Life in Debt Valley

This programme contains some strong language.

In the Welsh Valleys, times are tough.

Years of high unemployment and low wages have taken their toll.

-I was in hospital all day yesterday...

-Yeah.

..and with everything that's going on,

I didn't even realise my electric was going.

I woke up this morning, my electric's gone.

I've got to leave my daughter with a neighbour.

How much do you need to put some money in the electric?

About £25 would sort me out, because my gas and my electric

and just to get a little bit of food.

-And you know that's worth a tenner at best.

-I know.

Oh...

Anything that's got an emotional attachment,

they really don't want to lose.

SHE SOBS

And that's always good business for us.

I'm just checking now that this has got an appropriate hallmark,

which it does.

What I'm going to do...

I promise you I'll be in on Friday.

-..I'll lend you the 25 quid.

-Thank you.

-OK?

-Thank you so much.

-But don't let me down.

-I promise you, I won't. Thank you.

-On your honour. See you Friday.

-Thank you from my heart.

Take care. That's all right.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

Show me the money!

I have £25 for gas and electric.

£20 will pay for gas and electric and £5 for food.

Yep. So I'm a happy chappy now.

Can't you tell?

In one of the poorest parts of Britain,

just because you're down it doesn't mean you're out.

-Right come on then, Jue.

-Right, let's go.

You can still get in shape...

..get a tan...

THEY LAUGH

Swim!

..splash out and see how the other half live...

Costa Rica, we've been there.

No, we haven't. It was Panama, wasn't it?

Eyes down.

..enjoy a game of bingo...

And it's donkey's dangler...number 1!

Hi!

..bring a bit of luxury to your own back yard...

or just put a smile on your kid's face.

It might take heartache and graft,

but if you're willing to try,

there's usually a way to get what you want...

in Debt Valley.

In some corners of the Welsh Valleys,

unemployment is amongst the highest in Britain.

On Penygarn Estate near Pontypool

over half the residents are out of work.

It's home to 34-year-old Maria,

an unemployed cook and single mum of two.

-Do you know what's happening today or what?

-Yeah!

I'm going for a job interview.

And what does that mean?

-You're in a new job.

-You might get a new job, you might not.

-And what happens if I get the job?

-Then we get more money.

-And what are we going to do with that money?

-Go swimming!

THE CHILDREN GIGGLE

-That's where Daddy took us before.

-Let's... Let's do that!

That's where Daddy took you before. That's right, bub.

Maria's partner Matthew drowned in an accident two years ago.

"Proud" is a word he'd say.

"Proud of you, proud of you.

"You're as good as you are.

"You know, people will love you. People will love you for you."

While Maria goes for her interview,

her sister Julie's on hand for the kids.

Did you do your nails?

Oh, that looks really nice.

-Who's picking up the kids?

-Me.

If not, I'll have to text you quick.

Raising Seren and Jake on £200 a week benefits is a struggle.

And there's a lot riding on today's interview.

Landing the role as a chef in a local cafe

would be a dream come true.

I'm trying to be confident.

You know, it's a chance of a good job, something I love.

And if I mess up, I've only got myself to blame for it.

But I'm not going to mess it up.

I'm going to do good. It's going to be all right.

Maria's one of six applicants on the shortlist

and it's the 50th job she's applied for

in the last six months.

I'm reliable.

I'm a good timekeeper.

I know I rely on public transport, but that's not a problem.

-I'm a good cook and that's what a lot of people say.

-OK.

Yeah, I think that's everything from us, so thank you.

You can relax now.

Thank you very much, guys.

I'd be awesome at the job.

Awesome at the job, I would.

It just depends how well someone else has sold themselves, as well.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Hiya. You all right?

Oh, thank you.

No problem.

I will. Thank you very much, anyway. Cheers.

You, too.

Bye. Bye.

No.

I was second.

Obviously, it goes by scores.

She said, "You had five questions, you get marked on the four."

And I was one behind.

Oh, well. On to the next, then, innit?

DOGS BARK

-'Hello?'

-Hiya, Mother.

'Hi.'

Mam, I need to lend some money.

I don't know, is £5 all right?

'And so, you know, it's a bit embarrassing asking your mother

'when you're 38 years of age and you've got your own job.'

Erm, so can I have some money, please?

'Well, generally, just like, you know, for food and stuff.'

I know, aye.

OK, then. Yeah, that's fine. Thanks, Mam.

It really pisses me off, right,

that I have to lend money off my mother, who's 76, who says,

"Sue, if you have it now, you won't be having it when I'm dead."

But, you know, what am I supposed to do?

I can't live like it no more. It'll just do your head in.

I can't live on 11, 12 grand a year, right?

Because I've got two fricking kids, right?

And how people... How people manage it, I don't know.

You know, maybe sometimes it is easier, but I can't,

cos I have yet run out of money and it's nowhere near payday.

It's just absolutely pathetic.

Sue's worked as a carpenter for a local housing association

for the last five years.

I love working.

I haven't been unemployed that often, yeah?

Saying that, right, I've most probably got less money left over

out of my wages, after I pay everything,

than a person have got left out of their child tax

or whatever else they get, or out of their income support.

