0:00:02 > 0:00:07This programme contains some strong language
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Brace yourself!
0:00:11 > 0:00:16The council, the organisation everyone loves to hate.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20See, the thing is - they're all talk at this council, but no action.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22Everything is the council's fault, the council's fault,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- the council's fault. - You will empty my bin!
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Listen, I pay my council tax.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- I'm saying nothing more.- You work for me.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32I pay your wages.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35It's such a rewarding job(!)
0:00:35 > 0:00:37Did you get that note of sarcasm?
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Councils in Scotland are facing punishing budget cuts,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45but with demand for public services higher than ever,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48the pressure has never been greater.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51I've only got two weeks,
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I've got to find somewhere for me and five children to go.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57You're paying your council tax for services that you're not receiving.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00You've got no money, it's hard to just do anything.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03It's not fair. There needs to be more funding.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06I've got no choice, they give me no choice.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09From educating our children, to caring for our elderly,
0:01:09 > 0:01:11and protecting the vulnerable -
0:01:11 > 0:01:15the council staff are on the front line.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Oh, it's just a nightmare.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21We have to be allowed to do our job by the council's rules.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29Fife House in Glenrothes,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33headquarters to Scotland's third largest local authority.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38'I've been saying this for months,
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- 'and it's actually making me really quite stressed.'- Yeah.
0:01:43 > 0:01:44In Scotland,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48recent changes to the welfare system are estimated to have cost tenants
0:01:48 > 0:01:50around £50 million a year,
0:01:50 > 0:01:54with one in ten households now living in fuel poverty so extreme,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58it's considered dangerous to health.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01I'm going through about 60 or £70 a week.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04I can't afford it. I'm going to end up with having to live with no gas
0:02:04 > 0:02:06in my house and I've got two kids.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- I've got two accounts in arrears. - Yeah.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15I'm actually struggling to deal with it at the moment.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18UK-wide, almost a fifth of those on benefits
0:02:18 > 0:02:21have had their money stopped at some point.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24We'll sort this, all right. It can be sorted,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26so try not to lose any more sleep over it.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28No, you're welcome, see you on Thursday at ten.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31All right? Bye.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33Stacey is one of over 400 council housing staff
0:02:33 > 0:02:38dealing with around 30,000 tenants across Fife.
0:02:38 > 0:02:40At least I'll be able to tell who is different,
0:02:40 > 0:02:43cos you've at least got your name tattooed on you.
0:02:43 > 0:02:47Hilarious. I normally have it covered by a watch.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49I was young and stupid.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51My gran always says,
0:02:51 > 0:02:55"Are you getting your address on the other side?"
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Come on, then.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02A housing officer job - there is never a dull day.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05You do not know what you're going to from one day to the next.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11Anyone who is a housing officer will tell you, it is...
0:03:11 > 0:03:14One thing it definitely is not is boring.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Stacey is on her way to see council tenant Anne,
0:03:16 > 0:03:19who's in substantial rent arrears.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24The issue we're going to have is that she said
0:03:24 > 0:03:27that she has difficulty using computers,
0:03:27 > 0:03:31so we really need to concentrate and make sure that she has got her
0:03:31 > 0:03:33benefits back up in place.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36She has had them up in place in the past.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39However they've either been stopped,
0:03:39 > 0:03:44because she's not either submitted medical lines, or depending on what
0:03:44 > 0:03:47benefit she's on, she's not done what's required of her
0:03:47 > 0:03:49so the benefit continues.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59Do you like my Scottish cup?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Although deemed unfit for work,
0:04:01 > 0:04:06Anne had her benefit stopped three months ago.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Not a penny. That's happened about three times, four times.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Even when I was on the sick for a year,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I didn't get extra money, it was just on ESA.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20The amount of times you hand your sick note off,
0:04:20 > 0:04:22it didn't arrive, so you had to go and get another sick note,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24but your money got stopped.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29It's just a vicious circle.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Today, Stacey has teamed up with a member of a local charity,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35which helps people in fuel poverty.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42- Hello.- Hi.- Have you got your torch there?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44- There you go.- Thank you.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Now, don't touch anything.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50For the last three years, Anne hasn't been able to afford to heat
0:04:50 > 0:04:52her home and her gas was cut off.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57She then started bypassing her electricity meter.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58If you look here,
0:04:58 > 0:05:02everything else is normal, but this black cable that's taped here,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05this is your bypass meter, OK?
0:05:05 > 0:05:10Effectively, it means that you're getting your electricity
0:05:10 > 0:05:12for free, OK?
0:05:14 > 0:05:19Anne was in a pretty desperate situation.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- No heating and using an electric heater, yeah?- Mm-hm.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26And if she's not got that, and she's not got any electricity,
0:05:26 > 0:05:32then, you know, what does she do? Yeah, desperate times, I think.
0:05:32 > 0:05:33It's nine degrees in here.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Very cold. Yeah.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39So, there was a real risk to your health, so it's understandable why
0:05:39 > 0:05:42you have taken that measure.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46All we need to do now is make sure that it's safe, OK?
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Normally, it's a criminal offence,
0:05:49 > 0:05:54but due to the circumstances of this particular lady,
0:05:54 > 0:05:57there's not going to be any further action taken.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00There's a major concern that if there's too many things running,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03it can surge and cause a fire,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06so we really need to get this meter fixed.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Right, a couple of other things
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I need to have a wee chat to you about.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14You used to love sitting in here.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I think ultimately that's what you were looking to do,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18to get your house back, eh?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21- Aye.- You've got a lot going on and it doesn't help when it's cold.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24You're not going to be able to clean everything up
0:06:24 > 0:06:27when it's freezing cold. Have you got anyone who could help you do it,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- because it's quite a big job? - I don't like asking people to help.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34- I don't.- Just take it a day at a time, because at the end of the day,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I'd like to come back in a few months and see you back in here,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42heating on, cosy, back in your living room again.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51- Thanks, Anne, see you later. OK, bye.- I'll contact you shortly.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54It just shows you, we were in there for 25 minutes
0:06:54 > 0:06:57and I am freezing.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00That lady has been living like that for over three years.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04It's scary.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Very, very scary to think that someone is living like that.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11So, we really need to try and see what we can do to help her,
0:07:11 > 0:07:12as soon as possible.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I'm freezing, absolutely freezing.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20It would take a not very nice person to sit and say,
0:07:20 > 0:07:22"Who cares? She has committed a crime."
