0:00:04 > 0:00:05Modern Britain in 2012.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10In the midst of a recession, we are all in it together,
0:00:10 > 0:00:12but some are in it deeper than others.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17It's a tricky time to be coming of age on a council estate.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22This film follows three lads over a summer, trying to
0:00:22 > 0:00:24make their way in an austere world.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Without money, it's a struggle to keep a roof over your head,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31find a job and aspire to a future.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36'One thing has happened after another since my mum lost her job.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39'Lost her job, lost her house.'
0:00:39 > 0:00:40Piece of shit.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43My mum does want me, but she just can't afford to support me
0:00:43 > 0:00:46anymore, so I got to go and do my own thing.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57I'm a teenager, ain't it? I'm a bit stuck at times.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59'Times get hard, things get on top of me.'
0:01:00 > 0:01:03'If I don't act up and stop acting like a kid,
0:01:03 > 0:01:04'how am I going to bring up a kid?'
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Now I'm here trying to be a man.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17'I ain't always been a determined, focused person.'
0:01:17 > 0:01:21It's got me into trouble in the past and I have to change.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23'I have to do something about this.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26'My aim is not just to educate myself,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29'it's to actually one day be working in a successful industry.'
0:01:54 > 0:01:5818-year-old Craig has grown up on an estate on the outskirts of town.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Most people around here comes into drugs when they are young
0:02:02 > 0:02:05and most people fight when they are younger.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10It's just how kids grow up around here. It's just the thing.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Chav? Council housing and violent.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I just don't want to be like the rest of them.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19I want to have a job and that. Have a good life.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Craig still lives at home, supported by his mum.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28This is my house.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35This is my room. It's a bit of a mess.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39It's not very big, but this is where me
0:02:39 > 0:02:42and my mates hang out if it's cold on the street.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45I used to have another door
0:02:45 > 0:02:50and it fell off, but I don't like not having a door to my room.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- INTERVIEWER:- Have you been doing a bit of boxing training on the wall?
0:02:53 > 0:02:58I punched it one day. I was mad with something and punched it.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04In an industrial town like Rotherham, jobs are scarce.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07For Craig's mum, it's a particularly hard time.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10She recently lost her job and is pregnant.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12She owns the house.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16The house is ours, it's not actually a council house. She bought it.
0:03:16 > 0:03:1812 years on, I'm still here.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23Without a job, it's increasingly hard to make the mortgage payments
0:03:23 > 0:03:27and Craig's mum is now being forced to sell his childhood home.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29She had a job since she was 16, but now,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33for the first time in 18 years, she's been put out of work.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37She's having to sell the house here for some money, so she can live.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Craig. We need to start organising what's happening.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44My mum's struggling for money at the minute, cos she's been out of work.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Can't live here any more.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50For Craig, it's not just leaving this house.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51It will mean leaving home
0:03:51 > 0:03:54and fending for himself for the first time.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17In Birmingham, 19-year-old Wes is also struggling with his home life.
0:04:17 > 0:04:22Although he does sometimes stay at his mum's, life is difficult there.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'Me and my mum have good and bad days.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26'We can be all right for one minute
0:04:26 > 0:04:29'and the next minute can be completely different.'
0:04:33 > 0:04:35'I just want to get my own place, ain't it?
0:04:35 > 0:04:38'Cos there is no space in my house anymore, it's just overcrowding.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40'There's no income coming in.'
0:04:43 > 0:04:49See, I share my room with my brother for 19 years,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52in this cramped room.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Wes has decided his only option is to try
0:04:54 > 0:04:56and get a place in a young person's hostel.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00I just want to do things for myself now.
0:05:00 > 0:05:06I've done college, school and I ain't got a job.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12So getting a hostel is the first step of me really doing anything.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21'I've been stopping at my cousins' for a couple of days.'
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Yeah, man.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28I'm just sick of being stuck in other people's houses
0:05:28 > 0:05:29and not having a place of my own.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33'It's one step of being a child, ain't it?
0:05:33 > 0:05:37'Going into the adulthood and getting my own place.'
0:05:37 > 0:05:39Although it may gain him independence,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42getting his own room will come at a cost,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44financially, and to his job prospects.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06For 19-year-old Frankie, home is a cramped three-bedroom council flat
0:06:06 > 0:06:09where five people are dependent on his mum's benefits.
0:06:09 > 0:06:10Mum!
0:06:11 > 0:06:13It's a lovely day.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14- MUM:- Stop it!
0:06:14 > 0:06:17SHOUTING
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Two of my sisters sleep in this room here, one of my sisters
0:06:20 > 0:06:24sleep in that room there and my mum sleeps in that room there.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26And, obviously, this is my room here.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- INTERVIEWER:- Where's the front room? - There's no front room.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33Get out.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36That's that sister.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42My two younger sisters sleep in this room here.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44When someone's in the shower, obviously, if I'm in a rush,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I just bang on the door and tell them to come out.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50- INTERVIEWER:- Is it a lot living with four women?
0:06:50 > 0:06:53It's all right. I don't know. I've always...
0:06:53 > 0:06:54Cos, obviously, it's the norm to me,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58so I don't really know what it's like to not live with just women.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I was always in the streets when I was growing up.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04I was never really at home, so I was always around males, anyway,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07so this is just where I slept when I was growing up, I guess.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Frankie has just finished his first year at college,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16where he is studying games design.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21People who create the software, they provide it to students for free,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24so I don't have to actually pay for the software.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26This project is just a dream home.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30That would be on the beach, with a swimming pool in the roof.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33You know, it's a dream home. It's a dream. It's a fantasy, it's not real.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36- Frankie, your trousers are in the tumble dryer.- See you later, girls.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37See you later, Gran.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42This ain't my dream home,
0:07:42 > 0:07:45cos if I create a dream home that's just appealing to me,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48it would probably be in the woods or somewhere secluded like that.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50My dream has always just being independent,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52having my own house, being happy somewhere.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Location-wise, it would probably still be in the 'hood, like.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59There is nothing actually wrong with the area, it's just the environment.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01You know, mentally, I can't be here.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04'I have to get myself away from that and I get out of that bubble.'
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Frankie's hope is to be the very first person from his family
0:08:10 > 0:08:11to get to university.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15'Cos, obviously, living round here my whole life, I've seen people grow up
0:08:15 > 0:08:17'but they haven't really moved on anywhere.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'I've just seen them grow up and be in the same place.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24'One day, I said to myself, "I have to change."