They've most probably got more.

She lives with her two teenage daughters

next to the Brecon Beacons in Blaenavon.

This is Cerys. She's my oldest daughter. She's 19 next week.

That's Chloe. She's my youngest daughter. She's 14.

With Chloe at school and Cerys training to be a hairdresser,

money in the household is tight.

Our dream homes. Like, so there's what I would like.

A house like that.

A bit more glass. Erm, nice kitchen.

Chloe would like a kitchen like that.

I just want a new house.

And nice stuff.

But there's one dream Sue wants to realise above all others...

-Like, when have we had a family holiday?

-Never.

Do you know what I mean? It's quite sad.

It is hard sometimes.

Because of their friends having iPhones and everything else,

it's really difficult for the kids to understand that they can't...

they can't have it.

They can't.

You know, they can have what I've got and I'll go without

and I have no problem with that at all,

-cos they're my children.

-You always go without.

-Yeah.

-Always.

I can't remember the last time she went clothes shopping for herself.

While many households in the Valleys are struggling,

some businesses are thriving.

I'm just looking around... We have a camera,

a PSP game.

We've got in here a gentleman who comes in of mature years

and these are his medals.

And in his case, we lend him £80.

Above that, we've got a PS4,

which is worth several hundred pounds.

On the basis that we virtually lend on anything...

we've got a sword that we lent some money on

and the customer hasn't come back.

So, er, that's for sale at the moment.

The most common activity that we do is the buy-back service.

We buy an item off somebody for less than it's worth

and then we agree to sell it back to them

at a 25% increase.

That's effectively our interest.

SHOP DOOR BEEPS

-Hi. How can I help you?

-How you doing, mate?

-I'd like to put a loan against this ring, if I can, please?

-OK.

-And whose ring is it?

-It's my partner's.

-OK.

-And have you been in before?

-No.

Right, what I'll need to do,

I'm going to assume that it's 18 for a moment

and tell you how much I can lend on it.

-Then I'd have to examine it a bit closer.

-No problem at all.

If that was all good, we'd process the paperwork and get it back.

-Sure. No worries. I appreciate that.

-Give me two minutes.

Thank you very much.

SHOP DOOR BEEPS

We've got an 18-carat diamond ring

that's come from Australia.

There's no stamps on it,

so I will need to look quite closely at the constitution of the gold

to make sure it is 18, 18 carat.

If it is 18 carat, then I'm actually quite happy with that.

So I'll just get on and do that now for a minute.

-INTERVIEWER:

-It's his engagement ring, isn't it?

I mean, how do you feel about...

buying someone's engagement ring off him?

Emotion doesn't come into the deal.

Emotion comes into trying to support and help.

But when it comes down to the deal,

it has to be supported by practicalities.

It's a new customer.

It's some interest and profit,

hopefully, on the first transaction.

And if he never does come back, there's a good profit in it

on the first transaction.

So, on every level, we win.

The testing shows that it's less pure than if it was 18.

Cos it was bought as 18 from a jeweller's.

Mm.

But it's looking... There's certain tests I would do on it

-and it gives me different results.

-Yeah, sure. Yeah.

And that's showing it's less than 18.

And the next step down to that is 15.

-I've actually still got the receipt for it...

-Have you?

..from the jewellers.

1,850 we paid six-and-a-half years ago.

-And they're all real diamonds, as well.

-Yeah, they're real diamonds.

-No issues with that.

-At least, I hope so!

So what I'll do is I'll offer you 110 rather than 120, OK?

OK, we'll go with that.

-Then we'll go with that and then we split halfway.

-OK.

The last time me and my wife properly ate

er, was about three days ago.

Yeah, this means everything, mate. Without this, erm...

Yeah, I can't... I don't know what we'd be doing, so...

David's been running the business

just south of the Valleys for five years.

There we go. Good hunting. See you soon.

And for his regular customers,

he's become an essential part of their financial survival.

Bye, ladies. Bye.

Can I have five coins in my change?

-You can have five coins in your change.

-Thanking you.

We want to keep people afloat.

We don't want to drag them down.

And that's why we're quite keen that we'll lend them what they need,

not what they want.

The want is normally a lot greater than the need.

Cash Brokers isn't the only business

going from strength to strength in the Valleys.

In an area where the latest fad diets are out of reach

for many people's budgets,

Slimtone sells a no-frills approach to weight loss.

That was me before...

Dark and fat.

Now I'm blonde and slimmer.

LAUGHTER

Raging the war on the Valley's obesity problem

with her £4.50 weekly class is Linda.

Hiya, girls!

Special needs nurse by day...

and self-taught weight loss guru by night.

Yes. There we are.

Right, then, Moira...

Back on track now, right?

One-and-a-quarter off.

Hang on a minute, love. If you go off a second.

Everyone can't wait to get on tonight.

Lost a pound. That's all we want.

A pound-a-week tone.

I'm not saying how much. Confidential.

OK.

Where did you go, then, to have a good time?

LAUGHTER

I tell you what, the class tonight has been very good.

Very positive tonight.

OK. Right, then.

Lots of people are paying their money in now

because we're all going to the health farm in May.

