Episode 5 Call the Council

From rubbish and recycling...

..to potholes and pavements...

A street down. Another street to do.

..educating our children...

Fantastic.

..and caring for the elderly.

'It does make a difference,'

when you see what can be achieved.

We rely on our local councils to provide a huge range of services.

You may kiss the bride.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

In this series, we follow front-line staff

working for Wigan Council in Greater Manchester.

GAVEL BANGS

Ooh, sorry!

Like council offices across the country,

they are protecting us from hidden dangers...

Oh, dear!

..stepping in when there's an emergency...

You never know what you're turning up to.

Thank you very much.

..and responding to residents.

Thanks for everything. Good job.

..when they...

PHONE RINGS ..call the council.

Coming up...

the council steps in when an aquarium owner

complains about bad vibrations from a noisy neighbour.

Well, the bass you can actually feel going through the floor.

-That's the problem with the fish for us, yeah, obviously.

-OK.

An officer scales new heights

when rats run riot in a row of houses.

It keeps me fit, this job. That's for sure.

I know they're God's creatures and they need to live,

but I'd rather them live somewhere else.

Yeah, that's a fresh dropping down there.

And a young student is given the chance to change his life.

77 and...

a quarter.

'If I was to get, like, a really good job doing this...'

..yeah, it'll just amaze me.

There are 433 local authorities in the UK

and each is responsible for maintaining

its valuable public buildings

and managing its important housing stock,

safeguarding them for our benefit.

In the borough of Wigan, there are over 22,000 council properties,

taking a workforce of hundreds to maintain them.

Can I have a tin of WD-40, please?

One of them is multiskilled joiner Scott Howarth.

'I've worked for the council probably coming on ten year now.'

You get everything from everyday life.

'Just broken windows...'

Go on.

'..to stair treads...

'faulty front doors...'

See you later, bye!

'..people locked out...'

Problem with your door?

'..and just general maintenance.

'No matter what time of day,'

what time of year, we will go out.

But skilled craftsmen like Scott are in short supply.

Britain is facing its biggest skill shortage for a generation.

Industry analysts say that in 2013,

just over 7,000 apprentices completed their training

in an industry that needs at least 35,000 new entrants every year

just to stand still.

Wigan Council is doing its bit to address the gap.

Working with local schools,

the council supports a hands-on training scheme...

That's absolutely smashing, that. Well done.

..that's helping young people, like 15-year-old Joseph,

get a leg up in the construction industry.

I don't know who I'm going to be working with yet.

They need to get back to me.

But, hopefully, it should be a good opportunity for me.

Joseph has excelled in the workshop

and secured a place on a work experience scheme

that will take him out on the road,

where he will get genuine, hands-on experience.

It's an opportunity that could change his life.

Quite excited, a bit nervous,

because, obviously, it's my first day.

And it's a very big place and I'm just very determined to work.

So...yeah.

Well, I think...

If they see that I'm doing well and that I enjoy it,

maybe when I come to leave school, they might approach me,

as in you can work afterwards, you know?

Be in an actual apprenticeship to earn proper money

in this business.

There are ten lads on the same scheme.

But, with no guarantee of securing a job,

Joseph is determined to impress his mentor.

And he is up for working through his summer holiday

to get him ahead of the pack.

All right, pal, you Joseph?

-Yeah.

-All right, mate. I'm Scott.

-All right?

Council joiner Scott has been charged

with showing Joseph the ropes.

Quite big in here, isn't it?

If the size of the council depot doesn't frighten Joseph,

the size of his council-issue trousers might.

All right, mate?

-Can we have some clothes for him, please?

-Yeah.

38? 28, that. Yeah!

SCOTT LAUGHS

Putting them on, he'll be like this.

-Looks like you just fell out o' catalogue, like me.

-LAUGHTER

Right, see you later.

Joseph, Scott and colleague Chris

head off for the first job of the day...

ENGINE STARTS

..together with some cuddly colleagues.

You've got some nice teddies.

-Pardon?

-You've got some nice teddies.

-All right?

-All right, pal? My name's Scott from council.

-All right?

-I came about a problem with some doors.

-Yeah. Do you want come in?

-Yeah, no worries. Cheers.