0:08:24 > 0:08:26'Nobody ain't going to change for me.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29'I do need that determination, you know, and that focus
0:08:29 > 0:08:32'because without that, then how I going to get where I want to be?'
0:08:33 > 0:08:37But with fees now hitting nine grand a year and no access
0:08:37 > 0:08:41to The Bank of Mum and Dad, the odds are stacked against him.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46'Education is the way out.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49'You know, rich people don't need to really care about education,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52'because it's given to them on a plate, whereas people like me
0:08:52 > 0:08:54'or whoever else is in my state, you are born into nothing,
0:08:54 > 0:08:57'so you have to make something of yourself.'
0:09:16 > 0:09:19In Rotherham, a town dominated by steelworks,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Craig had trained as a welder.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I'm not a trained mechanic, I'm an engineering welder.
0:09:26 > 0:09:32I know basic car mechanics, but he knows more about bikes.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35But these days, there is not much call for welders.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Been taught quite heavy machinery and that,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41but there is just no jobs out there for young people.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46No-one wants to take young kids on from school.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50Despite their skills,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Craig and his old schoolmate Chink have never had jobs.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Although Chink still has his paper round.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02The lads scratch a bit of money by fixing bikes.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Around here, there is lots of people who've got bike parts what
0:10:05 > 0:10:08they'll swap or trade for another bike part or engine
0:10:08 > 0:10:11or brakes or whatever. Clutch.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15I only got this because I swapped my scooter for it.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18There's three mechanics on this street and one welder on this
0:10:18 > 0:10:23street that are out of work, so that's an empty trade.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25They can help me in life.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27If I ever need any welding done, I can do it myself.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Although he has no future in the industry he trained for,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37Craig has refused to sign on and claim benefits.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Instead, he enrolled in a local sports course, which gets him
0:10:42 > 0:10:45£10 a week and a free bus pass.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49But £10 won't support him when he has to stand on his own two feet.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Wes didn't manage to get a place in the hostel
0:10:55 > 0:10:59and he's back on his old circuit.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01We are in different places all the time, always travelling,
0:11:01 > 0:11:03'always going round and round.'
0:11:03 > 0:11:06But there is one constant in his life.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14A year ago, Wes became a dad.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19BABY CRIES
0:11:19 > 0:11:23It's on now. Look.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Oh, don't do that.
0:11:25 > 0:11:31When I found out, I was 17, I was in my college class
0:11:31 > 0:11:37and I was just sitting there and she has pinged me on my Blackberry.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40She said, "Guess what, you're going to be a dad."
0:11:42 > 0:11:44It was a good feeling but a scary feeling.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Thinking, "OK, I've got to step up now.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49"I've got to be a dad, I've got to grow up."
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Not knowing who my real dad is,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56he left my mum when she fell pregnant, so I thought,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58"I can't do that to anyone."
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I need to be there for him, you know what I'm saying?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03When he is here with Rowen,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05he is good, I'm not going to fault him on that.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11He does do the proper dad job, but he's still a little boy inside.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19I don't know. I didn't expect it to be as hard as it is.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20It's their child, as well.
0:12:20 > 0:12:25They helped make it, so they should pay their way as well. It's not easy.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28A tin of milk is near enough £12 now.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30That don't get you nowhere.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36But on £53 a week Jobseekers Allowance,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38it's a struggle to contribute.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Financially, yeah,
0:12:43 > 0:12:47it was hard, cos there's stuff that you just can't do all the time.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52The main arguments are about he's not supporting us and whatever else.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55You know, I'm struggling money-wise, cos
0:12:55 > 0:12:59I have to buy everything for Rowen.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It's not that easy.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09I've been doing a bit of voluntary work but, I don't know,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12I don't want to be doing voluntary work.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Who wants to work for free?
0:13:14 > 0:13:19If he got a job, it would be so much easier.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30For Craig, events at home are moving faster than he'd expected.
0:13:33 > 0:13:34Unable to sell the house
0:13:34 > 0:13:38and going further under with the mortgage, Craig's mum is moving out.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Desperate to sell, she is planning to have it redecorated.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49There is no boxes up there.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Reluctant to leave the place he grew up and with his relationship
0:13:52 > 0:13:56with his mum strained, Craig is staying on, temporarily.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01- Right, we're done. - Is everything left mine?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Apart from the telly and the pictures.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05- When are you taking the telly? - In about five minutes.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- I'm taking it in Dave's car.- Can I have some money?- I ain't got any.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12Thanks a lot.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I'll phone you in a couple of days, when I get myself organised.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Thanks for all your help.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24With nothing left in the house,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Craig looks at retrieving sofas his mum had lent a neighbour.
0:14:31 > 0:14:32Oh, for fuck's sake.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Fuck's sake. Everything is fucking ruined. I tell the stupid bitch.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Fucking bitch.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54I said to my mum two week ago, "Keep them settees."
0:14:58 > 0:14:59I remember when I were young,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03when I first ever come here and I were four year old.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06I remember that was the last time I seen this room empty.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Everything I know was around here but now I'm on my own
0:15:09 > 0:15:11so it's not going to be as easy.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27Wes isn't the only teen dad on the estate.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Almost all his mates are dads and out of work.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Yeah, man.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35His close mate Aaron has asked him to come round.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38With no money and a hungry baby, he is desperate.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- We have to cough up £10, ain't it? - It has to be 10?- Yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:45No, but I'm saying, if you put in five,
0:15:45 > 0:15:48you can still use the emergency again.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51But that's going to be gone by tomorrow, you know what I mean?
0:15:51 > 0:15:53You know what you need to do, Aaron?
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Ask someone to lend you some money.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Simple as.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Simple.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02I went to my dad before yesterday to borrow money, ain't it?
0:16:04 > 0:16:07I can't do that now. Oh, you've been sick. Oh, bless.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I can't go to no family member
0:16:15 > 0:16:19and there's not many people out there that will borrow me things.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21My dad's just a waste, man.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25I don't want to say what I've got to go do,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27but I've got to do what I've got to do, ain't it?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Just know if you come back here tomorrow, this child's
0:16:30 > 0:16:34going to have electric, food and he's going to have some nappies.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35Yeah.