0:07:22 > 0:07:25She was actually really worried.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27What we should have done when we discovered that,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31is contact the police, and I didn't do that. I didn't want to do that,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33it's just going to make that lady's situation 100 times worse than it
0:07:33 > 0:07:35already was and we didn't need it.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38So, the power company had agreed
0:07:38 > 0:07:42they wouldn't take the matter any further.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44I'm quite thankful that nothing is going to come of that
0:07:44 > 0:07:46and we'll just get that fixed and safe again,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49cos it is a major fire hazard.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Anne has lived in her house for over 20 years.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58My kids and family mean everything. I mean,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00they didn't know when I didn't get my money, when it was stopped
0:08:00 > 0:08:04and you don't like telling people
0:08:04 > 0:08:06so I was glad Tesco's opened across there,
0:08:06 > 0:08:12because you find the pennies. They sold ginger nuts for 25p
0:08:12 > 0:08:17and I got jam for 29 and the bread you can get for 6p
0:08:17 > 0:08:20when it's starting to go off the sell-by date.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25Aye, it's no'...
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You feel worthless.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31That's how you feel when they stop your money.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping
0:08:46 > 0:08:50costs local authorities in Scotland over £75 million a year.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- What have we got?- Car parts, bed base, microwave, TV.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00- It's like the Generation Game. - It is. Cuddly toy!
0:09:00 > 0:09:03No, there's no cuddly toy! Fridge.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06It's got beer in it! No, I'm only kidding.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I'm just going to take a picture, just to remind me,
0:09:09 > 0:09:15because you go to so many of these, they all blur into one eventually.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Kat and Frank are the council's environmental enforcement officers,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21and have the authority to serve fixed penalty notices on people
0:09:21 > 0:09:23who they find to be guilty of littering,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27fly-tipping and dog fouling.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31You get a lot of verbal abuse, threatening violence against you.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35You remember that day the guy came to the door
0:09:35 > 0:09:37and he started to threaten us?
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Oh, yeah.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42He was roaring and screaming and all the rest of it.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Then he turned round and says, "If you don't move away from the door,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47"I'm going to stab you." That's right.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Because he had a broad accent, you didn't know what he was saying.
0:09:51 > 0:09:52I hadn't a clue what he was saying!
0:09:52 > 0:09:55By this time, I walked down the path and I'm getting into the van.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58- I turned round. - I'm still standing there.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02- And you're still standing there. - Talking to him, trying to convince
0:10:02 > 0:10:05him to recycle! I hadn't got a clue what he was saying, not a clue!
0:10:05 > 0:10:09I said to myself, "Oh, you're one tough cookie!"
0:10:13 > 0:10:18We're now going to look at a dirty garden that's been reported to us.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Oh, yeah, there's quite a lot here.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- 20-plus anyway.- It's stinking as well.- Yeah.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26The aroma of rotten food.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37- There's somebody upstairs.- OK.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Fife Council. No, it's important we speak to you about that food waste,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42- it's a health hazard.- I'm on the phone at the minute.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45We'll just wait until you finish your phone call then.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Their attitude stinks for a start. An important phone call?
0:10:51 > 0:10:53I'm not saying it's not an important phone call,
0:10:53 > 0:10:55but that's important that she gets rid of that waste, too.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- That's not acceptable, no.- She's not acceptable. She's at it.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00She keeps on looking out the window, too.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03Right, I'll pop a card through.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06We'll come back after seven days to make sure it is shifted and if not,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09then we'll take it to the next level.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12If the rubbish isn't removed,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15the tenant could face a fine of up to £200.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Kat and Frank regularly patrol the high streets in Fife
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and issue on-the-spot fines of £80 for those caught littering.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33The biggest picture today is we use the mobile CCTV unit.
0:11:33 > 0:11:38It's obviously to capture people dropping litter on the high street.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- Excuse me!- Excuse me.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Excuse me, we're from the council.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45We're doing a litter patrol with the CCTV van and you've been caught on
0:11:45 > 0:11:48CCTV throwing your cigarette end down.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52- Right, yeah.- The fixed penalty notice is £80.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55- Right.- It's not a nice thing and you feel really bad when you're doing it
0:11:55 > 0:11:58and you don't want to persecute people,
0:11:58 > 0:12:04but they have committed an offence and they've got to recognise that
0:12:04 > 0:12:06they have to pick up their litter,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08they can't just drop it anywhere.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20I've been caught on camera doing something you shouldn't be doing,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22so I've got to accept it.
0:12:22 > 0:12:23Learn your lesson.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27The amount of money it costs to keep the streets clean.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29It will deter people from doing it
0:12:29 > 0:12:31and it's word of mouth as well, because if somebody gets stung for
0:12:31 > 0:12:33throwing a cigarette end,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36they'll go and tell their friends and it does work.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Every year, the council have to move people for their own safety,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46due to domestic abuse and extreme violence within the home.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Today, housing officer Laura has found a potential new flat
0:12:52 > 0:12:55for a Fife resident, who has been seriously assaulted
0:12:55 > 0:12:59and needs to be rehoused urgently.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04I'm aware that he was assaulted quite violently within his own home
0:13:04 > 0:13:06so his current tenancy, and due to that,
0:13:06 > 0:13:11our housing investigations team have awarded him management points to
0:13:11 > 0:13:16deflect the danger that he's in and he feels unsafe in his current home.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20What that means is, we've been then looking for a property for him quite
0:13:20 > 0:13:26urgently. So, we've found one, which he's viewing today.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29I'm not saying it's a routine daily occurrence.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32It's not unheard of that people do wish to be rehoused,
0:13:32 > 0:13:36because they feel unsafe in their current accommodation.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39There's different degrees as to how scared they may be
0:13:39 > 0:13:42or what they have been victim to, but, yeah,
0:13:42 > 0:13:46it is a fairly regular occurrence that people are rehoused,
0:13:46 > 0:13:51due to fear of violence or of having been victims of violence.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- Hello, hiya.- Hi, Scott. I'm Laura.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00- Nice to meet you. - Pleased to meet you.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03What I'll do is, I'll just take some details from you and get you to sign
0:14:03 > 0:14:06a form. That just allows me to pass your details on to our caseworker,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- so it's just a quick risk assessment.- Yeah.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I've got your name.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Now, it's asking about any issues relating to the abuse of drugs
0:14:15 > 0:14:17- or alcohol.- Do you have any issues at the moment?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20No, only my prescription. Methadone prescription.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Methadone? I'll just say past.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27- Have you ever been convicted of any criminal offences?- Mm-hm.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Yeah? Was that for a violent offence at all?
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Erm, no. It was a breach of the peace.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34And breach of probation.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38And have you ever been convicted of anything violent?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40In the past, aye.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45- Have you ever spent any time in prison?- Mm.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Okey dokey. As I say, I'll see you tomorrow anyway.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51- And we'll get the housing benefit done.- Perfect.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- Great.- So, that's you for now. - Brilliant. Thank you.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57- That's great, thank you. - See you. Great.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01A few months ago, I was in a drug debt.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04It was £1,300.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And people came to my house and I got abducted from my house and I got
0:15:07 > 0:15:11took to another house and I got attacked with a knife.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14So, I've got a wee scar there and I got stabbed in the top of the head,
0:15:14 > 0:15:18as well. It was quite a bad attack.