As soon as they arrive, Joseph is put to work,

measuring up for new doors.

All right, we'll just get some measurements.

Right, so...

Living, 29 and seven-eighths.

But if he thought he was leaving the classroom behind,

he has another thing coming.

-I measure in inches. You'd be used to millimetres.

-Yeah.

-29...

The job is practical, with a bit of maths thrown in,

something that Joseph has been struggling with at school.

I did actually want to be an architect,

but, because of my behaviour in school,

it's affected my maths.

Obviously, you need maths, and a very high standard of it.

26 and seven-eighths.

-26?

-Yep.

No, you did it right. So three-quarters, yeah?

So, three over four.

Lesson learned, it's on to the day's second job.

Joseph has used his brain,

now it's time for brawn.

Putting up a new sign requires a lot of oomph.

Do you want to do it or do you want to hold the joint?

I'll... Actually, I'll hold the post.

-Right. Hold it lower down. You ready?

-Yeah.

POST CLANGS

Don't drop it on me fingers.

POST CLANGS

POST CLANGS

Do you want me to put this back in van?

Joseph is using his initiative,

a tactic guaranteed to outshine his competition.

'You've got to be keen, you've got to want to do it.'

If they are interested in what they want to do, you know what I mean?

I've known lads who have just ticked any box and they've just gone,

basically, cos they've been sent.

'If you're not interested in it,

'it's not going anywhere for anybody.'

The more you press the trigger,

the faster it'll go, so just take your time.

You hold it at the end. Are you at the end?

-I'm at the end right now.

-Right, pull it tight.

DRILLING

Onwards and upwards, boys.

THEY TALK AND LAUGH

With signs sorted, it's on to the last of the day.

MACHINE WHIRS

And it's back to school for Joseph...

MACHINE WHIRS

..to dismantle and revamp some run-down benches.

Joseph is getting stuck in,

showing Scott he's got what it takes to make it as a joiner.

SCREWS CLINK

We all muck in.

You know, we put screws in on that last job, you know what I mean?

Which he did all right. He didn't snap any bits.

Joseph's first day on the job is over.

He's gained some valuable experience

and, so far, he's managed to make a good impression.

Cheers.

-See you later.

-See you later.

'He's been a nice lad.'

He talks, which is always better than being miserable, sat in van.

He's keen, seems to have enjoyed it, said he wants to come again.

Wants to work with us again, so we've done something right.

Great. And we're going home.

Still to come...

Joseph reveals he isn't keen on going up in the world.

-No, not up there.

-JOSEPH LAUGHS

Not a chance.

But, with the prospect of working through the summer

to up his chances of landing a dream job...

DRILLING

..there's a lot...

Right, go on then, mate. You get it out your way.

SNAPPING ..at stake.

-Whoa!

-LAUGHTER

From joiners and janitors,

to highway inspectors and rubbish collectors,

our local councils have the enormous task of looking after

over 64 million of us in the UK.

Public protection officers, like Colin Evans, are called upon

to deal with some of the more unpleasant jobs in Wigan.

When I came into this job I had no illusions of what was involved.

None whatsoever.

I think we've found pigeons, all kind of rodents,

blocked drains, smoking chimneys, burning bonfires.

All I say is, "Bring it on. The dirtier the better."

If I get the solution, I'm not bothered.

Today, after a call to the council,

Colin's turning detective to help a tenant who's

renting from a private landlord and is ratty about her rodent visitors.

I'm a clean person and I'm thinking, they have been

all over my units and things like that and it's frightening.

Then I don't want to cook, I don't want to do anything.

-Hello there, love. Environmental Health, from the council.

-Yeah.

-Were you having problems with rodents?

-Yeah.

I'll have a look and see what's going on, if that's OK.

-Yeah, that's lovely.

-Lovely.

-Can I have a look?

-Come in, yeah.

Is it actually ongoing now, or has it been and gone?

-No, it's still going on.

-It's still going on.

-Yeah.

Are they in the house, as well, or are they just in the yard?

Well, they're in the house and the yard.

-They're inside, as well?

-Yeah.

Can I have a look in your kitchen

and see if I can see if there's any droppings of anything.

If you look inside there.