0:16:37 > 0:16:44- Some milk.- What milk does he take? - For hungrier babies.- SMA?
0:16:44 > 0:16:47- No, the other one. Cow & Gate. - Cow & Gate, the hungrier baby one?
0:16:47 > 0:16:51- So, what, if I got him some SMA ones, not good?- Not good.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53They fuck with his stomach.
0:16:53 > 0:16:54They both know what the options
0:16:54 > 0:16:57for making money on an estate can involve.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59If I've got a bit of change in my pocket, I can go out there,
0:16:59 > 0:17:03grab a little set and I'll call flip it and make a little bit of money.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06You don't even want to be getting yourself
0:17:06 > 0:17:08- sucked into all this stupidness. - I know.
0:17:08 > 0:17:09I could ask to borrow money,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13but it's not like I need to borrow a little bit, you know, I need stuff.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- Can I use your phone?- Yes.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20- MOCKING:- Hi, this is Jobcentre.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22- Please press one.- I hate this.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27Wes has decided to try and lend Aaron the money himself,
0:17:27 > 0:17:32but his Jobseeker's Allowance payment hasn't come through
0:17:32 > 0:17:35and the Jobcentre aren't much help.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37'..please continue to hold.'
0:17:45 > 0:17:48OK, then. Thanks. Bye.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53She said get a crisis loan for now. She said it ain't been processed.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57The last time they offered me a crisis loan - £14. Take the piss.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59I'm not even going to get mad about it.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Now I'll just have to see what else I can do.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05For now, he is as skint as Aaron.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15JSA money - £59 a week?
0:18:16 > 0:18:20I don't know how they expect adults, people who have kids,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23to live off £59 a week.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32The streets is a safety net. The streets is always there for you.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35There's always opportunities within the streets to, you know, make money.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37But it's easy. It's like the easy route out.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Whereas going to get a job and that, that's kind of the hard route
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and you need that determination and ambition to get you there.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46If you're coming from an estate like this and you go and apply for a job,
0:18:46 > 0:18:47they get knocked back down then,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50so they kind of lose that determination after they try,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53so they come back to the streets and the streets provide,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56so that's why you can't blame people for coming back to the streets.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03But Frankie knows from experience
0:19:03 > 0:19:05what the price of the streets can be.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Every few weeks, he makes a two-hour journey across London
0:19:11 > 0:19:13and gets a stark reminder.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26METAL DETECTOR BEEPS
0:19:26 > 0:19:30- Nothing else in your pockets?- No.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32'When I visit my friends, I know what they are thinking.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35'That's why it's good to be on the other side of the table
0:19:35 > 0:19:37'cos I know what goes through their heads.'
0:19:39 > 0:19:40Before, when I was here,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43I was sitting on the other side of the visiting table.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45I was the person being visited.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Frankie was sentenced to two years in prison for
0:19:52 > 0:19:55the street robbery of a mobile phone that ended in violence.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00I hit one of the boys and he suffered a fractured jaw,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04so that's why I come to prison so, yeah.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09I've done two years for seriously injuring him.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14However, you look at it, you know, I was in prison for something.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18I wasn't in prison for no reason. No-one is in prison for no reason.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25Bed, toilet, sink,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27amazing view.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29I was thinking about it just now when I was in here,
0:20:29 > 0:20:31what did I do to kill time?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33I used to just think all the time.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Try to come up with a plan, you know, try to structure my life.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46I've woken up and realised what my life is like and, you know,
0:20:46 > 0:20:50what everyone else's life is like and I kind of had to think,
0:20:50 > 0:20:53you know, how can I better this? And, no,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56I don't regret it, cos it allowed me to come to prison.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57You know, it gave me
0:20:57 > 0:21:01that time to think what I want to do with my life, you know.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04'I always keep that negative safety net, if that makes sense,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06'like, say for example, you think,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08'when I get out there, if this don't work,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10'I can go and sell drugs or something.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13'I, kind of, had to take that negative aspect of my life away,
0:21:13 > 0:21:17'so my safety net is my plan, you know, so I can't let it fail.'
0:21:25 > 0:21:27In Rotherham, Craig has been on his own for a week.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33With no money to feed himself, his only option has been to swallow
0:21:33 > 0:21:37his pride and seek benefits - something he is bitterly opposed to.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Piece of shit.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42He has just come back from the Jobcentre.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45This is against everything, against what I wanted to do,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47but I've got no choice.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53I never wanted to go on Jobseeker's, I didn't want to move out yet,
0:21:53 > 0:21:58but it's all come right quick so I've just got to. I don't want to do it.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01My dad does it and he's a bum. I don't want to be like him.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Army's easiest job these days. If you can get in, you're all right.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10They'll look after me for the next ten years.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Craig has toyed with the idea of joining the Army since school.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32- This is the one. - We are in the bastard.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36Machine-gun turrets all over this bit. They filled all that in.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39That would have been a place for snipers or something to hide.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41This were all a pit, a massive mining pit.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Cos they were mining all the coal,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- they tried invading this all the time.- They shut the steel mills down.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50And then they had about 20 soldiers here waiting to go boom, boom, boom.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Like when you were a kid, you made machine-gun noises.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58That's what you'll be doing, if you become a sniper.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- It's not a sniper, it's a marksman. - A marksman, then.
0:23:02 > 0:23:08- Try it.- You can do your marksman training in the Army, anyway.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- Go for it. Try it.- I will.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Joining up is a well-trodden path out of the estate -
0:23:15 > 0:23:18one already taken by Chink's older brother.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Your brother loves it, though, doesn't he?
0:23:20 > 0:23:23He likes being in the Army, but he don't want to go back to Afghanistan
0:23:23 > 0:23:25cos he's seen bad things there.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28As soon as he got his first pay cheque, though, he were loving it.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33For Craig, it's still a schoolboy dream,
0:23:33 > 0:23:35but he may soon be forced to make a decision.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39It's worth it, though, isn't it?
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Not really, if you knew what they did, it's not very nice.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47- It's easy on patrol in Afghanistan, walking around with a gun.- It ain't.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Thanks.
0:23:57 > 0:24:01In North London, Frankie's college is about to break up for the summer
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and he is already planning on how to fund himself through the holidays.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09Obviously, once I finish my course, getting a job will be vital.