So the balance is due now, so...

if you could put that in the bottom for me? Hello!

As well as paying for the class,

the ladies put a few extra quid aside towards the annual trip

to an exclusive health spa.

Couldn't find your card, could you?

Lost half a pound of butter.

And a rugby weekend? Hey, that's brilliant.

Slimmer of the week...

Dawn, well done!

People that attend our class are working-class families.

A lot of people can't afford to go to Sainsbury's or Tesco's, even.

So we all talk about how much things are,

what is on offer that week.

We talk about vegetables and fruit and meat that are quite cheap.

Corned beef, one of our favourites, isn't it, girls?

-Do everyone like corned beef?

-ALL:

-Yes.

At the moment, this was on offer at £2.

So what would we make out of that can?

I know what I'd make out of it.

-A corned beef hash?

-A corned beef hash.

-Stew.

-Corned beef stew. One of our favourites, again.

I tell you what we call our Slimtone pasty.

Put one slice of wholemeal bread onto the George Foreman,

put your corned beef on,

red onions or white onions

and a slice of tomato and that's a lovely meal.

LAUGHTER

We have a laugh in class

and it's a place where people come to have an hour out

and to talk amongst each other

and to give each other support.

Because when our chips are down,

there is always someone there.

And money is nothing because,

if you've got friends and family to support you, that is everything.

All right, ta-ra.

Ta-ra.

-Thank you.

-Happy time, you two.

-Yeah.

One Slimtone member has only recently returned to the club.

Hello?

Drumroll...

# Dum da-da-dum da-da-dum da-da-derrrrr

Yes...!

12 months ago, Julie gave up her job as a GP's receptionist

and her husband Chris resigned from the local car engine plant

after a family tragedy.

Geraint had an asthma attack going back last January.

We obviously took him into hospital,

but he didn't respond to any treatment,

which caused him, eventually, to have a cardiac arrest.

He, unfortunately, wasn't breathing for 14 minutes,

so it's left him with severe brain damage.

Oh, he loves ice lollies. It's his favourite.

This is how we first got Geraint back eating,

cos he didn't eat anything for about six months.

But all the drama of late has had the opposite effect on Julie.

I do eat more when I'm more stressed and more depressed.

We've lived in hospitals and rehab centres for the last year,

just living on whatever we can quickly make.

You know, pasties, crisps, just anything that's filling.

So, you know, I've got to try and kick myself out of this now

and start making time for myself.

He deserves the best. He deserves a fit and healthy mother.

Is Mammy going to lose loads of weight for Ger?

Do you think Mammy can do it?

Yes...

Yes. Good boy.

With Slimtone's help, Julie hopes to lose five stone.

But over in Penygarn, dieting is the last thing on Maria's mind.

Your brekky.

She's cooking fried breakfasts at her local community centre,

hoping it will improve her prospects of finding a job.

Right here.

-INTERVIEWER:

-How much is a breakfast here?

Two bacon, two sausage and everything else is £3.

35 pence, a tin of beans.

I can make them taste like a £1.50 tin of beans.

Egg sandwich, £1.

Bacon and egg is £1.50 for a sandwich.

I suppose it's just getting people together, come and have a cup of tea

to meet people.

-How much do you get paid for doing this?

-Nothing.

We all volunteer for free.

It keeps me busy. It keeps me going while I'm not working.

I'm not like some of them, who just sit at home all day

and, you know, don't want to work, happy to sit on benefits.

I'm not. I really don't want to do that.

You know, I'm willing to work 16 hours a week, basic minimum wage.

So, I mean, what's that? £104 a week.

I can just about live off that

and I'm happy to do that, if that's all I can get.

It's better than going to the Jobcentre, anything is.

Anything is.

Obviously, having the past I've got is not great. I know that.

But, you know, I just messed up a little bit when I was younger.

Tell me what, you know, person doesn't when they're younger.

I was stealing. I was, you know, fighting all the time.

I wasn't generally a very nice person at all.

You know, I got a bit angry sometimes. My ex...

I stabbed him in the head with a pair of scissors over a TV.

Something petty, but something I'll never forget.

It will always stick in my mind.

I think the first time I went to prison

was for, obviously, the stabbing of my ex in the head.

And the second time was...

I accidently punched a copper in the face.

I've been for a couple of job interviews

and, obviously, I've come to no avail, as you can see.

When people see my criminal record,

they don't take me on.

But, you know, if they're going to look at that and judge me,

then, obviously, that's up to them.

I think everybody deserves a second chance.

Most definitely.

With no income, other than her benefits,

Maria doesn't like surprises.

About a week ago,

I found a big, massive lump on the side of his neck.

So I took him to the vet.

They told me it was an abscess

and every day since then he's had a shot of antibiotics.

It's costing me £20 a time.

The first time was £40.

Obviously, because the abscess is still filling up,

it's got to go in for an operation, which is going to cost me £108

and I cannot get £108.

Cannot.

-INTERVIEWER:

-And how much is it to put it down?

I think it's roughly about £62, I think they said.

You know, I've spent £80 so far. I can't afford to spend any more.

I know it's only a guinea pig, but, you know, I'm just trying

to prolong my daughter's happiness, if you know what I mean?

Who is this, Seren? Who have you got there?

Lily.

She's a little bit like a friend with, like, erm...

-ginger, white and black.

-Yeah.

She's cute and funny.

And how is Lily?

We just have to take her to the vet,

cos she's got something on her cheek.

I really love her. I love her with all my heart.

Mm...

Pull.

Good girl.

Good girl.

All right? I'm good, thank you.

Do you want to pop him on there?

Yeah, so she has lost a little bit of weight, yeah.

-She has, yeah.

-Yeah.

It's all right.

We'll still carry on with the antibiotic course

and we can sort of discuss the options tomorrow

as to what we're going to do and where we go from there.

-Yeah.

-All done, my sweet pea.

OK.

Come on, let's go.

All right, babes?

Yeah?

-That's lovely. Thank you very much.

-Thank you very much.

Bye.

When money's tight, a crisis is never far away in the Valleys.

My hoover, my telly. It broke in the last 24 hours.

I fell on the corner of my bed, broke my TV.

I can't stand not having a hoover, that's got to be the worst.

That's worse than the telly.

But having a telly means buying a licence,

something Sue hasn't been prioritising.

Oh, but I don't check my mail again. I got a letter here from...

Just pushed through the door,

no envelope or anything, from the bailiffs.

£49. They're telling me I need to pay it in 24 hours

or they're going to turn my house over to the locksmith.

And then, if they attend my property in the morning with a locksmith,

it'll go up to £200.

This is how they get their money off people.

Last year, I had a bill which started off, it was just over £100,

and I couldn't afford to pay it all in one go.

And so the bill I ended up paying, when they came into my property,

was £800,

because I couldn't afford to pay one bill all in one go.

-INTERVIEWER:

-So have you had many of those letters?

-What, these?

Not this year.

I've only had one this year.

I had about four last year.

For "non-payment of TV licence".

You seem quite calm about it, though.

Yeah, cos I know that they can't break into my house.

Cos I researched.

You're not allowed to break in with force into my house.

It's not allowed. It's breaking and entering, innit?

The bailiffs are due in the morning.

PHONE RINGS

Hiya. You left a notice of attendance

through my door this morning.

That's right. So I'm going to pay my £49, but I can't afford

to pay it all in one go.

You know, on your website it says,

"If you cannot afford to, if you are in financial hardship,

"please get in touch with us and tell us."

I'm getting in touch with you and I am telling you

that I am in financial hardship.

Your agency is obviously one of the ones

that doesn't adhere to government rules, then, is this right?

I'm not going to do it. I borrowed £800 for you last year

and I left myself in debt. That's why I couldn't pay this £49.

So you will be back with a locksmith,

even though I'm not refusing to pay?

How much do I get charged?

Oh, well, I suggest, then, right, you go and get the warrant now.

Look, learn your job, research it, honestly, love.

Thank you very much. Bye.

Was I nasty or what? Do you think I was a bit overboard there?

DOG WHINES

I'd love to smack her in her teeth, aye. Oh...

DOG WHINES

To get herself out of hot water,

Sue's come into Pontypool to try and get a loan.

With her credit history, the high street banks are a nonstarter

and she's weary of the loan sharks that are rife in the Valleys.

So she's come to Credit Union,

a community bank set up to help people on low incomes

and encourage them to save.

Hiya. I need to apply for a loan

and, erm...my telly

and my hoover broke last night.

Oh, dear! Oh, well, it never rains, but it pours.

Oh, there's always something.

What I'd like it for, really, is a manicure

and a holiday to go to the Caribbean,

-but that's what I want, innit?

-Just have a cruise.

-A cruise is nice.

-It's not what I need.

Right, so what you need to do now is fill in a loan application form.

-Right.

-OK, if you want to fill that in?

-All right, then?

-Brilliant. Thanks very much.

-Thank you.

-Bye.

-Bye-bye.

Sue's request for a £150 loan is now in the hands of the Credit Union.

We're not a pushover in here.

We don't give loans unless you can pay them back.

I've seen mothers and daughters coming in,

it looks to be generation after generation

and they don't think saving is important.

They don't see it as a number one priority.

You want a boob job? You can save up for it.

We've got a savings for special events and that's a special event.

Up in Penygarn, Maria's just returned from the vet's.

I took my guinea pig,

well, my daughter's guinea pig, to the vet this morning.

And...

And it had an injection. We had to put it down, like.

SUE EXHALES HEAVILY

I think I did the best thing today.

You know, at least I can say I've done my best.

It might have left us a bit skint, it might have left us with nothing,

but I did my best for Ser, you know?

I did my best. I did what I could.

Mummy...

Come on, let's have a sit down.

Right.

Right, shall we have a chat?

Yeah. About what?

Erm...

I had to take your guinea pig to the vet's today.

Yeah.

And I had to have it put to sleep, babe.

-Sleep-sleep?

-Yeah. Sleep-sleep.

So, now, you promised me you'd be grown up about this.

But it's for the best. She's not in pain now, is she?

OK?

But she's gone to sleep, Ser, but I brought her home...

-..and we'll go and bury her up in the woods.