Carol Pennington has been battling against unwanted visitors

for the past two years.

We found a massive one under the bath.

So...

There's a funny smell in here.

-It must have just died.

-Yeah.

We took the flap off and it was about that long.

No exaggeration.

Rats and mice are determined diggers.

And any holes that already exist should be sealed.

There are quite a few holes about.

-Cos they're mice...

-Yeah.

..they can squeeze through very small...

If a pencil can get through a gap, a mouse will get through it.

I know they're God's creatures and they need to live

but I'd rather they live somewhere else.

CHUCKLES

To be fair.

Rodents don't just spread disease,

they cause serious structural damage in thousands of households

across the UK which can even be life-threatening.

It's estimated that by chewing wires,

they're responsible for 25% of electrical fires in buildings.

With evidence of rodents rife,

Colin is on a mission to check every possible entry point.

It keeps me fit, this job, that's for sure.

He's fearlessly forging ahead, like an intrepid explorer,

in a bid to help Carol and her neighbours.

We've had a few rats, we've had a few rats.

One comes and has a mooch around,

sees what he can get and then he's off.

I'd say he was about that long.

I don't like to call it an infestation,

but that's what it is.

-I've got a problem with mice in the block.

-Yeah.

-Do you think I could I check if you've got any problems?

-We have.

There's a fresh dropping down there.

I've got an entry point down the side of the wall here,

which is big enough for rats, too, that one.

I'm going to get onto the landlord.

Yeah, you've got quite a lot of droppings under there.

The environment is ideal for them.

As long as there's food, they will thrive.

The infestation is widespread.

The tenants and landlords in all five houses have been

tackling the problem individually, without success.

It's now clear to Colin that he needs to coordinate the attack.

Now I'm going to find out who the property owners are.

Once I get that information back, I'll be writing to all of them,

advising them of the issues I've got

and what repairs need doing.

I'll give them a time span of three weeks

and I'll come back and check.

Obviously, if it's not being done,

then I'll be taking further action against them.

I will win.

In cases like this, if rodent damage requires repairs,

it's the landlord's responsibility to carry them out.

If they fail to do so,

the landlord will be served a legal notice.

If ignored, the council could complete the work

and pass all costs, including the officer's time,

to the landlord.

Coming up...

Colin braves the rain to return.

But will the landlord still be operating

an open-door policy to rodents?

-Can I have a quick look what they've done?

-Yeah.

The UK's local councils are some of the country's biggest employers.

Over two million council officers have been tasked with

keeping our neighbourhoods running smoothly.

PHONE RINGS

Good afternoon, Wigan Council, Arron speaking, how can I help?

Public Protection Officer Arron Hanson deals with

everything from food safety to air pollution.

What makes a good public protection officer is someone

who can be assertive when they need to be,

but also take a step back sometimes

and be able to negotiate and be a mediator.

Last year, Wigan Council received over 500 noise complaints

and, today, Arron's investigating a complaint

from the owner of an aquarium shop.

When we get reports of noise,

we've got a duty to investigate statutory nuisances,

which include noise.

So today I'm going to visit and get a bit more information,

find out how it's affecting them.

Erm...

And see if there's anything we can do.

Mr Chadwick called the council,

claiming that the music from a newly opened gym next door is

so loud, and the vibrations so strong,

that his fish are suffering from stress and dying.

We've been round to ask them to quieten it down.

Erm, sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't

and when they do do it, they switch it, keep just turning it up,

a notch at a time

until it's back on the same level as it was the time before.

Before any action can be taken,

Arron needs to assess the noise for himself.

Hiya, Mr Chadwick.

Arron from Wigan Council.

-Hi, are you OK?

-Pleased to meet you.

-You, too.

Erm, so I'm here to come and have a listen to the problem.

You mentioned about the bass, it's the bass...

Well, the bass you can actually feel going through the floor

when they've got it on.

That's been the problem with the fish, as well?

-That's the problem with the fish for us, yes, obviously.

-OK. That's OK.

-I'll have a listen.

-Brilliant.

-Are we all right to have a wander in, have a listen?

-Yeah.

-That's great. OK.

-OK.

-Thanks.

With a gym class about to begin, Arron takes up position.