0:24:09 > 0:24:10I will have to get a job.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14I've got work experience in BT, conservation work,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17horticultural work experience.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18All of them are voluntary.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22Frankie has built up a great CV, through working for free,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25but getting a paid job is trickier.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28He has to disclose his criminal conviction.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31Applying online for jobs ain't really working, so I'm going to kind of get
0:24:31 > 0:24:35proactive and go down to Wood Green and go to the stores directly.
0:24:35 > 0:24:40I'll go to the local internet cafe and print it off there.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43I'm checking the history of the previous person who was using
0:24:43 > 0:24:46this computer and whoever was using it was looking for adult work.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49She was editing her profile.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53Mandy Mandy, she is 22 and she's a bi-curious female escort
0:24:53 > 0:24:55and she's from Finchley.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04'I'm looking for a retail job in the area of games
0:25:04 > 0:25:07'because I know a lot about the product
0:25:07 > 0:25:10'so anything to do with games, really, I want to work there.'
0:25:13 > 0:25:16'You know, ideally, McDonald's ain't where I would apply.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18'McDonald's is almost a last resort.'
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Can I hand in my CV here?
0:25:20 > 0:25:22- You can leave it. - Thank you very much.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27'That's a family-run business, so the only people they would employ'
0:25:27 > 0:25:29is family members or friends.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36- Can I speak to the manager, please? - Yeah, you're speaking to her.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- How can I help?- Would it be possible to apply for a job here, please?
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Yes, do you want to give me your CV?
0:25:41 > 0:25:43I can give you our e-mail address for our HR.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47- We forward it to them, it's easier. - OK, thank you very much.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49- Thank you very much. Have a lovely day.- You, too.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Ironically, Cash Converters may hold the most promise of a job.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Surviving on his own, Craig has been dealing with more basic problems.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03He is still waiting for his first benefits to come through.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I ran out of food the other day.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I didn't have nothing yesterday or the day before or the day
0:26:08 > 0:26:14before that or the day before that. Nothing... Nothing.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18Nothing... Nothing... Nothing in there.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22Sometimes, Chink's mum cooks me a bit of food. Sometimes I go to my nan's.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25My mates have been looking after me.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28I've got no money, so I've had to claim Jobseeker's
0:26:28 > 0:26:30so because I'm claiming Jobseeker's,
0:26:30 > 0:26:35I might have to get kicked out of my college course, so leave education.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39- INTERVIEWER:- How is your mum getting on with selling the house?
0:26:39 > 0:26:43She's selling it in a couple of weeks and that's when I got to go.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45About two week left.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52That's two weeks to find a place to live and decide his future.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Birmingham has one of the highest levels
0:27:00 > 0:27:03of long-term youth unemployment in the country.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09# Before I ride out, I kiss my mum and say, "I've got to go"
0:27:09 > 0:27:12# Now I've walked out, my head's spinning like a stripper's pole
0:27:12 > 0:27:14# Call me John Terry cos I rarely ever meet my goals
0:27:14 > 0:27:17# Because of that my belly starts to ache, like I've eaten loads
0:27:17 > 0:27:19# I know what it's like to be young... #
0:27:19 > 0:27:22As the summer wears on, Wes has fallen into a routine -
0:27:22 > 0:27:24being a dad in the mornings
0:27:24 > 0:27:27and then drifting down to the corner with his mates in the afternoon.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30# I've got love for tons of chicks growing up in the area
0:27:30 > 0:27:32# Our roads never sleep Everybody scrapes a peak
0:27:32 > 0:27:34# Trust me, nothing's ever free Everybody has a dream
0:27:34 > 0:27:36# But a favourite few will see
0:27:36 > 0:27:38# How it feels to be able to make it reality
0:27:38 > 0:27:41# And I hope that's me and I'm never gonna sleep till I know... #
0:27:41 > 0:27:46'I'm saying the community is everyone is like no jobs.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48'Day-to-day, you see the same faces
0:27:48 > 0:27:50'so you just know they ain't got jobs.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:53'It's council estate.'
0:27:53 > 0:27:56# Who don't get twisted Chilling with the man, dem?
0:27:56 > 0:27:58# The 'hood life has its good times. #
0:27:58 > 0:28:00'I've got friends that have jobs,
0:28:00 > 0:28:04'but not necessarily. My closest friends ain't got jobs.'
0:28:04 > 0:28:06When you going to drop, then, Animal?
0:28:06 > 0:28:09# Hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle Hard... #
0:28:09 > 0:28:12'It's hard to focus being around them, cos they ain't focused.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15# Hustle, hustle, hustle Hard
0:28:15 > 0:28:18# Hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle Hustle, hard
0:28:18 > 0:28:21# Stretch like a piece of elastic That's why I'm moving drastic... #
0:28:21 > 0:28:26I don't remember the rest but I swear to God, I've got it on my Blackberry.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29'It's just stupid, isn't it? It's like a circle.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31'A circle where you're just stuck.'
0:28:45 > 0:28:47You going after them?
0:28:47 > 0:28:50This tasted way finer than it did yesterday?
0:29:00 > 0:29:04- You tried hard to do it. - Like this old man...
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- I'm red.- I'm red, as well, though. - I'm more red than you.
0:29:07 > 0:29:08I don't care, I'm red.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19BIKES DROWN OUT SPEECH
0:29:51 > 0:29:54- Morning.- You all right?- Yeah, you?
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Craig's mates have been rallying round.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59Chink has been buying him food with his paper round money
0:29:59 > 0:30:01and waking him up for his course.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04You're not going to be happy, are you?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08THEY LAUGH He agrees, dude.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11But this is the very last time.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Craig's two weeks are up.
0:30:13 > 0:30:14It's time to get up.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18His mum has got together enough money for the redecorating,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20and she needs the house clear.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30- SHE SHOUTS - Craig?
0:30:30 > 0:30:33Erm, I've got a plasterer coming. I went to arrange...
0:30:33 > 0:30:37Well, see this room we're in, I want him to patch some stuff up.
0:30:44 > 0:30:49Craig? We're all waiting for you!
0:30:49 > 0:30:50It has been 15 minutes!
0:30:54 > 0:30:57She didn't fucking tell me I had to move all my stuff out on Friday.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59She said you've just got to fucking be sorted...