-When?

What?

-Do we bury her?

-We'll do it now in a minute, babes, yeah?

Yeah?

Ser, I've done the best thing, though, babe.

You know Mammy tried her best.

Didn't I?

It was too expensive.

The operation was too expensive

and even if she did have the operation, babes,

she was too ill to have it, anyway.

We'll take her and bury her, OK?

No sadness now, kids, OK?

Yeah, Jake?

Ser, don't go too far in, babe.

Here you are. There's a nice bit of flat up there, is there?

Yeah, we'll go right next to a tree, I think.

Mum, make sure you get that stick out.

Do you want to put her in?

Yeah.

-God, she's heavier than I remember, Mum.

-I know.

-How's that, Ser?

-Yeah, that's OK, Mum.

-Is that OK?

We love you so much.

OK, Jakey...

It's Wednesday evening

and only two weeks until the Slimtone outing to the health spa.

With my job,

I work in the mental health field,

so I understand when some people,

you know, are feeling really depressed

and what they tend to do then is overeat.

I've gone through some difficult times in my life

and, to be honest, I was like a yo-yo dieter.

So the class is there to give some people some time out

from their worries.

And by talking and chatting away about different things,

it makes them feel, you know, more normal.

It's about being together at class

and doing things and getting together then

to go to the health farm,

to see how the other half live, because we're not used to that.

Julie needs a bit of a nudge.

She's gone through some awful times

and that's why she's gained a lot of her weight.

And, hopefully, she will feel a lot better with a little surprise

that I have in store for her.

With determination,

we all can lose weight.

So the following are just a few reasons

I have had over losing weight, right?

"To wear a seatbelt in the plane."

Now, a lot of people, they've been overweight...

Well, yes, a lot of people have a double seat.

Well, that's going to cost a bomb, isn't it? I couldn't afford to go.

"Running for a bus without wobbling."

"You're fed up with the sound of your thighs rubbing together."

A lot of people have said that.

"Your husband looking worried

"when you go out on a night with the girls."

Feeling threatened, that's good, isn't it? Make him feel jealous!

"You want to have your pick of sexy underwear.

"And for the men, you could surprise your lady with a thong."

-How's that one?

-GROANING AND LAUGHTER

You've decided you're worth it, girls.

Everyone is worth it in this class.

It's the moment of truth for Julie

with her first weigh-in since rejoining.

How much? Now, we are...

..16 stone 2.25lbs.

So we're looking now at getting down to what, Jue?

11 stone.

Knowing the scale of Julie's challenge,

Linda's come up with a plan to help her achieve it.

Are we ready, Julie? Let's go for it.

What I done, right, I bought the fish,

the haddock, the salmon and the cod right?

-I boiled a load of potatoes with leeks...

-Yeah.

-..mashed them up, put that all on top of the cheese sauce...

-Yeah.

..and then put some Cathedral City Light then on top.

Come on, girls, come on!

I know.

I'll show them, Rich.

-Right, come on, then, Jue.

-Right, let's go.

-Let's step it up.

-Step it up.

-Let's work some pounds off.

-Oh, God, Lind.

Come on, you can do it.

Julie's one of the few in the club who's not signed up

for the annual Slimtone outing.

But Linda thinks it could be just the treat she needs.

It would be nice for you

to come to the health farm with us, Jue, the tour.

-Yeah, I know.

-Right?

-As sort of a reward for working hard and losing weight.

-Yeah.

But wouldn't it be nice if you could get someone

-to, obviously, look after Geraint first...

-Yeah.

-..and come for a treat to the health farm?

-That's it.

I'd love to go.

There we are, we've done it.

Five laps! Well done, Jue.

Really enjoyed that.

Two more than we should have done.

There we are, we've done five instead of the three tonight.

-Well done.

-Yeah, it's been really good.

-First of many.

-Thank you.

I really, really enjoyed that. That was amazing.

That's the most I have laughed, I think, in the last 18 months.

She is just crazy.

You know, she just pushes you and keeps you going.

Back at Cash Brokers,

there's a steady flow of regulars needing a lifeline

and mobile phones are doing brisk business.

-Hi, Lorna.

-All right?

How are you feeling?

Shit.

Crap.

Can I put this on loan until tomorrow?

Let's have a look.

-Now, you've got a few items out of date, Lorna.

-I know.

-Which is unlike you.

-I know. I'm going to pick them up.

OK. Well, you've kept in touch with us and we knew you were in hospital.

So what we'll do, cos policy is not to lend you too much money.

-We don't borrow more than you need, you know that.

-No, I know.

-Right, let's sort you out, then, Lorna.

-Thanks, David.

-That's OK.

-Diamond.

There we go, Lorna. Keep that paperwork safe.

-There's 30 and then we'll see you when you pop in, then.

-Tomorrow.

-Tomorrow.

-I'll be in tomorrow and I'll renew everything and that.

-Then we're all up to speed.

-Thanks, David.

-Don't tell anybody I renewed when you were out of date.

-I won't.

-Definitely not.

-Keep that a secret.

It might only be 30 quid,

but to a single mother with three kids, that's a fucking grand.

It's like having a grand in your hand when you've got nothing.

If there was a gold medal for the best pawnbroker,

Dave would win it 20 times over.

Today, David has his daughter Francesca in on work experience.

-Oh, dear, do you want me to have a go?

-Yeah.

Right, watch me, then.

He's keen for her to get a real taste of the pawnbroking world.

There's £7 missing.

-Yeah, but where's it gone?

-Well, we've got to find it.

I know you were looking for a job for me, really!

-Hiya.

-Hi. How can I help you?

Could I just put that in until tomorrow, if possible, please?

Yeah, I'll take a look. How much do you need?

-25, if possible.

-About 25? OK.

I'll see what I can do.

What do you need the money for?

-Gas, electric.

-Oh, really?

-We've run out.

-Yeah.

-Only until tomorrow.

It's just 12 months,

so, hopefully, I'll get back to work soon.

OK, so to buy it back, it's £31.25.

-Is that OK?

-Go on, then. I'll raise some things.

There's your £25.

Lovely. Thanks ever so much.

Come on, then.

Bye. See you soon.

Say, "Bye."

-GIRL:

-Bye!

You don't see these kind of people, like,

I'd say, like, in a normal teenage life.

Obviously, I was...I'm quite lucky,

so to say, with the life I've had.

Brought up by two parents.

I went to a good school, off to uni now.

You're also learning how to work hard, as well.

I mean, what we've got we haven't got by sitting down.

And some of the customers who come in don't work hard.

And some of them really do try to work hard.

And it's spotting the difference

and being able to relate to everybody.

So when you're on your own out in the workplace in due course,

you know, when you've finished uni and everything,

you'll be better prepared to cope with it.

BOY SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY

What, cheeky, cheeky, cheeky?

Back in Penygarn, Maria still hasn't found a job.

Right, Jake, do you want a go on the trampoline?

But you've got to take your shoes off, mind. It's already broke.

So have you been down to the Jobcentre looking for work?

Well, you got to, haven't you? Sign on every two weeks.

-Anything about?

-Doing job shares, nothing.

It's crap. You know, I've got a CV in every single shop in town,

CV in every single shop up Trevethin.

You know, things will change for you and you'll maybe pick up a job

and just, like, see how things go

and, you know, just take it from there.

Oh...!

Julie's husband is a full-time mechanic

and she is a keen amateur beautician.

That's my charger up.

-FRENCH ACCENT:

-Come into my parlour.

Oh, you're a pasty strip, are you?

Right, there we go.

TANNING MACHINE WHIRS

Other side.

The other side.

Other one.

There, love. There we go.

Oooh, it used to be warm out here. It's cold in.

On your legs.

JULIE LAUGHS

-Maria, did you put your hands over your breasts at any time?

-Yeah.

-Not bad, not bad.

-Nice tan, innit?

-Cracking.

-There you are, my dear.

-Thank you.

INTERVIEWER: How does that feel, Maria?

Lush. I already feel a stone lighter!

Give us a cutch.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Maria was a total terror.

A total nightmare.

Oh, my God, really, really bad.

Always some sort of crime round the corner

or the police knocking on Mam's door.

Or she'd go on these benders, weekend bender things

and we just didn't know whether

she was going to come home some weekends.

But getting pregnant was, oh, a complete turnaround.

What a turnaround. A different person, like, overnight.

And losing her kids' dad was massive.

She...she had it rough, fair play for her.

I'm lucky that my husband works.

He always provided for me and the kids and...

completely different lifestyle.

Completely different lifestyle, I suppose.

But I've never gone without, I don't owe anybody, don't owe debt.

There was a time.

Couldn't ask for a better man, I'll be honest with you.

The end of term is on the horizon

and for Sue and Chloe the summer holidays mean staying at home again.

Right, when my job's secure, then...

then I can start saving, cos my money goes up

and we'll be able to go on holiday shortly, like.

One of those last-minute deals.

-Yeah?

-Mm-hm.

-Tidy.

-INTERVIEWER:

-Have you ever been on a holiday with your mum?

-No.

Where would you like to go?

I'm not sure.

I don't know. I haven't really got a favourite place to go.

Just go anywhere.

I want to go...

I want to go to Sweden to see the Ice Bar.

I want to go to Dubai,

just because it floats on water, everything's made on water.

It's just amazing.

Erm...

Well, loads of places, loads.

SHE LAUGHS

I do feel like a failure as a mother sometimes,

cos I just want them to be happy, I want them to not miss out,

I want them to have things their friends have,

you know, and I can't afford it.

Hoping to give her girls some kind of summer treat,

Sue's come to ask for another loan at the Credit Union.

Do I have to rewrite that or can you understand it?

-What is it?

-Hot tub for kids' party.

-Hot tub for kids' party?

-Yeah.

£200 to hire a hot tub?

No, that's for the barbecue to go with it.

It's to go to a spa. I mean, it's £200 for the week.

-Yeah?

-You can't go wrong for that. It's a massive, huge one.

It don't use hardly any electric.

And it's better. I can't afford to take them on holiday, see?

So we've got to have the next thing - hot tub and barbecue.

It's her choice to do that

and it's what her children wanted and what makes her happy.

And if she can afford it, then go ahead.

I've been there - no money, trying to raise children.

The father of my children used to pick up his dole money

and he would spend it in the pub or the bookies.

-INTERVIEWER:

-What's that feeling like?

Gutting.

In the centre of town, it's market day.

It's my little boy's birthday tomorrow - Jake.

They sell cheap cakes,

so I've come down here to buy him a birthday cake.

-Hiya. You all right?

-Yeah.

-What choice have we got today?

-That's the chocolate tray bake.

Chocolate tray bake. I'll have one of them, please, at £1.50. Nice.

And I've got the Transformers. Say £3.

-I'll have one of those, as well, please.

-All right.

There you are, £4.50 altogether, love. All right?

-Thank you very much.

-Lovely. Thank you very much.

-Cheers.

-OK, thanks a lot. Thank you.

-Ta-ra.

Well, I've bought him a tablet, a Samsung Galaxy.

But I didn't buy it brand-new. I bought it, obviously, second hand.

And all I've got in my pocket now today is £11

to get a little something.

Because I don't want him to wake up on his birthday

with one present, you know?

-INTERVIEWER:

-How did you get him a tablet?

Erm...

Well, I had to loan my sister my laptop

until I can...

Well, she gave me money to loan her my laptop until I can pay her back.

And the only thing, really, I've got of value is my laptop.

-How much was the tablet?

-£60.

So it's a bit crap, I know, but times are hard.

You know, I want to give my boy the best.

And I can't afford to do it.

I just don't want to let him down, man. I never let my kids down.

Little things like that, you know, feel like that, like, you know?

I don't feel like I'm living a life any more, I'm just existing.

I'm existing for my kids, look.

It's shit.

No self-pride, nothing.

All I want in life is just to be given a chance.

Linda's making final preparations for the trip to the health spa

in Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

With two days to go,

all the Slimtone ladies have paid their £295 fee.

It's a treat. It's a real treat.

It's a luxury.

And whereas, you know, people that have got money,

it's not a luxury to them.

But with the likes of people like us from the Valleys,

going to the health farm,

it's absolutely amazing

and we are so fortunate that we can go.

But one member is still undecided about the trip.

This is a photo of Julie.

She lost 5.5lbs with me last week.

And she's holding a bar of fat

that is 5lbs in weight.

So it's a tremendous lot of weight, really.

I think she's very, very positive at the moment,

because she's doing it for Geraint.

So I am hoping that she will come to the health farm with us

because I think she really could do with a break.

I think it would benefit her

and to make her feel, erm...

better about herself when she comes home.

Julie and Chris are busy

decorating a new downstairs bedroom for Geraint.

And deciding about the trip isn't easy.

So...are you going to go?

I don't know. I...

I want to go. I really, really do want to go.

-But I need...

-Just that little bit of doubt.

-Yeah. Yeah.

And I do feel guilty about enjoying myself.

Just having that couple of hours away from everything,

where I'm not thinking about him.

And I know it's good because...

But then...

he hasn't got that opportunity, has he?

He's just stuck in this shitty body he's got...

..not being able to do what he wants to do.

It's just not fair.

Yeah, but if you were having that break, you'd come back...

..you can put a little bit more into it with him, can't you?

You'd be fresher.

Yeah.

-I mean, at the moment, I think we're both dead on our feet.

-We are.

It's a big step, but it's a big step you've got to take at some point.

I don't know.

Jakey...

You're the birthday boy today.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, he's gone, Ser.

Yay!

What's that, Jake?

Is that a Samsung, bud?

"To Jake.

"Love you, my world.

"Love Mum."

Cos I love you, don't I?

Are you happy, Jake?

Yeah.

And look...

-Don't take a picture of me, Jake. I've got no make-up on.

-Ah-ha!

Well, I feel relieved today.

Absolutely a lot happier than I was yesterday.

Seeing the smile on his face...

I knew he would be like that with his tablet, anyway, you know?

So, yeah, a much better day today.

So smiles all round today.

All aboard, ladies.

Good morning.

Confess.

Bore da!

We're on. Rock 'n' rolling, love. Ready to go to heaven.

You can take them out of the Valleys

but you can't take the Valley out of the girls.

Are we all excited, girls?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

All OK?

Are we all playing bingo?

£3 each.

Right, then, girls...

Eyes down.

We're going to start with 90, top of the shop.

And it's donkey's dangler...number one.

CHEERING

Julie's made the decision to stay at home in the Valleys.

When you're walking up here,

it don't cost nothing. It's, er...

You just feel so free, you're away from everything.

And I really think that,

if I had to give this up for a lifestyle of being posh...

I don't think I could.

Oh... No.

This time last year, I was stuck in hospital next to Geraint's bed.

This is just such a...a better place to be.

Yeah, I just wish I could bring him up here.

There's not a minute of his life

that he...that he can get away from it like we can.

You know, I'm always going to have that guilt

of leaving Geraint at home when I'm away. You know, I...

I feel guilty even when I laugh sometimes, you know?

Cos, you know...

Just hang on a minute.

I just want to take everything away from him.

I just wish it could be me...

that it all happened to and not him. He's...

he's so young and he's so...