When the business first made the complaint,

the problem was with fish dying from vibrations.

Right at the back of this wall is where the gym is,

so that's what we're looking at today.

It's estimated that over 400 of us

complain about our noisy neighbours every day.

If deemed serious enough,

an abatement notice can be issued,

which can lead to a fine

of up to £5,000 for individuals,

or up to £20,000 for some businesses.

To get to the bottom of this fishy tale,

Arron needs to hear a noise.

Any noise.

So he listens...

SILENCE

And listens...

SILENCE

And listens.

SILENCE

But there's nothing to be heard.

They might have cancelled the class this week.

Which is good for you cos it means you're not getting...

-We're not getting the hassle.

-No!

-Not getting the hassle.

-What we can do, we can always come again.

-Yeah.

It's just the noise, isn't it?

So we'll see how we go on.

-Right, OK, thanks, Mr Chadwick. OK.

-It's a pleasure.

-Take care.

Without any hard evidence, Arron can't take any action

but he will be back to see if you can help Mr Chadwick.

Still to come...

Arron heads to the gym...

I might be unwelcome.

..to confront the owner face-to-face about the booming bass.

Hello, Arron from Wigan Council.

Are rodents still running riot in the terraced houses?

You've got quite a lot of droppings under there.

Whoo-hoo!

And down on the farm, council officers

volunteer for a speedy clean-up.

I'm too old for this, me.

The goats are loving this.

I can't give it them fast enough.

-Right, are you Joseph?

-Yeah.

All right, mate, I'm Scott.

Two weeks ago, 15-year-old Joseph

began work experience with Wigan Council.

His aim, to become a fully fledged joiner.

That's 29 and three-quarters.

He's been keen...

The more you press the trigger, the faster it'll go.

..and shown initiative.

But with nine other lads on the scheme, with the same goal,

he'll have to continue to up his game.

Squeezing on that last job, you know what I mean,

which he did all right, he didn't snap any bits.

Another day, another dollar.

It's day two and mentor Scott is setting Joseph

a fresh set of challenges.

-It's gorgeous now, isn't it?

-I am, thanks.

I thought you were talking about me, then.

All right, mate.

-Are you all right?

-I see you've made it.

-Yeah.

All right, how long have you been here?

Er, I don't know, about ten minutes.

-Belter. Right, mate.

-Yeah.

-Come on, then.

-All right, then.

-Right.

-Do you want me to get these pieces here?

-You can do.

With the van loaded, they're off to their first job.

A special ceremonial day is coming up,

and Scott and his crew have their role to play in the preparation.

It's Armed Forces Day on Saturday, so we're just changing

the Union Jacks to the Armed Forces Union Jacks for the council.

I started doing this about eight year ago.

I'm not afraid of heights.

I'd never go up there.

Not a chance!

Not exactly a great start for climbing the career ladder.

But, from flags to fencing,

Joseph is stepping up to this challenge.

Right, go on, then, mate, you get it out your way.

One minute.

You must've had an easy one at the beginning, mate.

Right.

Do you want me to do it?

Do you want young lad to do it?

That doesn't work what you're doing. Come on.

I've just loosened it for you, then.

LAUGHS

Joseph is learning to be part of a team

and a valuable lesson that pride...

Whah!

..goes before a fall. ALL LAUGH

Joseph and Scott's next job is to replace the school benches

they removed two weeks ago.

School doesn't teach you as much as this does

because you're out there doing work for when you leave school.

It's just brill.

So if you stand there.

-Sight it.

-Yeah.

-Can you see how the gap's pretty even.

-Yeah.

Having Joseph on board makes Scott think more about

his own work experience.

When I was at school, I was more interested in joinery than

anything else. That's why I ended up being a joiner.

I was more interested in something what I wanted to do

when I left school.

I did an apprenticeship with a conservatory firm

and then I went to a small building firm.

So, you know, I've turned out all right.

Working with Scott is helping Joseph decide

what he really wants out of life.

This, to me, is something which I really like doing

and I'd really love to do and I want to do when I'm older.

If I was to get like a really good job doing this, then,

yeah, it'll just amaze me.

So...

He's desperate to carry on working with Scott

during his summer holidays.

This would be a first for the council

and they are keen to support him.

But Scott has had news that could shatter Joseph's dreams.

Come on, chop chop.

I spoke to one of the managers.

He's looking into it to see if the insurance will allow him

because he's insured through school, which obviously,

when school closed down, he may not be insured.

Obviously, he does want to come.

He's not getting paid. So...

He does seem keen. I know there's not many other people

that would want to go to work for nothing.

It's just a pleasure to work with both of them.

I really appreciate that.

I think that Scott and Chris

are the best two workers I've ever worked with.

So...

-D'you want to give me a ring?

-Yeah.

-Right, belter.

Coming up...

Joseph faces an anxious wait for a decision about

whether he can work through his holidays...

The person who's in charge has told me, like, to leave it

and let them deal with it but there may be like a problem.

And his career prospects hang in the balance.

It keeps me fit, this job, that's for sure.

Four weeks ago,

Colin was called out to a street-wide rodent infestation...

There's a fresh dropping down there.

..and gave the landlords three weeks to fix the problem.

Yeah, you've got quite a lot of droppings under there.

Colin has been acting in response to residents

and he's back to check what work, if any, the landlords have done.

When I came originally, I found quite a big hole here.

So I've been in touch with the landlord and, obviously,

he's filled it all in and sealed it up.

All this was overgrown.

So the landlord has had it chopped back just to check

if there are any holes along the outside wall,

which...I'm looking now...

It's all clear, I've no faults there.

So far, so good.

But, finally, back to Carol's house

where they were causing grief inside and out.

Morning, are you all right?

That's belting, that. That's wonderful.

There was one around the side here, weren't there?

-That one, he's done a belting job on that.

-Oh, yeah.

That's all been pointed up now, so there's nothing to get in there.

So, hopefully, you're mice-free now.

Yeah, I hope so.

-I just wish I was dog-free!

-Yeah, well...

If Carol's dogs were more keen on catching rats than the limelight,

she'd have been rodent free months ago.

-Okey-dokey.

-Thanks very much.

-Thanks very much.

-See you later.

That's the problem resolved now.

Several happy residents again.

This war against rodents has been won.

With all holes filled, Carol and her neighbours can now live safely

in the knowledge that, for now, their terrace is rat and mouse free.

Something fishy is going on at an aquarium shop.

The owner has repeatedly reported

excessive noise from a gym next door.

He believes it's killing his fish.

You mentioned about the bass. It's the bass...

The bass you can actually feel going through the floor.

That's the problem with the fish, for us, yeah.

But when Arron has investigated, all has been quiet.

Today Arron is back for another visit with a new plan of action.

We've been receiving further complaints,

so I think it's time to go and have a chat with him.

I might be unwelcome, I don't know.

In an attempt to end the fish and their owner's stress,

Arron's stepping in to try and calm the waters.

Hello. Arron from Wigan Council.

Hiya, are you OK?

-Are you the owner?

-I am, yeah.

-Yeah.

I'm just coming today,

we've had a bit of an issue with some of the noise from some classes.

Right, OK.

All I'm here today is just to say one of the issues has been

-a Saturday morning.

-Right, OK.

Erm, and a couple of times during the week.

So I'm just seeing if you can just monitor that for yourselves.

-Yeah, we're hoping to do that.

-Yeah.

And just take action maybe to turn it down a bit.

If you think, yourself, it's a bit loud,

you know, turn it down just a touch,

-then that'll be fine.

-Yeah.

-That's it, really.

-Yeah, no problem.

Then we'll see how it goes and in a couple of weeks

-I'll get back in touch.

-That's fine, yeah. Just let us know.

-We want to address it.

-Yeah, great.

-OK.

-How's the business because you're a new business?

-It's good. It's picking up every day.

-Going in the right direction, it's great.

-Cheers, thank you very much.

-Yeah, no problem.

-Thank you.

People tend to lose themselves in music and train harder.

It gives them that energy.

With it being a new business, we're trying to create the atmosphere

but we don't want to upset anybody.

Arron now needs to report back to Mr Chadwick.

I had a chat with him.

Erm, he doesn't want to, erm...

..fall out or argue about it.

He wants to make sure it's fine for you.

He seemed genuine and he seems like a decent bloke.

So, hopefully, he'll do what he says.

Then, hopefully, it'll be OK.

-Job done.

-Hopefully.

-Good job done.

I feel like I made progress today.

It's always difficult when you've only heard one side of the story.

You need to remain impartial, really,

and take both sides into consideration.

Erm, obviously it's a new business and he's got a lot of changes to do

and make, so we'll work through the changes with him

and hopefully get it to a position where both businesses are happy

and they both can run without any issues.

Arron will continue to monitor the noise, but, for now,

the relationship between these two businesses is harmonious.

Still to come...

Will Joseph secure his summer of work experience...

The person who's in charge has told me there may be like a problem.

..and get closer to that all-important apprenticeship?

Local authorities get their funding from three main sources -

grants from central government,

council tax

and other locally generated fees and charges.

But wherever the money is coming from,

today's economic climate means every penny counts.

So to help the council budget stretch further,

officers in Wigan are encouraged to spend two days a year

helping in their local communities.

Michaela Guest has organised a Volunteer Day

and has rounded up some colleagues to help out.

I'm Public Protection Manager in Business Compliance Improvement

and my role as manager is to work with the officers

who look after the general public

in terms of making sure that we protect their health.

We're also part of the Environment section, so, for me, it was

important that we did something that would help the environment.

Festival season is coming to Wigan.

Greenslate Farm, a community project,

is hosting Greenfest, a celebration of local music talent.

Michaela and colleagues have volunteered,

as there's plenty of work that needs doing to get it safe

and accessible for the crowds they are expecting.

Rhiannon Jones from the farm is organising today's clean-up.

We're all here today, so what do you want us to do?

First of all, we've got a field over there that needs to be cleared

-so that it's safe for people to walk into.

-Brilliant.

Another job is - clear the pathway.

So if we can clear that, that'll be great as well.

Brilliant, right, well, we'll get stuck in then!

With a ton of weeding and a stack of clearing,

the council volunteers have a busy day ahead.

Fran Lindley has swapped takeaway inspections for path clearing.

It's nice for a change.

Fresh air...

A workout.

And Colin is in the field where it's a far cry from hunting rats.

I'm too old for this, me.

Hopefully, we'll get this summat looking like

so they can have their stalls on here, apparently.

Hard work, but we're getting there.

I enjoy it, it's a nice change.

Whoo-hoo!

It's lunch time for the goats,

and public protection officer, Barry, is head waiter.

The goats are loving this.

I can't actually give it 'em fast enough.

We're putting something back into the community. I'm enjoying it.

Greenslate Farm, like many organisations

and attractions throughout the UK,

relies on volunteers to help it run.

We are making good headway on this path.

Last year, almost 23 million of us in Britain volunteered

to improve the lives of our neighbours and our communities.

Thanks to today's weed pulling and root ripping,

the path and the field have been cleared, making a safer,

greener space for the festival-goers to embrace and enjoy.

I think I'm going to be the first person, ever, to walk this path.

This was completely wild. You can see how high all this stuff was.

At least now we can see a path and people can actually go through.

So, kids, especially small children with parents coming up here

with prams and stuff, they can stay off the road now, so...

A massive difference. It's made a massive difference.

I'm made up, I'm so proud of everybody today

for giving their time up for the Volunteer Day.

They've managed to get loads of work done.

I'm so proud of all the staff for turning up today

to give their day for volunteering. It's been fantastic.

Everyone's worked flat out, including the goats,

who munched through barrows of weeds.

But now it's time to head back to the shed for the night.

Coming up...

After the volunteers' hard work, rain threatens to stop play.

But will it keep the festival-goers away?

Wiganers are made of hard stuff,

a bit of rain won't stop 'em.

29 and seven-eighths.

15-year-old Joseph is on a work experience scheme

under council joiner Scott's expert eye.

Just hold it and let it start so you don't slip off, yeah.

He's worked hard, showing initiative.

Do you want this back in the van?

And become a valued member of this crack team.

Joseph's keen to make the most of this chance

and gain new skills and future-proof his career.

He's asked to work through his school summer holiday

but this has raised serious issues.

He does want to come.

I've spoke to one of the managers but he may not be insured.