0:15:19 > 0:15:2225-year-old Scott now lives in fear of his life
0:15:22 > 0:15:25at his home in Kirkcaldy, with partner Rosie.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31I suffer from anxiety and depression.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- I'm on medication for it. - After what happened,
0:15:33 > 0:15:39I have a baseball bat next to my bed and I have an iron bar.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42If you're in a drug debt, when you're sleeping at night
0:15:42 > 0:15:45with your missus, you'd want to feel safe.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50Wouldn't you? So, that... that is my safety.
0:15:50 > 0:15:55In fact, every inch of this house you'd probably find a weapon hidden.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56I need to feel safe.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59That's quite a frightening way to live.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02It's the only way to live for me right now.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04I don't want to be sitting on the toilet doing a shit
0:16:04 > 0:16:06and my door goes in, then I've no' got a piece next to me,
0:16:06 > 0:16:09know what I mean?
0:16:10 > 0:16:13The attack happened after Scott started using the drugs
0:16:13 > 0:16:16he was supposed to sell.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20I feel bad that I helped destroy lives by selling that drug,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23but I was only thinking, "Money, money, money."
0:16:23 > 0:16:27You know what I mean? I was thinking of money. It was stupid.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30- As you can see, I never made nothing from it.- No.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32- All we made was a bigger habit. - Habit.- That's all we made.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35We were selling all that amount of smack every day
0:16:35 > 0:16:38and all we were making was a bigger habit.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41A bigger habit and a bigger habit.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44That's all we made. We just want to move away to a new place,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49where nobody knows us. We can start a new life, where nobody knows us
0:16:49 > 0:16:52and then just build it from there.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01Scotty found himself in a situation where his life was in danger,
0:17:01 > 0:17:06possibly due to actions of his own doing.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11However, as an authority,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14we do have an obligation to help people that are deemed
0:17:14 > 0:17:16at threat of violence
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and find them something suitable and safe to live.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31So, I'll just let yous grab they two seats there.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35The next day, Scott and Rosie meet Laura to sign the new lease.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Right. We're here to get your new tenancy signed up.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40You have to make sure that everything's removed
0:17:40 > 0:17:44from the tenancy, that's floor coverings. Anything that's left,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46you will be recharged for. If there is any damage in the property,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- you would be recharged for that, as well.- OK.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51- I don't know. Did they carry out an exit check?- They did.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- Yeah, yeah. They explained all that to us.- So, you'll be aware
0:17:53 > 0:17:56- of anything that's a concern. - Aye, they explained that.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59The other section here is about respect for others.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03That is about your responsibility as a tenant for noise, or issues.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05You're responsible for yourselves
0:18:05 > 0:18:10and anybody that's visiting you or living with you.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13If we receive a complaint regarding antisocial behaviour against you,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16we have to investigate that and if there is any evidence of
0:18:16 > 0:18:20- that antisocial behaviour, we can take action against you.- Yeah.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24That may result in legal action and possible loss of your tenancy.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So, this is your tenancy agreement.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30What I'll get you to do on each one is, I need your name,
0:18:30 > 0:18:34signature and date. One here and another one there.
0:18:34 > 0:18:39- All right, sound.- Then I'll witness it. That's your keys.- Thank you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42I wish I could move in tomorrow,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45but we'll just need to wait until next Friday, when I get my money.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- Looking forward to it. - Definitely.- Get away from there, eh?
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- Yeah.- Can't wait.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55No, happy. Quite happy with that. Thank you. That's good.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- Thank you.- No problem and I'll see you in four weeks.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01- Sure, brilliant.- Thank you. - Good luck.- Cheers.- See you later.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12At the other end of Glenrothes, Anne still hasn't received any benefits.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15She's resorted to collecting scrap metal to get by.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19That's actually copper, but it's like silver copper.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- Why were you doing that? - To make money.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25I'll be lucky if I've got £30 worth in all this stuff
0:19:25 > 0:19:27I've got in my house.
0:19:27 > 0:19:33They're things... I think it's out of the microwave.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36When my microwave broke.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It takes ages cutting it out.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41That's what I do.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51I'm looking for any factories that are derelict,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53that the skips are there. There might be some wire
0:19:53 > 0:19:55with some copper in it.
0:19:55 > 0:19:59Plugs. Or any bits of the, like, cookers, they've got thick wire.
0:19:59 > 0:20:05Anything's that's dumped that's either copper or aluminium.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12I'm going to squeeze through here and see. It looks derelict.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20If anybody asks us, we're going to buy it. The place.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30That door's wide open, the factory door.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33That skip belongs to them.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36Now I know it's there, I'll come back at night,
0:20:36 > 0:20:38because it's not trespassing. You get in.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42The factory's locked and secure.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44I'll have a wee peek in the skip.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Anne, it's Stacey again. Anne, I was speaking to Catherine,
0:20:55 > 0:20:57how early tomorrow could you manage it?
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Stacey has now brought Anne's situation to the attention
0:21:00 > 0:21:01of senior caseworker Catherine.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Is nine o'clock too early?
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Right. Okey dokey. I'll see you then.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- That's fine.- She's happy with that? - Nine o'clock.- Right, OK.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15We need to address the hoarding and try and get at least, maybe,
0:21:15 > 0:21:19one room clear, so it's about encouraging her to do that.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22I think it's just baby steps with her the now, eh?
0:21:22 > 0:21:23I think she's just keen to get her house back.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Right. We'll just see how it goes tomorrow, then.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It's strange. I've always taken care of myself. I've never done
0:21:45 > 0:21:52the copper business, but I've always managed to keep everything going.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00It's coming.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02What do you reckon the value of what you've got in your hand might be?
0:22:02 > 0:22:05Probably 10p, if that.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07You've got all these really heavy bits of metal, which you could,
0:22:07 > 0:22:12in theory, take to a scrappy and yet you have to just...
0:22:12 > 0:22:15You'd get a lot more money for it all that way, but you'd need
0:22:15 > 0:22:18somebody to help you to do it. I don't...
0:22:18 > 0:22:22I do things by myself.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23No bits of wire.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30When you've got no money, it's hard to just do anything.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32But now the council are trying to help me.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35They believed what I was saying and I believed them.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37They said they weren't going to evict me,
0:22:37 > 0:22:39or anything and I believe them and they are...
0:22:39 > 0:22:42They've stuck to their word and they're helping me.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Because I'm in a rut. I can't get forward at all.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Last year, councils in Scotland evicted over 600 households,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57due to rent arrears.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00But now, housing officers are trying to support people
0:23:00 > 0:23:02before they become homeless.