Everybody loves him, you know? He's just such a loveable kid.

There's always that guilt of, could I have done more

to stop all this happening?

And, you know, there's just so much guilt coming from every angle.

So I think, you know, going back to Slimtone,

the support I'm having off them is really what I need.

They're an amazing bunch of girls.

So, yeah, having a night away or two nights away is...

is a big step for me, a very big step.

Hello, everyone.

We've arrived now at the health farm.

Are you all happy to be here?

-ALL:

-Yeah!

Yay!

Let's go for it, girls.

The luxurious three-night stay includes three beauty treatments.

A dry float, I've had.

A dry float. It's been lovely.

And water bed.

You don't get it in the Valleys, love, no.

Well, there we are. There she is working now.

I've checked that Angela looks fine

on my CCTV.

So I don't spy on her, I just check that everything's all right.

It's David's day off...

I'll give her a quick call now, anyway.

..but he's still keeping a close eye on the shop.

His wife Megan is keen for him

to take a bit more of a break from the business.

Something that David has been reluctant to commit to.

She's trying to pin me down to book a holiday

and as happy as I am to do it, I like all my ducks lined up.

And I've only just agreed that we've got this one week off.

So now it's going to be a negotiation whether it's a one-week,

ten days or two weeks.

I'll be thinking about business, she'll be thinking about going away.

That's what it'll be.

Here we go...

Well, I've been thinking. I know we've spoken about Cuba before.

And, obviously, I just think we just need to plan it now

so that we can...if it's what we want to do.

Costa Rica, we've been there.

-No, we haven't. It was Panama, wasn't it?

-Mm.

"Natural beauty, pristine beaches, unspoilt."

Since we set Cash Brokers up, the last five years or so

-we haven't had a...more than a two-week holiday.

-No, no.

I mean, ideally, I'd love three weeks.

But practically, there's no way I can be away for that long.

-INTERVIEWER:

-What's better, helping people or making a profit?

Hand-in-hand, it's not an either or.

Southeast Wales is a difficult area.

There's a lot of people struggling on the edge of poverty

and austerity measures are really hitting them.

That element has meant that we have been able to profit.

However, I can't make a profit without helping people

and I can't help people without making a profit.

-Cheers.

-Cheers.

After six months' job searching

there's finally been a change in Maria's fortunes.

We're off to the Cabin for my first day of paid work!

She has so impressed with her voluntary cooking

that the community centre's manager Bill has found money to pay her.

Well, here you are.

She's now on minimum wage for 16 hours a week,

catering for community centre events.

-Yep.

-Task number one...

-OK.

..do the rolls for the bingo.

OK.

OK.

-Bye for the moment, then.

-OK.

Maria has always been somebody that was a positive person, right?

So she was an energiser.

She was somebody who wanted to solve problems.

She wanted to get things done.

Now, that is a very refreshing quality,

set of qualities in someone,

and you realise that, if you give them a chance,

it's not going to be wasted.

She's a bundle of energy.

She's like a firework.

It's fab. It's fab.

Even if, you know, I'm not going to be much better off,

at least I'm working for it, at least I'm having a go,

at least I haven't got to walk to that Jobcentre every two weeks, man.

That's the biggest thing for me.

That frigging Jobcentre...

Sit and swivel, guys!

This is only day one.

You know, I have good days and I have bad days.

And today is a bloody good day.

Sue's latest Credit Union loan has been approved.

I'm excited.

For the next three days, she and her girls

will have their very own hot tub in the back yard.

SHE LAUGHS IN EXCITEMENT

Oh, my God...!

Like some help?

It's going to go up on my patio by here.

Chloe's in school at the moment, right?

And so she doesn't even know we're having this.

So it's going to be one mega, big surprise. I can't wait.

Is there any chance that I can give you 30 on the Sunday?

I'm not going to run away with your hot tub.

-No problems at all.

-Oh, brilliant.

It's the second day of the Slimtone health spa trip

and there's a late arrival.

Hey...! You made it!

Oh, fabulous!

Oh, my God, Linda! It's gorgeous.

Without Linda and the girls pushing me to have come today,

I wouldn't have been here today.

And I think that just reflects on how we are in the Valleys.

We all look after each other.

And without these girls and without being told that I deserve a break,

I wouldn't be taking one.

-Thank you.

-Oh, that's nice.

-But aren't we lucky, love?

-This is the life.

-Cheers.

-This is the life.

I love it.

Hi!

Thank you, Mum, so much.

That's all right. I don't do much for you very often.

-I know it's not a holiday, but it's a memory, it's nice.

-It's nice.

Nice, yeah.

For Jake and Seren, the school holidays are off to a good start

with the news of Mum's new job.

She never lets us down.

Really, Ser?

-You don't let us down.

-But you let me down.

Look at your nose!

Obviously, I'm going to earn a wage.

You know, if I can make a better life for my kids, that's all I want.

They're my life, they're my world.

They're my everything.

# Home is where your heart comes from

# Don't know what to do when your heart's gone

# We've everything we need

# It's at that point you've got to choose

# To stay or go, you're bound to lose

# Everything you need... #