing with,

they don't where to begin.

We've never been through it, so I haven't got a clue what you do.

So that's why we're relying on the Lalley Centre.

I wouldn't even know how to go about it, you know.

Edward's illness means he's unable to walk much further

than his front door.

But it's at least a bit of fresh air, isn't it?

And a few of the people that are around, you know...

It's also affected his ability to swallow,

meaning he can't eat solid food and is currently fed through a tube.

You've been through a massive amount, haven't you?

-I'm still here to tell the tale, aren't I?

-Yeah!

There is lots of help available if you suddenly find yourself ill

and unable to work, or with a dramatic drop in your income.

But understanding how to get it isn't always easy.

Organisations such as Citizens Advice are a great first stop

and it's a key part of the work of centres like the Lalley

to help get you through your options too.

Part of my role is to maximise your money

-and to make sure you're getting things you should be getting.

-Yeah.

THEY LAUGH Kath thinks their best option

is to claim for a Personal Independence Payment, PIP for short,

known as the Disability Living Allowance until 2013.

It provides financial support to help cope with long-term health issues.

The Personal Independent Payment, it's a passport to other things.

It will impact on other things about what you pay in council tax...

Oh, right, yeah.

-And that can be backdated for three months.

-Right. Yeah.

So, as soon as that's awarded, then we can apply for the carer's

and that's quite a quick thing, and look at support for you

cos you were working.

A Personal Independence Payment award could also open the door

for Edward qualifying for a round-the-clock carer,

meaning Hilary could be able to go back to work at least part-time

to help ease the burden on the couple.

They feel a bit up in the air with their finances, you know.

He's on his statutory sick pay and it's a low amount.

I mean, Hilary's given up her job to be able to care for him,

so they've got that income that's gone.

I think we should put him in for the top 24-hour care,

and you'd definitely meet all the criteria for that.

I've done a lot of those forms and, you know,

you've got all your evidence there and your health.

Smashing.

Really... I wouldn't know where to start with it.

For people who can't get to the Lalley Centre,

home visits like this are a vital part of the service

Sister Rita and the team offer the Collyhurst community.

I'll just make my way out. OK. Thank you.

If the claim Kath's helping him with is approved,

Edward could double his weekly income to around £160.

And Kath's relieved she's been able to help the couple start

the process of getting their lives back on track.

It went really well.

It's quite demanding completing one of those forms,

so it's quite a bit of work to do there, and I'm quite happy to come

and fit it in and make sure that they're feeling OK.

Back at the Lalley Centre, Sister Rita is continuing with her plan

to transform the look and feel of Collyhurst,

in the hope that the whole community will get behind the project

and start caring just a little bit more about the place where they live.

All right, Peter, my name is Sister Rita.

I'm project leader at the Lalley Centre in Collyhurst

and I'm a social worker.

She's joined forces with Margot from a charity that organises

community action.

But the first litter pick they ran didn't have the impact they'd hoped,

as the turnout was mostly limited to volunteers from the Lalley.

So, to avoid that happening second time around, Sister Rita and Margot

are determined to come up with ways of getting more people involved.

Well, we had some success in that we collected a lot of litter

but there weren't as many people there as we'd hoped to have.

And we were hoping for some families to come, which didn't happen.

Perhaps if I do a bit of work in the four primary schools...

-That'd be brilliant.

-..and bring the flyers in and do a bit of a talk.

Well, I think that's a good start, and then to sort of say,

"Why don't you try and get your mum or your dad to come? Or both?"

Sister Rita and Margot have hatched a plan to go into the local school

and encourage pupils to come to the next litter pick.

They hope that by interesting children in the community,

there's a better chance of changing things longer term.

She's encouraged me to go into the four primary schools in Collyhurst

to talk to the older children about the litter pick,

and use their pester power on their parents to encourage them

to come along and help with the litter pick.

So, while Margot targets the children in their school assembly...

OK, so we're going to meet tomorrow at 11 o'clock at the Lalley Centre,

which is right here near the school, and we're going to go,

and we're going to collect litter from around Collyhurst.

We hope that that's going to make Collyhurst

look like a really, really nice place.

..Sister Rita braves the rain to canvass

the parents at the school gates.

-Will you try and come?

-Course I will.

-Bring her with you. I want her with us.

-Thank you, Sister!

OK, thank you.

Come here! Do you see that? It says, "Collyhurst litter pick, Saturday."

I have to get up out of bed. Why don't you just come and join me?

Bring her. She'd be brilliant. You will, won't you?

-Good girl.

-Here you are.

To remind you. There you are.

They've had a positive response.

But the nun and Margot will have to wait till Saturday

to see if their work has paid off.

I'm hopeful for a good turnout.

I'm not saying it's going to happen but, if it does, it'll be great.

While the formidable Sister Rita is the force that drives

the Lalley Centre, she's the first to admit that everything she does

depends on the work of not just her volunteers, but her core team,

none more so than her right-hand man, Max Leon.

Max is everything really that you could desire in somebody

you're working close with. He's very supportive of me,

very protective of me, and always there when I need him. Always.

You're going to fill this form now

-and next time you're going to bring documents.

-OK.

-OK?

Originally from Peru, Max left there to be with Maria,

who's a teacher in the UK.

They've now been married for seven years

but coming to Britain wasn't a straightforward decision.

To leave my country,

my family, my job, my business, everything.

It was a very difficult step to do.

In Peru, Max worked as a paragliding instructor.

When he arrived in Manchester,

he came across the Lalley, where he asked to volunteer.

As he began to volunteer,

I could see there was more to this man than meets the eye.

Max has great empathy with people.

He has a love for people.

Max is a lamb and I am the lion.

That's the difference.

After a year of volunteering, Sister Rita gave him a paid job

helping her to manage the Lalley.

But as he's not from the EU, Max has to apply for a visa every two years

just to live and work in the UK.

So the couple have had to live with the uncertainty that Max

could one day be forced to return to Peru.

'We've spent £9,500 on visas,'

and we've just applied for indefinite leave to remain,

so hopefully that will come through

and then we can apply for citizenship.

And Sister Rita's just as eager as Maria

for Max to finally get his visa to remain in the UK.

She wants him to take more control in the Lalley,

and I think he would be very good cos he's got an approachable nature.

Sister Rita knows that one day she's going to need to hand over the reins

of the Lalley to someone else.

I wouldn't like to follow myself.

My standards are very high and I'm a bit demanding on workers.

Max would be the, I suppose, next best thing to me,

maybe higher on a lot of issues.

The people love him. They absolutely love him.

So hopefully, by the time I ride off into the sunset,

he will have exactly what he needs to take over the Lalley.

It's now three months since Max applied for his leave to remain,

and the envelope containing that decision has finally arrived.

I have this envelope.

I want you to open it because I am scared.

Dun, dun, dun. Home Office.

"Please find attached your Biometric Residence Permit.

"It is proof of your right to stay, work and study

"in the United Kingdom." Yay!

At least I get it.

Yes! God save the Queen.

-Cheers.

-Salud.

-Salud. Salud.

It's good news for the couple AND Sister Rita,

that Max can stay in the UK permanently

and he's now on the first step towards becoming a British citizen.

Well, I never had any doubt that the Lord would send him back to Peru

because he was crucial in the life of the Lalley Centre.

With Max's future sorted, Sister Rita and the team can focus

on their aim of helping as many people in the area as they can.

Did you hear what I've just said?

-SHOUTING:

-Yes!

Thank you. I am deaf.

And Kath is on her way to once again visit Edward and Hilary,

who contacted the Lalley after a sudden serious illness

left Edward unable to work and needing assistance

in applying for benefits,

something he's never before had to do in his life.

Since Kath last saw Edward, he's had some good news.

That's a lot better, isn't it?

Let's try it with the biscuit and just see how you're managing that.

Is that all right? Cos certainly the fluids seem a lot better.

A hospital appointment revealed he's made a breakthrough

with his condition.

-It's a remarkable difference in your swallow.

-It is, isn't it?

-You're back eating and drinking normally now.

-Yeah.

-And enjoy many more steaks.

-And a few pints now.

And a few pints. Yeah.

Drop us off at the pub on the way home!

As a result, Edward has been able to eat solid food once again

-with his wife, Hilary, and their grandchildren.

-Go on, then.

You can't beat a good meal, can you?

It's better than that liquid, I'll tell you.

Though it's an important step in his recovery,

Edward is still a long way from returning to work,

and with Hilary also having to give up her job

to provide full-time care for her husband,

the couple have seen their income fall dramatically

to under £100 a week between them.

Will you take it in for me, darling, please? Don't drop it.

Now though, Kath has more good news for Edward and Hilary.

She's helped them apply

for the benefits she believes they're now entitled to.

And she's just learned the claim has been successful.

I've come along today to follow up the phone call

about the Personal Independent Payment award.

You've been awarded the high rate

of Personal Independent for care.

Smashing. I wouldn't have a clue what to claim for.

Well, you've never been in that position.

It's understandable, isn't it?

The PIP payment Edward will now receive,

won't just improve the couple's finances.

It also means he can afford round-the-clock care,

giving Hilary a break and the chance to perhaps return to work part-time.

And 63-year-old Edward is hopeful that his recovery will continue

and he'll eventually be back driving his forklift truck at work.

How are you coping with actually being at home?

-It's doing my head in.

-Is it doing your head in?

Yeah, honestly. I just can't get my head around it. Honestly, I can't.

-Well, I am going back to work. I'm determined.

-Are you?

Kath's help in winning the couple their first benefit payment

is only the beginning of the support they can expect

from the team at the Lalley during Edward's recovery.

The next step is to help them navigate through

the other possible benefits that might be available.

Well, I'll be with you every step of the way,

make sure you know what you're applying for

and we'll do it well in advance, so don't worry about anything.

-Just getting yourself right's the main thing.

-Yeah.

Sometimes the best help Sister Rita and her team can provide

is simply letting people know they're there when needed,

as they've been doing with Tommy Hibbs at the weekly job club.

And for him, too, things are starting to look up.

He's been doing a series of temporary jobs over the last few weeks

so for the first time in years he's earning money,

and he's been able to stop relying on benefits.

The first thing he wants to do is use some of that cash to decorate

his house and make it a home he's happy to live in.

I couldn't afford a tin of paint. Just couldn't afford it.

That's two or three days' eating.

When you're on the dole, you can't do it.

Now I can get it how I want it,

putting my own mark here and making it mine.

It makes you proud if people can come in.

It will be fresh, decorated, look clean.

That's what it gives you.

Having work for the first time in years means Tommy's no longer

reliant on the Lalley.

But he's grateful for the help it gave him when he needed it.

I wouldn't hesitate to go back if I was ever in the situation again,

especially to places like the Lalley Centre, cos they helped me.

They fed me and put food in me cupboards,

and I couldn't ask for more than that.

Today, after receiving news of another temporary contract,

Tommy's come to update Sister Rita on how he's doing.

-I start another job next Thursday.

-What is it?

-On the trains.

-On the train!

-And I've got another one straight away.

-I'd love that job.

-You don't think they'd have one for me?

-It's just replenishing the trolleys.

-Next Thursday, I start.

-Well done, you.

That woman deserves everything that she gets cos she's a brilliant woman.

Delighted by Tommy's good news, Sister Rita can't wait to share it.

A fella told me this morning he's got a job.

Will you give him a clap, please?

CHEERING

Now, you follow his lead, all of you.

It was wonderful to tell them this morning that one of them,

because they're a community here, has got a job,

and you could see the obvious delight when they heard that.

They were over the moon. You can't buy that, can you?

You can't buy it.

That's one of the greatest pleasures I get out of this place

because the people themselves are the salt of the Earth.

They're really wonderful.

For Sister Rita, it's a real joy to be able to give people

the boost they need to make things happen,

either for themselves, or the wider community.

One of her latest plans has been to encourage locals

to get behind the regular litter pick she's organised.

And the Sister's hoping that she's now drummed up enough interest

at the local school to make the next event a success.

I know what's going to happen, I will be on my own

at the litter pick and all of you will be in bed. Is that right?

Bring the kids. They're nearer to the ground than I am.

The Sister's ambition is about much more

than making the area look better.

'The litter pick is very important,'

and it does what we're trying to do in the Lalley

by gathering people together. That's what it does.

Working together, laughing together, playing together.

But as the day of the next litter pick dawns, things don't look good.

Along with Margot from community action group The Big Local,

Sister Rita's worked hard to inspire people to come along.

But she's worried the weather could make it another damp squib.

It's like a hurricane. The wind is dreadful.

It's raining again now.

Maybe that will stop. I don't know.

It seems though that her efforts to encourage more of a sense of pride

in the neighbourhood have struck a chord with local residents.

Despite the weather, around 40 people have come to help,

including a good few children from the local school.

It's a much bigger turnout than last time.

Lalley volunteer, Muriel, who was on the first litter pick,

is thrilled with the numbers.

With the weather, I didn't think anybody would turn up, really.

We're really lucky. So, let's hope they get stuck in.

Though equally delighted, Sister Rita realises that even in heavy rain

she'll need to lead from the front.

I am so impressed today,

and I had every intention of backing out of this, and I said,

"Get on and do it yourselves and I'll put the kettle on,"

but I'm afraid I HAVE to do it now, when I see all of you.

I have no option. I have to come with you.

-Right, John, are you all finished there?

-Yeah.

I think Sister Rita is Collyhurst's secret weapon.

If they know events are happening, they'll come along and help.

If they don't know, they don't.

But it's getting the message out there.

But the bigger turnout brings its own problems for the organisers.

There aren't enough litter picking tools for every volunteer.

The last time there were maybe six or seven people,

so we had loads of equipment and today

we just don't have quite enough.

A parent who's turned up for the first time is Lee Currie.

He answered Sister Rita's call to arms after being collared by her

at his children's after-school club at the Lalley.

Right, why have you come here today, sir?

-Because we want to live in a cleaner society, Sister.

-Oh, do you?

We do. My kids, I'm constantly on at them to pick the rubbish up

and throw it in the bin, yeah.

For Lee, it's important his children understand

the need to keep their community free of litter.

Community is vital, no matter where you live,

and we seem to have lost a sense of community

in a lot of neighbourhoods, and I don't want to ever lose

the sense of community in the Lalley Centre.

That to me is priceless.

If there's no litter, it goes a long way, doesn't it?

If your children are falling over outside

and they're falling on dirty cans and bottles and whatnot,

it's not ideal, so let's get it cleaned up.

Head teacher Janine Parker is pleased to see pupils and parents

coming together for the community.

We all know you can't say no to Sister Rita.

Yeah, nobody can say no to Sister Rita. She just has that effect.

I wanted to help picking the litter up so Collyhurst is not dirty.

I came down today to do a litter pick to make Collyhurst cleaner.

With a haul of more than 20 bags of rubbish, the volunteers head back

to the Lalley to congratulate themselves on a job well done.

I just want to say a really sincere thank you for coming here today.

Well done, Collyhurst. You are wonderful.

But I always knew that anyway. Thank you.

THEY CLAP

I was blown away by the response, if I'm honest.

I just couldn't believe that they did it, you know?

It's just... It was a great feeling

that people were interested enough in their area.

Sister Rita's shown what can be achieved

when a community pulls together.

But as Christmas approaches, she's going to need to bank

on even more of that goodwill

if she's to make good on her next challenge -

to make sure as many residents as possible have a Christmas

they'll never forget.

On the last day of her mission to make a difference,

Sister Rita celebrates her 50 years of being a nun as only she could.

How fast would you like to go?

About 140.

Don't be scared, Chris. Everything will be fine.

And as Christmas comes to Collyhurst, the team pulls out all the stops

to spread as much festive cheer as it can.

We could not do this without you.

I'm really grateful for Sister Rita. She's done a lot.

This is yours, I do believe.

Father Christmas is SPECIALLY coming to you.

-HIS MUM LAUGHS

-Thank you so much.