0:30:59 > 0:31:02Well, be ready for Friday...
0:31:02 > 0:31:05so now I've got to fucking fuck about. I'm not doing it.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08His mum has found him a room he might be able to rent,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10so he's not homeless,
0:31:10 > 0:31:13but he'll have to claim housing benefit to pay for it.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15Craig? Come on!
0:31:15 > 0:31:17- INTERVIEWER: Why can't you do it today?- Just don't want to.
0:31:20 > 0:31:2212:20, in the bus station at the cash machines.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24Make sure you're there. I'm not messing this man about.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26It sounds perfect, this room, for you.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28- So you can't let me down. - I won't let you down!
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Cos I don't want a houseful of Romanians,
0:31:30 > 0:31:32and I've got to rent rooms out, cos I'm broke.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36- This house has got to go, whatever happens.- Yeah, I know it has!
0:31:36 > 0:31:39My fucking home, though, isn't it?
0:31:39 > 0:31:41I'm going to join the Army, anyway.
0:31:41 > 0:31:42Well, I just want you to deal with it.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- Well, I will fucking deal with it! - What are you going in as?
0:31:45 > 0:31:46- Same as last time.- Infantry?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- Yeah.- I don't want you to go in as infantry.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Well, I'm fucking 18 years old,
0:31:50 > 0:31:52and if I want to go and shoot a fucking Taliban,
0:31:52 > 0:31:53I'll fucking go and do it.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- I don't care.- All right. Shut up. Are you going to leave it?
0:31:57 > 0:32:00It's your fucking fault I'm in this fucking mess!
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- Can I have some money for some fags? - No, I've got no money.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06- So? I haven't!- I haven't got three quid - you owe me £140!
0:32:07 > 0:32:08I ain't got three quid.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14- I've just washed all them. - Have you got £1?
0:32:18 > 0:32:21Fuck's sake. You can't do owt with that.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23- You're not going to let me down, are you?- No!
0:32:23 > 0:32:26I can't trust you to do what you say you're going to do,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29- cos you never do. - Fuck off! You're pissing me off!
0:32:36 > 0:32:39I'll never sleep again, if he goes into the Army.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Waiting for the dreaded phone call.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45But...kids are getting killed all the time, aren't they?
0:32:45 > 0:32:48And then, in the infantry? Cannon fodder.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50PHONE RINGS
0:32:52 > 0:32:53Hello?
0:32:59 > 0:33:01Is it? Do you remember all those things?
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Frankie's CV didn't get him any offers,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07but he may have another chance.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Out of the blue, a voluntary work contact has recommended him
0:33:10 > 0:33:12for an interview in the West End.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Where is the job interview?
0:33:14 > 0:33:16- Charing Cross.- Where?
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Charing Cross. Central London.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22- How long will it take you to get there?- I don't know.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23About 40 minutes.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Cans of Coke cost 90p around there!
0:33:33 > 0:33:35I don't go into Central London, you know,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39because there's never really been reason for me to go there.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43I know Trafalgar Square, and that's it.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45It's not exactly a poor city, you know?
0:33:45 > 0:33:47There's loads of businesses and that,
0:33:47 > 0:33:49so it's not like I'm in the middle of nowhere.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52As much as there is going on, there's a lot of competition,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55The odds are stacked against you, really.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59Frankie has never been to a nightclub before
0:33:59 > 0:34:01and doesn't know the area,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03but he might have some of the right skills.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06It's street work, handing out flyers.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18They said, "Have you been to a club before?" And I was like, "No."
0:34:18 > 0:34:20And she thought, "Wow, wow, wow!
0:34:20 > 0:34:23"How are you going to work in a nightclub environment,
0:34:23 > 0:34:25"if you haven't been to a club before?"
0:34:25 > 0:34:28She never said that, but maybe that's how I think she thought.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33It's really important for me to get to that interview stage
0:34:33 > 0:34:34when it comes to getting a job,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37because I have a criminal record, so...
0:34:38 > 0:34:41..when you do apply online, like, say, for example,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44if you apply online, as soon as you enter you have a criminal record,
0:34:44 > 0:34:47your application automatically gets turned down.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49I almost feel like I'm blacklisted.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52Like, I feel like I can't get jobs
0:34:52 > 0:34:55because of what I've done when I was a kid.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57You know, obviously regret it. Every day, I regret it.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59But there's nothing I can do. I can't turn back time.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Craig has finally accepted he has to move.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10He's come to clear his stuff out.
0:35:16 > 0:35:21- INTERVIEWER: This is your old room? - Yeah, this is my old room. Yeah.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24Looks boring, empty.
0:35:28 > 0:35:30Looks smaller.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37Even t'walls. I remember them being green.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40And I remember them being blue before that.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46Yep, it's gone.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49But...it can only get better.
0:35:50 > 0:35:51I hope, anyway.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01There's loads here, Chink! Don't pack, just whack!
0:36:01 > 0:36:03'One thing's happened after another
0:36:03 > 0:36:05'since my mum lost her job, lost her house.
0:36:05 > 0:36:06'Could be due to the recession,
0:36:06 > 0:36:08'but it's not just happening to me or my mum,
0:36:08 > 0:36:10'it's happening to everybody in the country.'
0:36:12 > 0:36:16I am bothered about it, but I just don't show that I'm bothered.
0:36:16 > 0:36:18So I just keep it all inside me.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21When I lay in bed at night, I'll think of my problems, then.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30So...
0:36:33 > 0:36:35..I'm going to see what it's all about.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Last few years, there's been about three or four lads I know
0:36:54 > 0:36:56have gone into the Army.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01They give you a place to live, they feed you,
0:37:01 > 0:37:02they give you all the stuff you need.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04You get a lot of money out of it.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09Craig hasn't sorted anywhere to stay,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12so he's using Chink's shed as a base to stash his gear,
0:37:12 > 0:37:15and he's going to crash on mates' floors.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39For Wes, one of the problems of being a teen dad
0:37:39 > 0:37:44is that his £53-a-week JSA makes no allowance for his son.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48As the mum, the extra benefits go to Laura.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Today, she's going to the market with her mate, Sophie.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Any four cheeses, £1!
0:37:57 > 0:38:01'With my benefits, my money is every fortnight.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04'So I have a good week, and I have a shit week.'