All right.

Today, Joseph will find out if he'll get the green light.

-On time again, lad.

-Yeah.

But first, work.

They're at a local primary school to spruce up some storage.

-What do you reckon, Joseph, nearly breakfast?

-I've had my breakfast.

I've had two actually.

So, what you're saying, we're not allowed one.

You'll be a manager in no time, you! Telling us we can't have our breakfast.

Keen to impress,

Joseph spots an opportunity to show Scott some skills.

Do you want me to have a go?

No, because if you do it, I'll get sacked.

-I'll have one more go. If not...

-I'll have a go.

Come on.

Then you can't say it was just Scott that did it wrong.

I'm not failin'!

But can he crack it...

where his mentor has failed?

Mate, you don't want to be a joiner, you, you can be a tiler.

But he does want to be a joiner,

which brings his thoughts back to the hope of working through summer.

The person who's in charge has told me like to leave it

and let them deal with it but there may be like a problem.

-Do you still want to come, then?

-Yeah.

-Are you enjoying it?

-Yeah.

You never know, they might say you can come every day.

He's really good, he's really keen and he's really happy to come.

So, you know, it benefits him and it benefits the likes of me.

I'd rather show somebody what wants to learn

than somebody what's been told they have to come.

-There you go, Scott.

-Ta.

Lunch time,

and Scott's received the all-important call.

After a long, anxious wait,

it's finally time to give Joseph the news about his summer.

-Would you like it, mate?

-Mm.

Erm...

-How did I do?

-Yeah, yeah, you've done well.

I've spoke to Colin and they've said you can come back over summer.

Yeah, so you'll still be working with me and Chris.

-Yeah.

-That all right?

-Yeah!

It's brilliant news,

and something Joseph's been waiting for weeks to hear.

I'm actually really happy

because I didn't actually think it was going to happen,

but it's going to increase my levels of getting a job when I'm older

and I'm really proud that they've allowed me to stay over the summer.

In this short time, Joseph has already learned a lot

and been inspired by Scott.

The more you press the trigger, the faster it goes, so take your time.

I've done something right.

At the end of the day he's gone away thinking,

"Yeah, this is what I want to do," and he's enjoyed it, so...

And he were made up.

Now, with a summer of work experience ahead,

Joseph will be a big step closer to achieving his dreams

of becoming a professional joiner,

and Wigan Council has helped a potential new recruit

in an industry thirsty for new talent.

Just over a week ago, Wigan Council officers volunteered...

I'm too old for this, me.

..to get Greenslate Farm spick and span

ready for a local music festival.

I'm going to be the first person ever to walk this path.

The big day has arrived...

..along with the rain.

Undeterred, the local residents have turned out in force.

Joined by Colin Evans,

who has come on his day off to see if his handiwork has done the job.

Nice little nature walk for people to walk through.

Quite pleased with that.

Apart from the rain it turned out quite well,

so hopefully they'll have a successful day.

Despite the rain, the sausages are sizzling and the beer is flowing.

This festival is all about music and community.

It's kicking off with a local group,

some of whom have also helped out at the farm.

# There's a place in your heart and I know that it is love

# And this place could be much brighter than tomorrow

# And if you really try, you'll find there's no need to cry

# In this place you'll find... #

This is what it's all about - people enjoying themselves.

# There are ways to get there if you care enough for the living

# Make a little space

# Make a better place

# Heal the world

# Make it a better place

# For you and for me

# And the entire human race

# There are people dying

# If you care enough for the living

# Make a better place for you and for me. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

That's what it's all about

and to put on a show like that is just absolutely amazing.

It touched me, that, it really did. Nice.

And on that note, as if by magic, the rain stops.

This place will be absolutely rocking.

There's beer on, burgers,

cos they like a good do, does Wiganers.

The weather has been absolutely awful, but it's all about this.

We've still got loads of people enjoying themselves

and it makes it all worthwhile.

If you would like to volunteer in your area

or have a community project and are looking for funding,

contact your local council.

I do get a lot of satisfaction.

When you come back and see the fruits of your labour

and how appreciative people are of the effort we've put in for them,

it gives me a buzz, knowing that I've been involved with that

and hopefully it's the start of great things for them.