0:23:05 > 0:23:06That's what it's all about -
0:23:06 > 0:23:09it's to stop the revolving door of homelessness.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12You know, that is part of our policy in Fife Council,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15that we're sustaining tenancies, keeping people in their tenancies
0:23:15 > 0:23:17and putting the supports in there
0:23:17 > 0:23:19that will keep them in their tenancy.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22It is cheaper than having to go through an eviction or abandonment,
0:23:22 > 0:23:25but that's something that we're trying to avoid at all costs.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Catherine and Stacey have arranged to visit Anne
0:23:28 > 0:23:32and begin a 23 week programme of support.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36I think, in the short term, Stacey and I should work together with you.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40And you know Stacey and you trust her and you'll get to know me.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43I think Stacey advised you that what we normally do is that we
0:23:43 > 0:23:47would normally still do a weekly visit, but I'll do more if we need
0:23:47 > 0:23:52to because I know we've got a few problems with electricity, the gas,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54and that's something that we really need to get sorted.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57- You seem quite positive about it. - Aye, because I've been getting help
0:23:57 > 0:24:01- and I'm beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel.- That's good.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- That's good.- Before, there wasn't.- Right, OK.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06I'll be in touch later on today, OK?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- If not in the morning.- OK, then. - All right.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- OK, then.- See you later, bye.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18With rising costs and decreasing demand,
0:24:18 > 0:24:23many councils across the UK have abandoned Meals on Wheels.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31Here in Scotland, 94% of councils continue to offer the service.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38So, today, the main meal is a chicken curry
0:24:38 > 0:24:41and a lemon sponge for pudding.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44And the soup today is a mushroom soup.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48In Fife, the council deliver a daily hot meal to nearly 1,000
0:24:48 > 0:24:51elderly and disabled people.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57It's nice to know that you're providing people with a hot meal
0:24:57 > 0:25:02every day and that you're helping somebody in some sort of way.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04You may be the only person they see every day, as well.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06See you later.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10Today, driver Michael is on the Cupar and St Andrew's run.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Today we have 26 clients to deliver to.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20And our delivery window is between half past 11 and half past one.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25So, we do need to ensure that the meals are delivered by that time.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29So, we tend to be quite quick, in and out of clients.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Although, there are some clients who would love for you to stay,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35have a cup of tea, sit down, have a wee natter.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Hello.- Hello, Michael.- Hi, there.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40- How are you today?- Not too bad, yourself?- Hello!
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- Oh, my goodness.- You're getting spoiled today.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48I know, I should've had the bikini on.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Oh, no. You've got a nice wee pose.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- You're a nice-looking boy. - A wee toy boy for you.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55You've got lovely blue eyes.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57As long as you're behaving yourself.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Bye-bye.- She's quite a character.
0:25:59 > 0:26:04Yeah, I suppose the nature of this job has, maybe,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07built my confidence in some ways.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Because we have to be more confident
0:26:09 > 0:26:11to be able to go into strangers' houses
0:26:11 > 0:26:13and talk to a variety of different characters
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and different people every day.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- Hello! How are you today? - Fine, thanks.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22- Pop this down here for you? - That's great.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24- Just slacken the lids for you? - That's lovely.- OK?
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- All right. Thank you very much. - You're very welcome.
0:26:27 > 0:26:28Have a nice day.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33Michael is one of a team of 65 staff serving over 500 square miles.
0:26:33 > 0:26:34Sorry, we're a bit late today.
0:26:34 > 0:26:39- There we go.- Thank you. - Have a good day.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Hi, there. Hiya. How are you today?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47Running a wee bit late now.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Well, a big bit late.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54With vulnerable people depending on the council for their food,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57the pressure is on Michael to deliver on time.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Hello! Sorry, we're terribly late today.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Nearly a dead body on the floor!
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Oh, dear. - Is that through starvation?
0:27:05 > 0:27:07My God, yeah.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Hello!
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Hello, there?
0:27:22 > 0:27:23Oh, hiya.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27I think it's arrived. Many thanks for phoning.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Are you OK? Were you wondering where we were?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32See you later.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40Right. One to go.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42With minutes to spare,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Michael delivers his final meal in the allocated time.
0:27:48 > 0:27:49Hello!
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Hello, there?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55Hiya. Your dinner's here for you.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Sorry we're a bit late today.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01- Yes, I'm absolutely starving. - Let's hope you enjoy it, then.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05- I've slackened the lids for you. Is that OK?- Yes, fine. Okey dokey.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07That's us, then. OK?
0:28:07 > 0:28:09I'll leave you to it. See you later.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- Bye then.- Bye-bye.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15That's as done for today. So, we'll had back to the kitchen now.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Clear out the hot locker, if there's any spillages or anything.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21And pass on any messages to the kitchen.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23That's us.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34In Kirkcaldy, Scott and Rosie are being emergency rehoused
0:28:34 > 0:28:36for their own protection.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44See everything in the cabinet, is that to go? Everything?
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Everything.
0:28:46 > 0:28:51That's my certificate when I completed the DTTO.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- Do you know what that is?- No. - Drug Treatment Testing Order.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58It's like probation, but you get drug tested.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00I suppose it's an achievement, eh? It is. I completed it.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04A year and a half, three appointments a week.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Getting drug tested every week.
0:29:07 > 0:29:12- Some books there, Rosie. - I know. It's him.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16He buys them all. He started buying them all last year
0:29:16 > 0:29:19when he was in the hospital. He's got me into reading now.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Sure. Sure. It's a bit dark in this hall.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24Aye, I took the light bulbs down.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27All that's left here that we're taking is, obviously,
0:29:27 > 0:29:30we're not even taking the bed, cos the bed's a bit broken.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33- The bed is broken, we'll take the mattress.- The dog's bed.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35That's all that's coming from here.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38- That's all that's coming from this room, eh?- That's it.- Curtains.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- That's it.- Yeah.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47Do the people you owe money to, do they know you're leaving?
0:29:47 > 0:29:50- No.- No.- But, obviously, you never know...
0:29:50 > 0:29:53- Exactly.- But they don't know we're moving, know what I mean?
0:29:53 > 0:29:57- No.- So, no. And we've not really told anybody where we are moving to.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00- So, keep that quiet.- Yeah.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Moving to Timbuktu.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16I mean, I guess, if you don't help someone in Scott's circumstances
0:30:16 > 0:30:21then the worst-case scenario is that he's a victim of violence again
0:30:21 > 0:30:24and he's injured or worse.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28I guess there's an element, as well, if somebody's going to be a repeated
0:30:28 > 0:30:31victim of violence and issues, that the neighbours that he's got,
0:30:31 > 0:30:33that he's living beside,
0:30:33 > 0:30:37they're also becoming victims of the situation,
0:30:37 > 0:30:39if it all keeps on occurring on their doorstep.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42So, I think, by helping Scott,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45you're helping the wider neighbourhood, as well.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53It's move-in day for the couple.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57- Shit. Right, you got it? - Aye, I've got it.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00No, I don't think so.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02Oh, no!