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Thank you.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12- Are these 60p?- Those are 60p.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14'When you're on benefits and you're a young parent,
0:38:14 > 0:38:16'it's absolutely rubbish.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19'You can't do what you want. You can't buy what you want.'
0:38:20 > 0:38:23I spend my other shopping in Asda, with my milk tokens,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27which I get... I get £3.10 on each milk token.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30And then down here, I get my fruit and veg.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35I just got three mixed bowls of veg for £2.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38'Young girls think, "Yeah, I'm going to have a baby.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41'"I'll get this money, I don't have to work," and whatever.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43'It's not like that. It's way harder.'
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Wes often hangs out at his mate, Anton's.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50That's me done for the week now!
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Next door, Anton's neighbour
0:38:55 > 0:38:59usually cooks for more than just her four children,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02and looks out for many of the local kids.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05At the moment, how things are going,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08there's not a lot of jobs going.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12So even if they could do something, it's limited, really.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18So by the time he gets to about 18, 19, what is going to be like?
0:39:18 > 0:39:21Is it just going to get worse in the future?
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Last chance for a plate of beef. No, I'm doing some more.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31- That's just tasters.- Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40I mean, I think the boys around us need to grow up,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43and they need to understand that becoming a father
0:39:43 > 0:39:45isn't just being the sperm donor
0:39:45 > 0:39:48or being the guy that comes around every weekend
0:39:48 > 0:39:50and spends a few hours with his child.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53- Treat him tonight, love! - He don't deserve it!
0:39:53 > 0:39:54- He does, love!- He don't!
0:39:54 > 0:39:57He's a nice bloke! I know him!
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Do you?- No!- No, I'm all right.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03I'm saying, if you're there for your son, you see him a lot,
0:40:03 > 0:40:05you ain't got to worry about financial stuff
0:40:05 > 0:40:07until you can afford it. That's how I see it.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11- As long as you're there.- Mmm.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19'It doesn't take a baby to grow up, does it? We've learnt that.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22'But I think with boys, it takes longer to mature, doesn't it?'
0:40:22 > 0:40:25I mean, basically, if you was to walk down their road right now,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29you'd probably find them all sitting on the wall, doing what?
0:40:29 > 0:40:33- Smoking, playing football with little kids.- Yeah.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36Bantering with the little kids, you know.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37Singing to each other.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47They've been mollycoddled, haven't they?
0:40:47 > 0:40:49They've not had to go out and fend for themselves.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51I don't think they understand
0:40:51 > 0:40:53how good it feels to achieve something,
0:40:53 > 0:40:54and that's what they need to feel.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57That's the good thing about Wes.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00He does more than what the other lads do.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04Wes has gone out and done courses, and it's a slow process,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06but he is trying, isn't he?
0:41:06 > 0:41:08He's trying to go out there and do things.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13RAP MUSIC PLAYS
0:41:16 > 0:41:19In London, Frankie is waiting for a call.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Who's "Lady for job?" This is her now.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27- HE CLEARS HIS THROAT - Hello?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30'Hi there. How are you, Frankie?'
0:41:30 > 0:41:32I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
0:41:32 > 0:41:34'I'm good, thanks. I'm sorry about the delay to back to you.'
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- Yeah, that's fine. Don't worry about it.- 'OK.'
0:41:37 > 0:41:40CONVERSATION INAUDIBLE
0:41:40 > 0:41:42- 'OK, well done.'- All right, then.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44- Thank you.- 'Bye.'
0:41:44 > 0:41:46All right. Bye.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Yeah, I got the job. I told you.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51I beat 16 people to the job.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53Can we go to Nando's to celebrate?
0:41:55 > 0:41:57THEY LAUGH
0:42:02 > 0:42:04It's been weeks since Craig moved out.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Do you want some sauce?
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Although his JSA is now coming through,
0:42:11 > 0:42:14he's still sofa surfing at mates' on the estate.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20These bring back funny memories, these! We damaged him!
0:42:20 > 0:42:22The only reminders of his old home life
0:42:22 > 0:42:24are the clips of him, Jake, and Chink,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26messing around in his old room.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29- That's when it was my turn shooting you.- Oh, right, yeah.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Snorting that chilli powder! - HE GIGGLES
0:42:35 > 0:42:36- What?- Vindaloo chilli powder!
0:42:38 > 0:42:42He said he couldn't breathe through his nose for, like, three days!
0:42:42 > 0:42:44- HE LAUGHS - That were very good!
0:42:44 > 0:42:46That were very good!
0:42:46 > 0:42:48That'll be fucking ice cold, you idiot!
0:42:48 > 0:42:50But Craig's mates know all is not well.
0:42:54 > 0:42:55'With him moving and everything,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58'because he's not really got much to do,'
0:42:58 > 0:43:02he's basically just building up and building up and getting more angry.
0:43:02 > 0:43:05I can see every day when he's just sat there not doing nowt,
0:43:05 > 0:43:08he's just sat there getting angrier and angrier.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11And I can see it, literally, building up to a point where
0:43:11 > 0:43:15he's just going to either go down a path where he's not going to like,
0:43:15 > 0:43:18he's going to do something with his life, because of him being angry.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23The summer's drawing to a close.
0:43:23 > 0:43:28He's still talking about the Army, but hasn't done anything yet.
0:43:28 > 0:43:30That's most of the reason he wants to go into the Army,
0:43:30 > 0:43:31because he's got nowhere...
0:43:31 > 0:43:33well, he has got places to go, but...
0:43:37 > 0:43:40but...he probably does look at it as a way out.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42Like how I did at first.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47- INTERVIEWER:- And for you?
0:43:47 > 0:43:49Well, I want to get a job and that first.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51Get a car and that. Live some of my life.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53You never know, you could spend, like,
0:43:53 > 0:43:55three weeks in war and get killed,
0:43:55 > 0:43:58so I'd rather have some life before going into combat.
0:44:16 > 0:44:18Frankie, though, is thinking ahead.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21He's travelled down from London to the South Coast.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26It's really quiet around here. It's very different here.
0:44:26 > 0:44:27It's full of crackheads.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31Crackheads old people and...posh people.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34And, like, surfer people.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39He's come down for an open day,
0:44:39 > 0:44:42to check out a degree course in games design.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46Right, hi. I'm Peter.
0:44:46 > 0:44:47I'm one of the professors here
0:44:47 > 0:44:51at the National Centre for Computer Animation. Welcome.
0:44:54 > 0:44:56So, all these guys already have their degrees,
0:44:56 > 0:44:58and they're doing a Masters here.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04All the courses we do are both academically challenging,
0:45:04 > 0:45:06so they're difficult courses, but at the same time,
0:45:06 > 0:45:08they prepare you for work.
0:45:09 > 0:45:10Oh, animators are crazy!
0:45:11 > 0:45:13They do all sorts of weird things,
0:45:13 > 0:45:15like they dance with hula hoops,
0:45:15 > 0:45:18they do motorcycles, they juggle a lot.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21They even play with a Christmas tree!
0:45:21 > 0:45:23What's the possibility of me earning money,
0:45:23 > 0:45:26or part-time work, while I'm here?
0:45:26 > 0:45:28Um, it's probably going to be difficult,
0:45:28 > 0:45:33because unlike other colleges, we have a very full timetable.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36If you wanted work in a shop or a supermarket,
0:45:36 > 0:45:39you can, but you'd be exhausted.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42He expects you to put in 44 hours a week.
0:45:42 > 0:45:44Yeah, I mean, that's more than a full-time job.
0:45:44 > 0:45:46Yeah, that's what he said.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48He said it would possibly be too much pressure on you
0:45:48 > 0:45:50to have a part-time job, as well.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54Yeah, well, that's why in my talk, I'm saying lots of people do...
0:45:54 > 0:45:57..first of all, give you a bit of an insight into student finance,
0:45:57 > 0:46:00how much could you supplement your income
0:46:00 > 0:46:03through student finance and support...
0:46:03 > 0:46:05..and who's going to pick up the cost?
0:46:05 > 0:46:07Is it mum and dad, or is it going to be you?
0:46:07 > 0:46:09There is no need to panic.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Yes, the costs that you may pay, may be more
0:46:12 > 0:46:14than people on the current system...
0:46:14 > 0:46:18tuition fee of, in this case, £9,000 a year.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21You pay that annually, but there is a tuition fee loan
0:46:21 > 0:46:23from Student Finance England to cover that full amount.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26And think about like an investment.
0:46:26 > 0:46:28So that's your tuition fees, OK?
0:46:28 > 0:46:29Do you see how it balances?
0:46:29 > 0:46:34So where the loan goes up, the grant goes down.
0:46:34 > 0:46:36University is not meant to disadvantage you,
0:46:36 > 0:46:38and the finance system isn't.
0:46:38 > 0:46:40The amount you're paying is more, and I'm not going to deny that.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42This is the reality of the situation.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44You will have more of a loan than I have.
0:46:44 > 0:46:49So what are going to do now is move onto your budgeting challenge.
0:46:49 > 0:46:53'It will be a three-year course, so that will be...'
0:46:53 > 0:46:55£27,000 that I'll be in debt.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58- INTERVIEWER: What?- £27,000.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01That's not even including living finance or nothing like that.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03That's just £27,000, just to do my course.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06So, obviously, there'll be other costs on top of that, as well.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08So it'll be a lot of money.
0:47:10 > 0:47:12I'm going to live in a flat, yeah,
0:47:12 > 0:47:15with certain rich people, and I'll live off them.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17That's how I'm going to do it.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21That's my plan. Live off rich people, innit?
0:47:22 > 0:47:25I'll be a cool friend, because most of these people
0:47:25 > 0:47:28that come to this university are nerds and geeks and stuff,
0:47:28 > 0:47:29so to have me as their friend,
0:47:29 > 0:47:32all you have to do is feed me and I'll be their friend.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37You've got to have your compulsory uni hoodie.
0:47:37 > 0:47:38What, you have to wear them?
0:47:38 > 0:47:40You don't HAVE TO wear them.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42But if you want to, you can get your merchandise.
0:47:42 > 0:47:43Everyone has to have a uni hoodie.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46- No, I wouldn't wear that. - You wouldn't?
0:47:46 > 0:47:48- No.- Never?- Never, never.
0:47:48 > 0:47:49Oh, you'll be surprised.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51When you roll out at five to nine in the morning
0:47:51 > 0:47:52for your first lecture...
0:47:52 > 0:47:54Don't feel to mingle.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59INTERVIEWER: Are they not your kind of people?
0:47:59 > 0:48:01Erm, no. Not at all.
0:48:04 > 0:48:07- Why not?- They're weirdoes, innit?
0:48:07 > 0:48:10They're all, like, country people.
0:48:10 > 0:48:15If you listen to what they're talking about, they're talking posh.
0:48:15 > 0:48:17"Oh, my Mercedes broke down!"
0:48:17 > 0:48:19And stuff like that.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21She's 16 and she's got a Mercedes.
0:48:22 > 0:48:23Things like that.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30Today has given Frankie plenty to think about.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33I need some rocks.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35Like, rock stick. The sweet.
0:48:45 > 0:48:47It was a good eye-opener.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50All it highlighted, really, is how expensive it's going to be.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53They don't say it's going to be cheap at all.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56The only thing they tell you is, it's going to be so expensive.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59It's like the only thing highlighted is everything's going to cost.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02More and more, the more they go on, the more...
0:49:02 > 0:49:05it's like, the more in debt you're going to get.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10But university isn't really an option. It's vital.
0:49:10 > 0:49:11Like, I have to do it.
0:49:17 > 0:49:20So we're going to be doing the kick-up competition.
0:49:20 > 0:49:24We'll also do...see if anyone can beat Wesley. OK?
0:49:24 > 0:49:28Winners of the kick-up competition will do a head-to-head with Wesley.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30Two laps! Everyone do two laps!
0:49:30 > 0:49:32For Wes, the summer has finally got a purpose.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38He has landed his dream job.
0:49:38 > 0:49:42It may only be for three weeks, but it's paid work.
0:49:42 > 0:49:44I've signed off jobcentre, so no more there.
0:49:46 > 0:49:51Get paid, and then, hopefully, go out and find a permanent job.
0:49:51 > 0:49:53I've turned into teacher.
0:49:53 > 0:49:55That's how I feel. I feel like a teacher.
0:49:56 > 0:49:59Pretend to go one way...
0:49:59 > 0:50:02I don't know, you know, I ain't really had time to speak to them.