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Bend it around, aye.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Do you think it'll look nice when it's all finished
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- and it's all decorated?- Definitely.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Grand designs on a giro budget.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24- Rosie.- Aye?- My diary's not there.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26- Is it not?- No. No, I don't see it.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Oh, there it is. Fuck's sake.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32There's my diary.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36Do you want to see a poem? Here's one.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39I was in the jail at the time and I was thinking about Rosie.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41And I was bored. So, I wrote it.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Do you want me to read it to you? Right.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46"Rosie, I love you so much that no words could ever explain,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48"through all of our pain, believe me, babe,
0:31:48 > 0:31:50"all this is for a greater gain."
0:31:50 > 0:31:53"For me and you to live as equals.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56"No more pain. Forget my prequel.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58"Eight years on, we're still not peaceful.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01"Still struggling with drugs, mugs, and all the thugs.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03"And just when I think I'm at the end again,
0:32:03 > 0:32:06"your hug shows me the cure to my pain again.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09"I dream of a better life with you as my lovely wife.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11"And never no need of a knife.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14"Just trust me, babe. You're almost there. Never look behind.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16"There's nothing there. Just look to the future.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19"There's me and you there." Do you think that's good?
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- It's no' bad, eh?- What do you think of that, Rosie?
0:32:22 > 0:32:24- What? I never heard it.- The poem that I wrote for you.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Oh, aye. It's nice, lovely, aye. It was a nice surprise.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32- There's a lot of space in here for him to run about.- I ken.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44It's a month since Scott and Rosie moved in.
0:32:49 > 0:32:54Today, housing officer Laura is carrying out a standard checkup.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56- That's all right, cool. - Can I just come in?
0:32:56 > 0:32:59- Yeah, sure, sure.- Perfect. - Bud, behave!
0:32:59 > 0:33:02So, as I say, it's just a case of, I'll check some details first and
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- then I'll run through a few bits and pieces with you.- Sure.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07It's still just the two of you that are living here at the moment?
0:33:07 > 0:33:12- Yeah, yeah. And the dog. - The dog, aye. He's quite big.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Right, your rent account.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17As we look at it, because your housing benefit didn't start until
0:33:17 > 0:33:20the 22nd, I take it that was your move-in date?
0:33:20 > 0:33:23- Yeah, that's right.- There's like a wee gap between...
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- Jen said that.- ..when you signed up and when you moved in.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28- It's 30 odd pound or something, eh? - It's 38.63.- Mm.
0:33:28 > 0:33:31Obviously, the sooner you start paying that, the sooner the balance
0:33:31 > 0:33:34will be gone. So, if you were paying £5 a week,
0:33:34 > 0:33:36- that's like seven and a bit weeks to clear it.- We'll start
0:33:36 > 0:33:41- paying that off.- OK. So, have you settled into the property OK?
0:33:41 > 0:33:43- Aye, I like the area.- No problems?
0:33:43 > 0:33:47You certainly seem more settled than the last time that I saw you.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49So, it's been a good move?
0:33:49 > 0:33:52- Yeah, definitely.- Perfect.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- Happy with it, eh?- Aye, deffo.
0:33:58 > 0:34:03I mean, I think he's been given a fresh start, new opportunity.
0:34:03 > 0:34:07He seems positive about where he is.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10And going forward, I would hope he remains positive,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14because it can't always be easy, you know,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17upping and moving from what you're familiar with.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21Not having any support network, friends, and so on.
0:34:21 > 0:34:28Hopefully he will sort of remain long-term in his tenancy
0:34:28 > 0:34:29and make a success of it.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38- I like coming up here. - It is freedom -
0:34:38 > 0:34:41being out in the wild with the dog, walking where you want to go,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44doing what you want to do. Freedom.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51It's the first time that I've ever,
0:34:51 > 0:34:54ever had stability or ever been normal.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56It's this right now. This right now.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01See, before, in our last house, wasn't normal, wasn't stable.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Before that, I've never been normal, I've never been stable -
0:35:04 > 0:35:07apart from now. And I'm 25.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11- And that's the truth. Have I ever had normal stability?- Nah.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I met you when I was, like, 16, 17.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17I was in the jail, out the jail.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Drink, drugs, in the jail, out the jail.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22This is the only stability and normalness I've ever had
0:35:22 > 0:35:25and I fucking love it. And it's going to continue.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28- I'm happy with it. I love it.- Good.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40In Dunfermline, Jane has been a council registrar
0:35:40 > 0:35:42for the last 20 years.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Oh, it's nice to see the sun shining, isn't it?
0:35:46 > 0:35:49As well as recording births, deaths and marriages, councils also perform
0:35:49 > 0:35:52ceremonies for those wanting to become British citizens.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55- How do you do? I'm Jane.- Nice to meet you.- Is this your hubby?
0:35:55 > 0:35:57- This is my husband, Frank. - Frank.- How do you do, Frank?
0:35:57 > 0:36:00Do you just want to come through? Thank you.
0:36:00 > 0:36:05Last year, 150,000 people in the UK applied for British citizenship,
0:36:05 > 0:36:09each hoping to get UK passport.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12So, we both came over for work.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14And met and got married here.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18And it seemed like a nice kind of in-between place for us to live,
0:36:18 > 0:36:22between our two countries, coming from America and Germany.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24What I'll do, I'll just go over this first of all.
0:36:24 > 0:36:29- OK.- And just check that everything is OK.
0:36:30 > 0:36:36And do you have a Life In The UK test certificate and an appropriate
0:36:36 > 0:36:39knowledge of language and life in the UK requirement,
0:36:39 > 0:36:40but you don't need it for the language,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43- because you come from an English speaking...- Yes.- So, that's fine.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46- I've got those.- Yes.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48And the fee is £1,005.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50- I have that, as well.- OK.
0:36:50 > 0:36:55- All right.- That's you, then, thank you very much.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58Today the successful applicants are being sworn in.
0:37:04 > 0:37:08There's 18 new citizens today.
0:37:08 > 0:37:14China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Poland, Pakistan,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17United States of America, Turkey.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21I think I've got them all.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Well, I woke up this morning and thought,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25"Oh, this is the last morning I wake up
0:37:25 > 0:37:26"as just a citizen of one country."
0:37:26 > 0:37:32I've been practising the national anthem last night and this morning.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35So, it's very nice to meet you. You look very smart indeed.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37We've heard about the sword, as well.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42I am the Lord Lieutenant, so I'm the Queen's representative.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44And because I'm not military, I'm not used to having
0:37:44 > 0:37:47these kind of things around.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50I will be handing out the citizenship certificates.
0:37:50 > 0:37:53So, effectively, it's like the Queen handing them out,
0:37:53 > 0:37:55except I'm not the Queen.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Well, good afternoon, everyone.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00And on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,
0:38:00 > 0:38:05the Government of the United Kingdom and Fife Council,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07I would like to welcome you all here today
0:38:07 > 0:38:09for this very special ceremony.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13So, first of all, can I have Rebecca?
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25Thank you, Rebecca.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33# God save the Queen. #
0:38:37 > 0:38:39I didn't even know you liked tea.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41I do, but it felt like today it was an important day
0:38:41 > 0:38:42to drink tea instead of coffee.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- It was lovely.- I found myself getting quite misty
0:38:48 > 0:38:50when you had to read out a line in the oath
0:38:50 > 0:38:53where you were saying, "As a British citizen,"
0:38:53 > 0:38:56and you suddenly... I thought, "Oh, that's me."
0:38:59 > 0:39:01Just another day.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04Another good day at City Chambers.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17First thing we're going to do is speak about our equipment.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20We don't call it a truncheon. We call it a baton.
0:39:20 > 0:39:22- What do you think we use a baton for?- To hurt people!
0:39:22 > 0:39:26No, not to hurt people, no.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28Take a photo!
0:39:31 > 0:39:35There are nearly 27,000 adults with learning difficulties in Scotland.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38You can manage that, no bother.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Curtis, we'll pop you in this side.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44- Do you want to get in the front seat here?- I love it.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48West Fife Community Support Service, based in Cowdenbeath,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51is run by the council, providing activities from sports to leisure,
0:39:51 > 0:39:53arts to drama, and life skills, every day
0:39:53 > 0:39:57for people with learning difficulties.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Curtis, let's go. Up to the blue cone.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07Right, Curtis, pick it up. Put it on your head and walk back.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Community support assistant Tony has been working with West Fife
0:40:10 > 0:40:12for three years.
0:40:12 > 0:40:13Keep it on your head, Curtis.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17We'll just wait over here, where it's nice and quiet for you, OK?
0:40:17 > 0:40:22- Yeah.- Curtis is on the autistic spectrum,
0:40:22 > 0:40:27and you have either hyper- or hypo-sensitive.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Curtis has a problem with noise.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31And that's why he has his fingers in ears quite a lot -
0:40:31 > 0:40:33to blank out the noise
0:40:33 > 0:40:36and he's making his own noises to blank out the background noise.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40And basically that's just perfectly normal for Curtis.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43And how he supports himself.
0:40:43 > 0:40:4621-year-old Curtis currently spends one day a week with Tony
0:40:46 > 0:40:48and his team.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49OK, come on, let's go, good man.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Well done.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54And jog to the bottom.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Mum Nicola has been bringing up Curtis on her own
0:40:59 > 0:41:02for the last 11 years, along with daughter Nadia.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06This was Nadia and Curtis.
0:41:06 > 0:41:12Curtis was only two and a half, and that was when he was just diagnosed.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Yeah, it was hard.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16Hard work. That day was hard work.
0:41:16 > 0:41:21He looks like a little angel in the photograph, but he wasn't.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24But when you look at him now, the difference is...
0:41:24 > 0:41:27There's no comparison.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Curtis is now about to leave college,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34so his care package is being reviewed by social work.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36It's an end of an era.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38It's a different change.
0:41:38 > 0:41:42He's not going into the big world like we go into the big world
0:41:42 > 0:41:46for work, but it's a different stage in his life.
0:41:46 > 0:41:49Nicola wants funding to increase Curtis' time at West Fife
0:41:49 > 0:41:54to cover the days he would have been at college.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56Are you frightened about the future just now?
0:41:56 > 0:41:59Yes, yeah, I am.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01It's the uncertainty of, erm...
0:42:01 > 0:42:05just now you know exactly what he's doing,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08how often he's attending college,
0:42:08 > 0:42:11how often he's got carers and because he's not going to go to
0:42:11 > 0:42:17college as much, it's, "What is going to happen?"
0:42:22 > 0:42:26- Hello. It's Stephen.- Hello, Stephen.
0:42:26 > 0:42:30- Hiya, Curtis.- Hello.- Hello.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37- What does Nadia do?- Whinge.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40She whinges, doesn't she?
0:42:40 > 0:42:42What does she say to you?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Move, the television!
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Because you stand in front of the television to annoy her,
0:42:47 > 0:42:49don't you? Yeah, OK.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I don't like photographs, Mummy.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04All right, I'll move the photograph.
0:43:15 > 0:43:19We can't have photographs in the house face up.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23- Why?- Because he doesn't have photographs of people watching him.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26They've all to be face down unless it's him and Nadia.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30You can have him and Nadia, but you can't have anybody else.
0:43:36 > 0:43:41Funding for Curtis will come under the budget of social work service.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47I'll speak to you soon, Lorraine. See you later. Bye!
0:43:47 > 0:43:51Curtis' social worker is Sara.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57A lot of people ask me why I want to do social work, because I'm so young
0:43:57 > 0:44:02and a lot of people say to me, "What do you know? You're only 27."
0:44:02 > 0:44:04I've actually been called a wee lassie a few times,
0:44:04 > 0:44:06which offends me more than anything else.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09I'd rather they found something I did or something,
0:44:09 > 0:44:10rather than my age.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14Sara needs to assess Curtis' situation,
0:44:14 > 0:44:17to determine whether the council will provide funding
0:44:17 > 0:44:19for additional care.
0:44:21 > 0:44:23Hi, I'm Sara, hiya.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26- Nice to meet you.- Hi, pleased to meet you.- Hi, Curtis.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29My name is Sara. I've not met you before.
0:44:29 > 0:44:33- Hello.- I have spoke to your mum on the phone, though.- Yeah.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36The reason I'm out to visit today is obviously, there's a change in
0:44:36 > 0:44:39Curtis' circumstances, in terms of...is it three days down
0:44:39 > 0:44:42to one day at college?
0:44:42 > 0:44:45- We need to go to West Fife five more days.- Is that what you want to do?
0:44:45 > 0:44:50- What is it you like about West Fife? - Sara, S?
0:44:50 > 0:44:52- Yes, that's me.- S...?
0:44:52 > 0:44:56- How do you spell it, he's asking? - S-A-R-A.- Yeah.
0:44:56 > 0:44:59What do you like about West Fife? What do you like doing with them?
0:44:59 > 0:45:02- Trips.- Trips? What kind of trips?
0:45:02 > 0:45:05- Edinburgh.- Yeah. What else?- Glasgow.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09- Good.- What do you do on your trips? - Dundee.- What do you do on them?
0:45:09 > 0:45:12- Perth.- What do you do? Where do you go?
0:45:12 > 0:45:14- The museum.- Yeah.
0:45:14 > 0:45:16- Did you go to the museum in Edinburgh?- Yeah.
0:45:16 > 0:45:20- I've been to that one. The big one?- Yeah.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22You do lots with West Fife, don't you?
0:45:22 > 0:45:25- Yeah.- What do you do at college? - Life skills.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28Yeah, but what type of life skills do you do?
0:45:28 > 0:45:33- Computers.- Very good. What about cooking and stuff like that?
0:45:33 > 0:45:35- No.- It's all Mum? - It's safety danger.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37- He'll help stir if I've got things on.- OK, OK.
0:45:37 > 0:45:41- You have to supervise that?- Yeah. He's got no awareness of the danger.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42OK.
0:45:42 > 0:45:46Karen was giving me the impression that we might not even get funding
0:45:46 > 0:45:49for the days that I'm working.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51- Yeah.- So, what would happen?
0:45:51 > 0:45:54What would be the circumstances when I'm working that
0:45:54 > 0:45:56he's not got anybody to look after him?
0:45:56 > 0:46:00- This is what we're facing every day. - What's meant to happen with him?
0:46:00 > 0:46:03We're trying creatively to move things about,
0:46:03 > 0:46:07- see if there's anything else we can do.- We need Sara to go!
0:46:07 > 0:46:09SARA LAUGHS
0:46:09 > 0:46:12- Do you want me to wrap up soon, Curtis?- Yeah.- You're tired?
0:46:12 > 0:46:16Because you've got to work. I've got to work, I've got no choice.
0:46:16 > 0:46:17Yeah, of course. No, that's your life as well.
0:46:17 > 0:46:22- You need to work to earn money. - He needs somebody with him.
0:46:22 > 0:46:25- I'm not disagreeing with that whatsoever at all.- Yeah.
0:46:25 > 0:46:27I can't answer the question, yes, no, maybe,
0:46:27 > 0:46:31- what's going to happen, because we don't know, OK?- Mm-hm.
0:46:31 > 0:46:35We just need to see what we can do now.
0:46:35 > 0:46:37That's great, thank you so much for seeing me.
0:46:37 > 0:46:40- It's so short notice as well. - Thanks, Sara.
0:46:40 > 0:46:42- Say bye-bye, shake hands? - Are we going to shake hands?
0:46:42 > 0:46:46- Thank you very much.- Thank you, Curtis. See you later.
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Nicola will have to wait as Sara takes her case
0:46:48 > 0:46:50to panel for approval.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52- I'll be in touch.- Thank you.- Bye.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56I don't like giving bad news.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59I want to be the one that helps and supports people and
0:46:59 > 0:47:02makes a difference. That's the whole point.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05I think every social worker will say that to you.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08They want to make a difference in people's lives.
0:47:08 > 0:47:11They don't want to have to fight for money and tell them bad news that...
0:47:11 > 0:47:14if there's no money or if the funding hasn't been approved
0:47:14 > 0:47:18or they're not getting the support they might need.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23Yeah, I'm stressed, because I've still not got any answers
0:47:23 > 0:47:26and I think she's like everybody else.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29She's got to fight to help us.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32It's not her that's saying no, it's her bosses,
0:47:32 > 0:47:34and her boss's bosses that's saying no.
0:47:34 > 0:47:37It's the government, that's where it's coming from.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40It's coming from the budget that the government gave
0:47:40 > 0:47:43the social services for the carers.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46That's where the system is wrong.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53It's a month since Stacey and Catherine
0:47:53 > 0:47:57first visited Anne to discuss her bypassed meter.
0:47:57 > 0:48:01Now, her gas and electricity have been reconnected.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04It's a grand sight, eh?
0:48:05 > 0:48:09Well, it was Stacey who offered me help. Instead of getting on to me,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11she offered me help, she realised I needed help,
0:48:11 > 0:48:15so she gave me help to put my heating back on.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19- So, are you chuffed to bits? - I'm over the moon.- Yeah?
0:48:19 > 0:48:22I'm really over the moon, yes.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24It's great. It's warm, the whole house is warm.
0:48:24 > 0:48:27When you walk in, oh, it's brilliant.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30It used to be when you walked in my house, it was colder than outside,
0:48:30 > 0:48:35but now it's actually warmer in my house and it's a brilliant feeling.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37A brilliant feeling.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39So now, because the house is warm,
0:48:39 > 0:48:41I'll be able to start tidying it now,
0:48:41 > 0:48:43because before it was too cold to come downstairs.
0:48:43 > 0:48:46You know, you felt it in your bones straightaway.
0:48:46 > 0:48:51I just didn't have the heart to do anything, to tidy up.
0:48:51 > 0:48:56It was like I didn't exist really.
0:48:56 > 0:49:00So, now I've got the heart to do it and that's what I'd say.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08Right, let's go.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14I already phoned Anne just to check that she had the black bags,
0:49:14 > 0:49:18because this is us obviously starting to tidy out her house.
0:49:18 > 0:49:22We're going to concentrate on the living room for her.
0:49:22 > 0:49:25- Get a couple of bags filled today and that's us started, eh?- Yeah.
0:49:28 > 0:49:31Hello. Hi, Anne.
0:49:31 > 0:49:34- Hi, there.- It's nice and warm in here.
0:49:34 > 0:49:36Right, I'm ready for action.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43- Anything Scottish, I'm wanting to keep.- Right, OK.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47Now that's classed as Scottish, do you want to keep that, Taggart?
0:49:47 > 0:49:50Aye, anything just Scottish.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52Bay City Rollers, that's Scottish.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55Rab C Nesbitt, he's certainly Scottish.
0:49:55 > 0:49:59# Mamma Mia, here I go again. #
0:49:59 > 0:50:01Do you want to keep that?
0:50:01 > 0:50:05- No.- Oh, God, I don't know how you can handle throwing that out.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07I love Mamma Mia.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12Drop it!
0:50:16 > 0:50:18Oh, who needs the gym, eh?
0:50:19 > 0:50:21- A big difference already.- Yeah.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24There's just the wee bit at the back really to be tidied.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27So, are you quite happy with what we've done?
0:50:27 > 0:50:29- I'm very happy.- Right. - Excellent, thanks.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31- Thanks for your help.- You're very welcome.
0:50:31 > 0:50:35Any time, as I say. I'm quite happy to come up again and help you if
0:50:35 > 0:50:37you're wanting another hand,
0:50:37 > 0:50:39but that's made a massive difference already.
0:50:39 > 0:50:42- Aye, and it will be a cup of tea and cakes next time.- Aye!
0:50:42 > 0:50:44- That's what you said, eh? - Home-made scones.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48I've never baked a cake in my life. You can't expect me to make them,
0:50:48 > 0:50:50I've never baked a cake in my life!
0:50:50 > 0:50:53- See you later, bye.- Bye, thanks.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58- I didn't quite expect her to be so up for it.- Mm-hm.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01I thought she would have found it quite difficult to get rid of a lot
0:51:01 > 0:51:03of the stuff but, no, she was really good.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06Everybody's got different issues, but Anne was at that stage that
0:51:06 > 0:51:09- she knew that she needed help, she was ready to take it.- She was ready.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12So, I think that made all the difference,
0:51:12 > 0:51:14the fact that she was ready.
0:51:14 > 0:51:18We have one happy Anne. She's happy, we're happy.
0:51:18 > 0:51:21Yeah. Long may it continue.
0:51:21 > 0:51:25It makes such a difference to Anne's quality of life.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27As well as sorting out her power, the housing team have worked with
0:51:27 > 0:51:32the benefits office and Anne's GP to get her payments backdated.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37So far, she's engaged with us really well,
0:51:37 > 0:51:40because it's all about the tenant engaging with you.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43If they don't engage, there's no way we're going to be able to help them,
0:51:43 > 0:51:47but she is, so she will be a success.
0:51:49 > 0:51:50Home at last.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54No words can describe it, you know,
0:51:54 > 0:51:58to have a wee bit of money in your pocket and food in your house.
0:51:58 > 0:51:59It's everything.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03I feel better within myself.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05I think I'll put them up here.
0:52:08 > 0:52:12It's a long time since I've got flowers.
0:52:12 > 0:52:14That's nice.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19Right, as you can see, my living room is back to being a living room.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Just a couple of things to move over there, but, yeah,
0:52:21 > 0:52:24it's a great feeling.
0:52:24 > 0:52:25It's changed. It's a home again.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27I feel it's a home again.
0:52:29 > 0:52:31The heating, it's warm in here.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33It's just great. It's home again.
0:52:41 > 0:52:46In Glenrothes, Sara is presenting her assessment of Curtis' case
0:52:46 > 0:52:48to her manager, Suzanne.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51Where are we sitting with budgets, etc, at the moment?
0:52:51 > 0:52:53OK, he's at three days at college,
0:52:53 > 0:52:58but that's dropping to one day, so we're going to have two days
0:52:58 > 0:53:02where Curtis doesn't have anything on.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05What would the impact of that be on Curtis and his mum?
0:53:05 > 0:53:09Well, mum has her own health needs. She has fibromyalgia.
0:53:09 > 0:53:12She stated that this varies on a day-to-day basis.
0:53:12 > 0:53:15I did ask her to explain a good day and a bad day to me.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18- They were total ends of the scale. - Mm.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20A good day was her taking Curtis out for walks, going to church,
0:53:20 > 0:53:22being with family.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25On a bad day, it was literally in bed all day.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27- She could not get out.- Right, OK.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29We can't predict what will happen in the future.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32Even as I said before, the early conversations,
0:53:32 > 0:53:34you can see this is critical there.
0:53:36 > 0:53:38Curtis' case must now pass through two more stages,
0:53:38 > 0:53:41before a decision is made.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44DOG BARKS
0:53:45 > 0:53:48Sh-h-h! That's enough, please.
0:53:49 > 0:53:51Making such a row.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57Curtis says sh. Sh!
0:54:01 > 0:54:04HE SINGS TO HIMSELF
0:54:06 > 0:54:11- Have you heard from the social work yet?- No. Nothing. Nothing.
0:54:11 > 0:54:15They're never quick in getting in touch with you.
0:54:15 > 0:54:20We want to know as soon as possible about funding, things like that,
0:54:20 > 0:54:23so we know where we're going to stand.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26Our lives are on hold until then.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33I want to work and support myself and support my two children,
0:54:33 > 0:54:37but if they don't give me the funding to have carers for Curtis
0:54:37 > 0:54:39and be able to go out to West Fife,
0:54:39 > 0:54:41I don't know how I'm going to be able to work,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44because he can't be left in the house on his own.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47He's not able, he is not mentally able to be on his own.
0:54:58 > 0:55:00After two months of waiting,
0:55:00 > 0:55:03Nicola will hear today if she will get the funding needed to get Curtis
0:55:03 > 0:55:06his extra days at West Fife.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11PHONE RINGS
0:55:11 > 0:55:13- 'Hello?'- Hi, Nicola, it's Sara Aitchison,
0:55:13 > 0:55:16the social worker from the self-directed support team.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18- 'Hi, Sara. Hiya.'- How are you?
0:55:18 > 0:55:22- I'm fine, thanks. How are you doing? - 'I'm all right, I'm all right.'
0:55:22 > 0:55:24I just wanted to phone you to let you know
0:55:24 > 0:55:27that the package for Curtis' care has been passed.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29Oh, fantastic! Oh, that's great.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32Huge, huge weight off my shoulders.
0:55:32 > 0:55:36So, the service at the community support services will start in June.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39Oh, that's brilliant, Sara. Thank you so much.
0:55:39 > 0:55:43- I'm glad.- Thanks for your hard work, Sara.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47- I really, really appreciate it.- No, not at all. It's part of the job.
0:55:47 > 0:55:51I'm just glad it got passed, Nicola.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Mum's happy. Yes.
0:55:53 > 0:55:57Because you're going to be busy and cared for while Mum's working.
0:55:57 > 0:55:59- Can go out to earn. - So, when Mum's working,
0:55:59 > 0:56:01Curtis is going to be with West Fife!
0:56:01 > 0:56:06- West Fife! More days!- More days at West Fife. And what did we do?
0:56:06 > 0:56:09- We went...?- Three days!- Yes.
0:56:09 > 0:56:13Obviously, I'll go home tonight and I will feel happy that, obviously,
0:56:13 > 0:56:16knowing that the funding is been agreed and knowing that that's great
0:56:16 > 0:56:19for Nicola and how happy she is and things. Obviously, I'll go home
0:56:19 > 0:56:22tonight and I will feel better. But then tomorrow's a new day.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25I don't know what that's going to bring. But, yeah, obviously...
0:56:25 > 0:56:28Good news is good news and it's nice to give people good news.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31And you wish more of your job was like that,
0:56:31 > 0:56:33but that's not the reality.
0:56:42 > 0:56:45- Yeah. You're happy, aren't you? - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:57:01 > 0:57:02Shame on you, Fife Council.
0:57:02 > 0:57:04Shame on you.
0:57:04 > 0:57:09They have made my life a misery.
0:57:09 > 0:57:10Hello, Tam?
0:57:10 > 0:57:14I'm getting a blessing here, I think. Thank you, my son!
0:57:14 > 0:57:17You have to be really very careful.
0:57:17 > 0:57:22It's somebody's life that you've got your hands.
0:57:22 > 0:57:25It did not strike me that his first priority was Michaela.
0:57:25 > 0:57:29What we don't want to happen is Michaela becomes another statistic.