0:50:02 > 0:50:04Probably just in bed.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06Smoking bud.
0:50:06 > 0:50:08Stuff like that.
0:50:09 > 0:50:12When I was sitting at my house, ain't have a job,
0:50:12 > 0:50:14bored out my face, I just felt like smoking a spliff,
0:50:14 > 0:50:18but now that I'm actually doing something, I don't want to smoke.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21I'm doing something I enjoy.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25And I'm getting paid for it.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27Six pounds something an hour,
0:50:27 > 0:50:29which is all right for kicking round a football,
0:50:29 > 0:50:30teaching kids, isn't it?
0:50:34 > 0:50:37- INTERVIEWER: Is this a new start for you?- Hopefully.
0:50:37 > 0:50:38I'd say so, actually.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40I can't say "hopefully." There's no going back now.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Take it, take it! Salsa, guys.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00Frankie has also settled into his job.
0:51:00 > 0:51:04He's enjoying the bright lights of the West End.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07Salsa bar.
0:51:08 > 0:51:10So where is the salsa?
0:51:10 > 0:51:12Salsa bar is just up round there.
0:51:12 > 0:51:14- OK. Thanks.- You're welcome, man.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16'I mean, I've got a temporary contract.'
0:51:16 > 0:51:20They looked past that prison thing and stuff like that.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22For every one flyer that a customer brings back,
0:51:22 > 0:51:25I get 25p commission added.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Thank you, sorry. OK.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30'At the moment, you know, I seem to be ahead of everyone else,'
0:51:30 > 0:51:32so that's a really good look for me,
0:51:32 > 0:51:34because it shows that I'm working hard.
0:51:34 > 0:51:35Salsa.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40'You know, considering that they printed off, what?
0:51:40 > 0:51:4225,000 flyers,
0:51:42 > 0:51:4425,000 x 25ps...
0:51:44 > 0:51:48if everyone comes in, the potential to earn on commission is a lot.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Obviously, the likelihood is I'm not going to earn that.
0:51:51 > 0:51:53Yeah, but in central London,
0:51:53 > 0:51:57I would have to get about ten customers to buy a can of Coke.
0:51:57 > 0:51:58It's about £2.50, so...
0:51:58 > 0:52:00You know, the commission's not good.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08HARE KRISHNAS SING
0:52:15 > 0:52:17In Rotherham, things are also moving.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20Craig's on his way to an interview.
0:52:22 > 0:52:23I took loads of CVs out.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26This bit wouldn't be where I were working,
0:52:26 > 0:52:29it would be this side. Because it says there, Heavy Forge.
0:52:29 > 0:52:32This is where they melt down all the steel and make it.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35There are the electric labs where they test the metals.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Excuse me, fella.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49INTERCOM BLEEPS
0:52:49 > 0:52:51I've just come to see the army careers advisor, mate.
0:52:55 > 0:52:59After months of putting it off, he's finally decided to enlist.
0:53:03 > 0:53:06- All right, lads? How are you doing today?- All right, pal?
0:53:06 > 0:53:08Pleased to meet you. I'm Sergeant Charlton.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10All right, if you'd both like to take a seat.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14It's a lot cooler in here.
0:53:14 > 0:53:16- Weather's horrific, isn't it?- Aye.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18Do you know anyone, then, that's in the Army?
0:53:18 > 0:53:22Yeah, his mate's brother's in the Army.
0:53:22 > 0:53:24- Have you talked to them about it? - Yeah.
0:53:24 > 0:53:26And has that influenced you to join up?
0:53:26 > 0:53:29Well, I've always wanted to do it, but they did before me.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33Have you actually thought about what you'd like to do within the Army?
0:53:33 > 0:53:35I want to go into the Rifles.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38- So you want a full-time job, 365 days a year?- Yeah.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40No dramas with that, mate.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43We're not the sharpest at tools!
0:53:43 > 0:53:46It's not easy to get in the Army, nowadays, all right?
0:53:46 > 0:53:49The current climate, to do things like Afghanistan
0:53:49 > 0:53:52and go on operations, you've got to be very physically fit.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55'I've been thinking about joining the Army for a long time.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57'I just got, kind of, put off from it for a while.'
0:53:57 > 0:53:59It's a proud day. Have a photo took,
0:53:59 > 0:54:02get your oath and the allegiance and everything,
0:54:02 > 0:54:03and swear it to the Queen.
0:54:03 > 0:54:06'Everybody knows the risks of going into the Army.
0:54:06 > 0:54:09But it's the risk you've got to take if you want to do it that badly.'
0:54:09 > 0:54:12We're going to start with the mandatory form that you fill out.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14It's called an Army Interest form.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16'That's more or less it now.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19'I was just lost, but I've learned to deal with it,
0:54:19 > 0:54:20'and it's made me grow up.
0:54:22 > 0:54:23'Sorted my life out.'
0:54:28 > 0:54:32Frankie is now back at college for his final year.
0:54:32 > 0:54:35He was offered the club job permanently, but reluctantly,
0:54:35 > 0:54:38he had to give it up when the late hours impacted on his studies.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43He still intends to go to university.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48I'd buy houses, you know, I'd buy cars.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51I want to be able to just live a comfortable lifestyle.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54I want to be able to not be the same as everyone else.
0:55:03 > 0:55:07Craig's waiting to hear when he will be called up to the infantry.
0:55:07 > 0:55:12He's still sofa surfing and surviving on benefits.
0:55:12 > 0:55:14I'll just stay around doing what I'm doing, anyway.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17I'll just end up being...just doing something bad eventually,
0:55:17 > 0:55:20and then I'll end up getting arrested and I don't want that.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34After his three-week job, Wes has had to go back onto JSA.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39He still sees his son, and is looking for a permanent job.
0:55:39 > 0:55:42I wouldn't mind getting into academies,
0:55:42 > 0:55:45and coaching academies, cos I know I've got the level to do that.
0:55:45 > 0:55:49I know I can do that. So that's what I'm going to push for.
0:55:49 > 0:55:51# Deep water
0:55:51 > 0:55:54# A little deeper than you thought
0:55:54 > 0:55:58# Feel it going over the edge
0:55:58 > 0:56:01# And just go with it
0:56:04 > 0:56:05# Until it's all good, yeah... #
0:56:25 > 0:56:28Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd