Episode 7 Call the Council


Episode 7

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Transcript


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From rubbish and recycling

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to potholes and pavements.

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Another street down. Another street to go.

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Educating our children.

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Fantastic!

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And caring for the elderly.

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It does make a difference when you see what can be achieved.

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

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You may kiss the bride.

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In this series, we follow front-line staff

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working for Wigan Council in Greater Manchester.

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Sorry!

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Like council officers across the country, they are protecting us

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-from hidden dangers...

-Oh, dear.

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

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You never know what you're turning up to.

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-..and responding to residents...

-Thanks for everything.

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-A good job done.

-..when they call the council.

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Coming up,

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the borough's young people chase their career dreams with some

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help from the council.

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If I am successful, then I'm going to grab it with both hands

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and run with it.

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From council estate to country estate -

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the Wigan gardeners going for gold at the Tatton Park Flower Show.

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If we were lucky enough to win a gold, massive.

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It would be... You can't explain it.

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And the writing's on the wall for vandals,

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with the council workers cleaning up town, one tag at a time.

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People, they want to see the pretty sights,

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and they don't want to see buildings daubed in graffiti.

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The scale and range of services provided by our local authorities

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mean that, together, they're one of the biggest employers in the UK.

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Over two million people in the UK work for a local council.

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Job opportunities are especially important for young people,

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who are nearly three times more likely to be out of work than

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the rest of the population.

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In the first half of 2015,

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almost three quarters of a million young people were unemployed.

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And it affects us all.

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It's estimated that long-term youth unemployment costs the UK taxpayer

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around £20 million a week.

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To help youngsters move off benefits and into full-time work,

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Wigan Council in Greater Manchester runs a very special scheme.

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This is your future and Wigan Council want to support you

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as much as possible.

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Confident Futures offers six weeks of training

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and work placements to around 30 young people each year.

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Those successfully completing the trial

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win 12 months of paid work experience with the council.

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We support vulnerable young people throughout Wigan.

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That can be children in care and care leavers,

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teenage parents,

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young people who have being involved in crime

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and work with the youth offending team,

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homeless young people,

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young people with emotional problems or mental health.

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Morning, Sue.

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Programme coordinator Jan Watkin has seen Confident Futures help

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nearly 75 vulnerable young people since the scheme started in 2013.

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Each youngster is tried out in a range of roles to find one

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that best suits their skills.

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The matching process is really important.

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If we don't get it right, it can impact on the young person.

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23-year-old Jack is one of Jan's latest intake.

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I always wanted to get up in the morning and go out and do something.

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I've been brought up to look for a job and find one.

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Like many youngsters on the Confident Futures scheme,

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Jack had a shaky start in life.

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I was ten when my dad passed away.

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It was just hard because, obviously,

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my mum had lost her husband. Me and our Danny had lost our dad.

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You learn to grieve.

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And, you know, you learn to deal with your problems in your own way.

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A year of paid work experience at the end of the scheme

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could help Jack get to where he wants to be.

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But if he's going to swap pulling pints for a career with the council,

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he'll have to prove he's serious.

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You're doing a grand job with that.

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A lot of young people, they just want a job.

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They want to earn money.

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But we stipulate that we want them to have a career where they'll

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have to do some training

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and gain a qualification or a trade.

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Jack is in the sixth and final week of the Confident Futures

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programme and is spending a day in fleet maintenance.

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Wigan Council operates over 500 vehicles, as well as countless

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mechanical tools, and they all have to be kept in safe working order.

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It's a big opportunity for Jack to show what he can do.

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I want to be a fully-qualified mechanic for the council

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because I love taking things apart,

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finding out the remedies, how to solve a problem.

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And I think working for the council would be one of the best jobs

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going, really.

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Jack already has a Level 3 Mechanics NVQ

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but he still has to prove himself and start at the bottom,

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on the lawnmowers.

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It's just going all right. I'm enjoying it today.

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Obviously, we've got to clean the lawnmowers with the steamers

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so they're clean

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and then we can take them into the workshop and fix them

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and find out what's wrong with them and fix them.

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Today, Jack is working with another Confident Futures trainee,

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Aaron, an old mate from school.

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Yeah, there's a bit of rivalry.

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It's who can finish the job the best and fastest, really.

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It's going to be me!

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I think I'm quicker than Aaron, to be honest.

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I've got that bit more experience than him

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but, you know, within time, I think there'll be a nice

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rivalry between each other to see who's the better mechanic.

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It's all finished now.

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Get it fit, take it into the workshop.

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I was definitely quicker than you!

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Lawnmowers clean, but the lads can't afford to relax.

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There's a paid placement on offer in this department.

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Fleet manager Keith Simpson wants to see how they do on something

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a little more challenging.

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Right, what we're going to do next, guys, is we're going to

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get this transit connect on.

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-It needs a service today.

-Yeah.

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OK, so, what I'd like you to do is get it on the ramp.

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Take the wheels off either side.

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You do one side, Aaron.

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You do the other side.

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Vehicles in this workshop are needed all over the borough,

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and there's pressure to get them back out on the road

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as soon as possible.

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Right, lads.

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If you could check the front and rear brakes and just give me

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a report on the condition of those?

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And then we'll take it from there.

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Poor workmanship here could mean breakdowns, or even accidents.

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Jack and Aaron have got to get this job right.

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Everything's fine there.

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And Keith is watching their every move.

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I like doing things like this.

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It saves people's lives.

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If you didn't have no brakes, people would be crashing all the time.

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While working on the brakes,

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Jack and Aaron spot a potentially serious problem and call Keith over.

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Just the brakes.

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I think that gate has split.

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A leaking CV joint boot.

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Very good spot.

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Potential disaster averted.

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Well, you can just see the way the lads are going about the job here,

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with the enthusiasm that they've got.

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There's a long way to go yet but if they show this kind of commitment

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then hopefully they'll have a great future with Wigan Council.

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The lads go through their final checks on the van.

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That's your sidelights.

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Then you've got your main beam.

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Jack and Aaron's friendly rivalry is forgotten,

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and they work together to get the job done.

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It's like a big team, isn't it? Everyone mucks in together.

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Always helping each other out, if you're stuck, or you got a problem.

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Is your foot on the brake?

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Strange, that.

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And speaking of problems, Jack's spotted another one.

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This time with the van's rear light.

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That's only a single filament bulb.

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That one's a two filament bulb.

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-Yeah. So, that might be causing the problem on that lamp.

-Yeah.

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Because it's only got the single filament.

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-You've got another defitment to go on your sheet, haven't you?

-Smashing.

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It's been a successful shift for the lads.

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Lads, you've done really, really well.

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I can see the way you've gone about the inspection this morning,

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that you both know what you're doing.

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That's something we can certainly build on, so, well done.

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Cheers, thanks very much.

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Jack has impressed Keith today.

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But in the morning he faces a final test that will decide his fate.

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A formal interview with the Confident Futures board.

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When I have my interview,

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if I get the welcome aboard,

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that's my future started really, isn't it?

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Coming up...

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Jack gets grilled by his potential employers...

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Jack, tell me why we should take you on as one of the

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Confident Futures apprentices?

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..and two more Confident Futures trainees get to grips with work

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at Wigan Council.

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Hopefully I'll get a good feeling about CCTV.

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Will any of these hopefuls achieve their dream?

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I'm nervous now.

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Sweating!

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In the UK, it's estimated over four million people

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are living in council-owned accommodation.

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The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan has over 22,000 residential

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council properties.

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Dave Bainbridge is group manager for the council house arm of

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Wigan Council.

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But his job's not all about bricks and mortar.

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Dave knows what it takes to turn a council house into a home.

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When tenants and residents look after an area and care for an area,

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then other people moving into that area or visiting that area

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are not only impressed with it but want to be part of that.

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Sussex Close, in Hindley, is on Dave's patch.

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This little corner of Wigan shows exactly what can be achieved

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when the community come together to improve their environment.

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Every single one of these flowers was planted by local volunteers,

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led by Wilf Ford.

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-Well, this area used to be... It was derelict, wasn't it?

-Yes.

-It was.

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There used to be a big tree here, conker tree.

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That was poisoned.

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Then there used to be another big tree over there, which was...

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Looked like the Leaning Tower Of Pisa!

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It was a mess.

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So, we decided to do something about it.

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Each one of us has our individual jobs.

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Once it's set up, it's easier to maintain.

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Sussex Close is a great example of where a few residents

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have come together to genuinely make a vast improvement

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to the area that they live.

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And that's what I, and my team, try to do with the community.

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Wilf's project grew from the green shoots of an idea,

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into a blooming marvellous garden,

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with the help of a grant from Wigan Council.

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We got £1,000.

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So, we had to buy, obviously, a couple... A few tonnes of soil.

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It's all stemmed from there.

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Everything in this communal garden is lovely now.

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But Wilf has plans for his green-fingered team

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and those plans are growing -

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big.

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The annual Royal Horticultural Society Flower Show at Tatton Park.

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A celebration of the very best of British gardening.

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Nearly 500 exhibitors compete to create the most spectacular flower

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displays and this year one of the entries will be from Sussex Close.

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The Close entered the Blooming Bed category last year

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and are hoping to improve on their award.

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We won silver.

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Which we were surprised because we've never done it before.

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We're the only communal garden from social housing

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from Wigan and Leigh Homes,

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who's appeared there for two years on the trot.

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This year, Wilf is going for gold.

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Or at least silver-gilt.

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And has come up with a theme that he hopes will wow the Tatton judges.

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The Road To Wigan Pier.

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These represent the canal

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cos we've got canals in Wigan and Leigh.

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Then we've got the red and white colours for Wigan and Leigh rugby.

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So, those will represent players in the grass.

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That's going to be coal because we're having a slag heap on it.

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A pit head.

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We've got the barge, which will be...

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These will be planted in the barge, representing coal with Wigan Pier.

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Wigan's proud sporting history and gritty industrial heritage

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rendered in flowers.

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It's a big ask for the team from Sussex Close

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but they won't be on their own.

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They'll have a little help from Dave from Wigan Council.

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What sort of job's this? Supposed to be management, me!

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You know, it's a bit of role reversal today.

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Where I'm normally in charge of all these people,

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today Wilf's in charge and I have to take orders.

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So, that means I have to bite my tongue a little bit.

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Sometimes to the point of it bleeding!

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-I might trip going down the path.

-I know!

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That's what we're frightened of with you.

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After 12 months of preparation,

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Wilf and the team have over 3,000 plants

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that will make up their Tatton entry.

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And they've all got to be loaded into the back of Dave's van.

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I need all the tools on the back.

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Yeah, yeah, I know.

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A lot we won't use.

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They won't be good enough.

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But what we do with those we don't use is bring them back

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and give them away in the community.

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So, everybody's got a bit of Tatton.

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Like the Wigan - red and white.

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Red and white begonias.

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We're representing all the borough.

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And a lot of people from the borough will be coming to have a look at it.

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So, it's got to be right and it's got to be right for the judges.

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George Formby!

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# I'm leaning on a lamppost at the corner of the street... #

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With the van full to bursting with flowers,

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there's one final prop to squeeze on.

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Another piece of Wigan industrial pride.

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This has been worked on for a long time.

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Oh, it's got the gauge on as well!

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I didn't know that.

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-Wilf, that's beautiful.

-Brilliant.

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3,000 plants, a welded iron pithead,

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plus the hopes and dreams of the dedicated Sussex Close team.

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All are finally on their way to try and win gold

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at the Tatton Park Flower Show.

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I think this is going to be the highlight of everything we've done.

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We hope so, anyway.

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Still to come...

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The Road To Wigan Pier gets rocking.

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The pithead is too low.

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Can Wilf turn 3,000 flowers into an award-winning display?

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That's no good.

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It's early morning at Wigan Council's super depot.

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Brian Aspinall and Richard "Tricky" Walton are preparing

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for their first mission of the day.

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Let's see what today brings.

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These men face a never-ending job,

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battling a scourge that costs the council tens of thousands of pounds every year.

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We've got some graffiti.

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So we'll do the Tyldesley one first.

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Then we'll sort these out later because that's the priority one.

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Brian is a council graffiti remover,

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otherwise known as a neighbourhood team operative.

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After a number of calls to the council,

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this morning Brian is revisiting a site that's become all too familiar.

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Two scoundrels, lads, whatever,

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went on a rampage with a tin of white spray.

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And daubed 18 cars in the area.

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A few streets of it around the area,

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taggings, offensive graffiti.

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And I've been busy for a week now trying to get rid of it.

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The two lads who've done it don't realise how much money

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it's costing for their, probably, one hour of madness.

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And everybody's got to pay for it.

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Paying for their idiocy.

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On average, graffiti costs the UK taxpayer £1 billion a year.

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And the most serious cases can carry custodial sentences

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of up to ten years.

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Get a shot from that, Trick, from the angle there, like that.

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The culprits responsible for this graffiti have been traced.

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Tricky takes photos of their handiwork as evidence.

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There is no Banksys here.

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You know, no way.

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These vandals face restorative justice

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and might have to clean up some of their own graffiti.

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For now, though, it's Brian and Tricky

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who have to sort out the mess.

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Here is the magic stuff.

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This is a gel, it is a graffiti removal gel.

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It's friendly, pretty safe, but it does the job.

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Like, these people who live here, they've done nothing wrong.

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They have just woke up one morning

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and the place has been daubed in graffiti. Not very nice.

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Now, that is working now. That's earning, that's earning.

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Having applied the chemical gel,

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the team add elbow grease to remove the graffitied initials, or tags.

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This is just one of the 60 calls made to the council

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about clean-ups every week.

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Brian is swimming against the tide of tags.

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Get Big Bertha out.

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Just release that there.

0:18:020:18:04

Even with Big Bertha, removing the graffiti has been a tough job.

0:18:040:18:09

Brian is keen the young offenders responsible

0:18:090:18:12

learn just how tough it is.

0:18:120:18:13

The two lads who have been caught doing anything,

0:18:150:18:18

I think I will leave this for them

0:18:180:18:21

and that bit they will find very hard

0:18:210:18:24

because they won't have the power wash, where I have.

0:18:240:18:27

Someone has got to show how much time it takes to get off.

0:18:270:18:30

Hopefully they will learn from that experience.

0:18:300:18:33

Getting convicted offenders to clean up and face up to the mess

0:18:330:18:37

they have made is a big part of breaking the cycle of vandalism.

0:18:370:18:41

But there is one offender who has been blighting

0:18:410:18:43

Brian's walls for longer than most.

0:18:430:18:46

Over the last 18 months I've been chasing this serial...

0:18:460:18:51

I'll call him a serial tagger.

0:18:510:18:52

His name has been appearing and I must have done about,

0:18:540:18:57

up to now, about 80 tags of him.

0:18:570:19:00

At the minute, he has cost a lot of money,

0:19:000:19:03

so I am going to get rid of some more of his work.

0:19:030:19:07

The sooner we nip this one in the bud, the better.

0:19:070:19:10

Wigan Council pass on information to police

0:19:140:19:16

to help catch graffiti offenders.

0:19:160:19:19

Brian wants to wipe Wigan clean of this one.

0:19:190:19:22

This guy here, he's really made our work a lot harder.

0:19:220:19:26

There's one here, he's here...

0:19:260:19:30

I'm just going to check round here.

0:19:300:19:32

There's another one here.

0:19:340:19:35

People are on their holidays now.

0:19:350:19:37

You've got a lot of barges coming down here.

0:19:370:19:39

They want to see pretty scenes, pretty sights.

0:19:390:19:41

They don't want to see buildings daubed in graffiti.

0:19:410:19:43

Even though I've got these here...

0:19:470:19:50

There is more.

0:19:500:19:51

It is, it's like cat and mouse.

0:19:510:19:53

Big cat Brian is determined to catch his paint-spraying prey.

0:19:550:19:59

In 2014, Wigan spent thousands on removing graffiti in the borough.

0:19:590:20:03

By the time that tag is gone there, the people driving past,

0:20:060:20:09

it should be a bit more pleasant for them.

0:20:090:20:11

The boys make quick progress and the wall is almost back to white.

0:20:140:20:18

-But there's a problem.

-I'm running out of paint.

0:20:180:20:20

HE IMITATES AN ALARM

0:20:200:20:23

I'm scraping the barrel, now, as we might say.

0:20:230:20:25

Brian ekes out the last drop of paint...

0:20:260:20:29

Might just have enough.

0:20:330:20:34

..and wipes out the problem on this wall.

0:20:340:20:37

The finishing line is approaching.

0:20:370:20:40

-Well done, we've done it.

-Sorted it.

0:20:400:20:42

That's that done.

0:20:440:20:45

This wall is all white, but there are plenty more

0:20:450:20:48

walls in Wigan and sadly plenty more people willing to deface them.

0:20:480:20:53

Next job.

0:20:530:20:54

In spite of this, Brian and Tricky's tag team fight on.

0:20:540:20:58

With some financial help from the council, Wigan resident Wilf

0:21:090:21:12

has turned a scrubby bit of ground into the pride of a neighbourhood.

0:21:120:21:16

I got £1,000 and it's all stemmed from there.

0:21:160:21:20

And now his green-fingered team is going for gold

0:21:200:21:23

at the Tatton Park Flower Show.

0:21:230:21:24

It's got to be right and it's got to be right for the judges.

0:21:240:21:28

9am, Tatton Park. The day before the RHS Flower Show.

0:21:330:21:38

Helping Wilf and the team is Dave Bainbridge,

0:21:380:21:41

the man and his van from the council.

0:21:410:21:43

He has volunteered his own time

0:21:430:21:45

and delivered Wilf's precious cargo of 3,000 plants to the show.

0:21:450:21:49

I have had to drive even more tentatively than

0:21:490:21:51

I normally do and make sure that I don't run up any steep hills

0:21:510:21:54

so things roll about in the back of the van.

0:21:540:21:56

So we have been OK, everything has made it intact this year.

0:21:560:21:59

All in one piece apart from my nerves, which are shredded.

0:21:590:22:03

On inspection this morning, Wilf has spotted a problem.

0:22:040:22:08

The pithead, it's too low.

0:22:080:22:12

When I put the black plants around it you won't see the wheel,

0:22:120:22:15

so we are going to sink these into the ground

0:22:150:22:18

and then drop the pithead into it

0:22:180:22:19

so it will lift it up four or five inches.

0:22:190:22:21

Levelling the pithead is taking up valuable preparation time...

0:22:260:22:29

We are not saying this is going to be right.

0:22:310:22:34

..even with Dave around to provide an extra pair of hands.

0:22:340:22:38

Push them over.

0:22:380:22:39

Success - one vertical pithead.

0:22:440:22:47

But there is still the small matter of assembling 3,000 plants.

0:22:470:22:51

I think we're not too bad with that one but that one is coming off.

0:22:510:22:56

12 months' hard work is hanging on the next few hours.

0:22:560:22:59

Even with the pressure on,

0:22:590:23:01

Wilf isn't about to let his high standards slip.

0:23:010:23:04

That's no good.

0:23:050:23:07

It's not perfect enough. Snip them out.

0:23:070:23:10

We'll be doing quite a bit as we go along.

0:23:100:23:13

Wilf is the boss today, I'm just here volunteering and helping him

0:23:150:23:18

to assemble this wonderful garden with other tenants

0:23:180:23:21

from Wigan & Leigh Homes Estate in Hindley.

0:23:210:23:24

For Dave and Wigan Council, the seed that was planted with the grant

0:23:240:23:28

to the green-fingered residents of Sussex Close is blossoming.

0:23:280:23:32

But will it be enough to impress the Royal Horticultural Society judges?

0:23:320:23:37

It's very hard to get a gold, very hard.

0:23:370:23:40

They look for everything - neatness of the plants,

0:23:400:23:43

the quality of the plants - just everything about your garden.

0:23:430:23:46

A little bit nervous but, to me, I don't come for the result, really.

0:23:480:23:52

I come to enjoy building the garden, working with tenants.

0:23:520:23:55

If you hear me screaming, you know we have won a medal.

0:23:550:23:59

It doesn't matter what size of medal, it's an award.

0:23:590:24:03

Still to come, flower meets power,

0:24:070:24:10

and the expert judges make their decision

0:24:100:24:12

at the Tatton Park Flower Show.

0:24:120:24:14

Just can't wait to get the result now.

0:24:140:24:17

Councils across the country run many initiatives aimed at young people

0:24:270:24:31

but recent cuts are putting services under pressure,

0:24:310:24:34

leaving some youngsters distanced and dissatisfied.

0:24:340:24:38

I think we would appreciate the work of the councils

0:24:380:24:41

if we was made aware of what they do.

0:24:410:24:44

I know 17-year-old kids that would probably make better council workers

0:24:440:24:49

than most council workers,

0:24:490:24:51

that are probably more in touch with issues that need to be changed

0:24:510:24:54

or thought about, you know what I mean?

0:24:540:24:57

I think they have definitely lost touch.

0:24:570:24:59

They probably are trying change their image,

0:24:590:25:01

they probably are trying to get out there, talking to the communities

0:25:010:25:05

but, I don't know, I think it's just one of those things that is

0:25:050:25:08

so far gone now, I just don't think they are ever really going to

0:25:080:25:10

get the kind of support and appreciation that they really want.

0:25:100:25:15

One initiative to help young people that Wigan Council have set up

0:25:150:25:19

is the Confident Futures scheme.

0:25:190:25:21

It aims to help young people from troubled backgrounds find work.

0:25:210:25:25

This is your future

0:25:250:25:26

and Wigan Council want to support you as much as possible.

0:25:260:25:30

If they successfully complete six weeks of classroom studies

0:25:300:25:33

and hands-on work experience,

0:25:330:25:35

they will be offered a 12-month paid placement.

0:25:350:25:38

If I get there, yeah, welcome aboard -

0:25:380:25:40

that is my future started, really, isn't it?

0:25:400:25:43

It is 8am at Wigan Council's super depot.

0:25:450:25:48

Morning. You all right?

0:25:480:25:51

17-year-old Anthony, another Confident Futures trainee,

0:25:510:25:55

has a big day ahead of him.

0:25:550:25:56

If I was successful it would mean everything

0:25:560:25:59

because obviously I have to move into a flat soon

0:25:590:26:01

and I have to support myself, so it's basically my life, isn't it?

0:26:010:26:04

-It's what I'm going to have to live off.

-Yeah.

0:26:040:26:06

So I just want to get on with it and show that I am committed.

0:26:060:26:09

Anthony lives in care but when he turns 18 this support

0:26:090:26:13

will end and he will have to move out.

0:26:130:26:15

A 12-month paid placement would give Anthony the solid start he needs

0:26:150:26:19

to live independently.

0:26:190:26:21

To earn it, he has to demonstrate practical skills

0:26:210:26:24

and pass a final interview.

0:26:240:26:27

Especially with the children in care and care leavers, a lot of reason

0:26:270:26:30

why they have been in the care system is not their fault.

0:26:300:26:33

You know, it's things due to the past.

0:26:330:26:35

Most of them want to progress in life

0:26:350:26:38

and make something of themselves.

0:26:380:26:40

Depot supervisor Cath takes Anthony out to meet

0:26:400:26:43

his team for the day, one of the highways crews

0:26:430:26:46

responsible for mending Wigan's roads.

0:26:460:26:48

-This is Anthony.

-Hello, mate. All right?

0:26:480:26:51

-Nice to meet you.

-That's Michael.

0:26:510:26:54

You are going to look after him, aren't you, today,

0:26:540:26:56

-like one of your own?

-Have a good day today, yeah?

0:26:560:26:59

Yeah. Oh, you'll go home tired tonight, lad.

0:26:590:27:02

In 2014, Wigan Council received over 4,000 calls

0:27:020:27:06

about the state of its roads.

0:27:060:27:09

In response, it pledged £20 million to improve the borough's highways.

0:27:090:27:14

Anthony is tarmacking today and wants to drive wagons tomorrow.

0:27:140:27:18

My dream job is to be an HGV driver.

0:27:180:27:20

So they'll put me through my Class B here,

0:27:200:27:22

that's what I have been told,

0:27:220:27:24

so fingers crossed that is what I'm going to do.

0:27:240:27:26

I'm just glad I'm at the council and I've had this opportunity, really.

0:27:280:27:32

Today, the highways team are on pothole duty.

0:27:320:27:35

Small holes in the road can rapidly develop into something

0:27:350:27:38

more dangerous and more difficult to repair,

0:27:380:27:41

so today's job is an exercise in pothole prevention.

0:27:410:27:44

This is the sharp end of Wigan Council's

0:27:490:27:50

highway maintenance programme and it suits Anthony down to the ground.

0:27:500:27:55

Obviously I want to progress and go further.

0:27:550:27:59

It's my kind of job.

0:27:590:28:00

He's always keen. I have only known him for two hours and he is happy,

0:28:030:28:07

so he'll pass easily today.

0:28:070:28:09

He's a nice lad.

0:28:090:28:11

Road crew gaffer Michael is impressed with Anthony's attitude.

0:28:110:28:15

And over at Wigan Town Hall,

0:28:160:28:18

another Confident Futures trainee is hoping to impress.

0:28:180:28:21

19-year-old Jess is in the final week of the scheme

0:28:230:28:26

and today she is gaining valuable work experience at the borough's

0:28:260:28:29

top-secret CCTV control centre.

0:28:290:28:32

I'm feeling excited.

0:28:320:28:34

It'll be a good opportunity to see what they do.

0:28:340:28:37

Hopefully I will get a good feeling about CCTV.

0:28:370:28:40

There are over 550 CCTV cameras in Wigan town centre alone.

0:28:410:28:47

The people in this room monitor all of them all the time.

0:28:470:28:51

There is a year of paid experience at stake

0:28:510:28:53

and Jess has to prove she will fit in.

0:28:530:28:56

Both sides will be keeping an eye on each other.

0:28:560:28:58

Welcome to the fourth emergency service.

0:29:000:29:03

Fire service, police service, ambulance service

0:29:030:29:06

and then us, central watch. We are the fourth one.

0:29:060:29:09

-Right, OK.

-OK?

0:29:090:29:11

Control room operative Jeff isn't exaggerating.

0:29:110:29:14

This small room is the eyes and ears of Wigan.

0:29:140:29:17

Every call that you take is different.

0:29:180:29:21

So it could be missing person,

0:29:210:29:24

a young child has gone from school, gone missing.

0:29:240:29:26

Recently there was a major fire so we get that call come through here,

0:29:260:29:31

so we have got to put the emergency planning process in.

0:29:310:29:35

So there is a lot to learn.

0:29:350:29:37

Our local authorities operate over 30,000 CCTV cameras.

0:29:370:29:42

The units provide extra eyes for the emergency services

0:29:420:29:45

and also take calls directly from members of the public.

0:29:450:29:49

-This is Jane.

-Nice to meet you.

0:29:490:29:51

-You OK?

-Yeah.

0:29:510:29:53

Jane talks Jess through life on the closed-circuit camera coalface.

0:29:530:29:57

What I am doing at the moment is I have been looking for a male

0:29:570:30:00

who has just made off from a shop in Norley Hall.

0:30:000:30:06

Watching over the residents of Wigan is a big responsibility

0:30:080:30:11

that can take an emotional toll.

0:30:110:30:13

We do a job. Sometimes you see things you don't want to see

0:30:130:30:18

but we can work together, support each other and deal with it.

0:30:180:30:23

Back on the highways,

0:30:290:30:31

Anthony is showing boss Michael what he can do with the heavy machinery.

0:30:310:30:35

He has done a very good job, yeah, for his first attempt.

0:30:350:30:38

The pothole is fixed, but Wigan Council is responsible for

0:30:390:30:43

nearly 700 miles of road, so there's plenty more where that came from.

0:30:430:30:47

Michael knows how valuable a willing worker like Anthony could be.

0:30:470:30:51

This is the first time I've had an apprentice. Very good scheme.

0:30:510:30:55

Keep people out of dole, keep them all working.

0:30:550:30:59

Anthony has impressed his boss on the job but, in 24 hours,

0:31:000:31:04

he is swapping shovel for suit and sitting down in front

0:31:040:31:07

of an interview panel who will decide his future.

0:31:070:31:10

Over at the town hall, Jess's day is also at an end.

0:31:130:31:18

-All the best, Jess.

-All right, thank you very much.

0:31:180:31:20

-Give us a ring, tell us how you get on.

-I will do, thank you.

0:31:200:31:23

Bye.

0:31:230:31:25

I think it is brilliant. I could certainly see myself doing it.

0:31:250:31:27

It would be a job that I would be excited about

0:31:270:31:30

getting up in the morning.

0:31:300:31:32

And, yeah, I have got a really, really positive feeling about it.

0:31:320:31:35

Jess has had her eyes opened to a new opportunity

0:31:370:31:40

and now has her sights set on paid work experience in CCTV.

0:31:400:31:44

But first, like Anthony,

0:31:440:31:46

she has to convince the interview panel that she is right for the job.

0:31:460:31:49

I know the young people and I am on the interview panel.

0:31:510:31:54

A couple of others who are on the interview panel might not

0:31:540:31:57

really know them that well

0:31:570:31:58

so they have got to sell themselves and tell

0:31:580:32:01

the panel why they are more suitable than others for that position.

0:32:010:32:06

For many of the young candidates, the Confident Futures panel

0:32:060:32:11

will be their first-ever experience of a job interview.

0:32:110:32:14

Pass your exam and we will see you in the future. All right, mate?

0:32:140:32:17

-Good luck, pal. Hope it works out for you.

-Pleased to meet you.

0:32:170:32:20

-See you later, mate.

-See you later.

0:32:200:32:21

As well as discussing their work placements,

0:32:210:32:23

they will be expected to look the part.

0:32:230:32:25

I have never worn a suit to an interview,

0:32:250:32:27

that's why I'm a bit scared. It is a bit nerve-racking, really.

0:32:270:32:31

It is a big chance and they have only got one shot at it.

0:32:310:32:34

This opportunity has just come at me.

0:32:350:32:39

If I am successful in getting this job then I'm going to grab it

0:32:390:32:44

with both hands and run with it.

0:32:440:32:46

Coming up, it's time to face the final interview board.

0:32:480:32:52

Hi, I'm Jack, nice to meet you.

0:32:520:32:54

Hiya.

0:32:540:32:56

What does the future hold for our three ambitious candidates?

0:32:560:33:00

I can't stop shaking.

0:33:000:33:01

A grant from Wigan Council has helped a community blossom.

0:33:110:33:15

Inspired green-fingered residents are taking 3,000 plants to compete

0:33:150:33:19

at one of the most prestigious flower shows in the country.

0:33:190:33:23

If we was lucky enough to win a gold... Massive. It would be...

0:33:230:33:27

You can't explain it.

0:33:270:33:29

It's awards day at the Tatton Park Flower Show.

0:33:340:33:38

Over in the blooming bed section,

0:33:380:33:40

12 months' of hard work by the residents of Sussex Close

0:33:400:33:43

have created this, the Road To Wigan Pier,

0:33:430:33:46

complete with canal, lock,

0:33:460:33:50

rugby stadium and pithead.

0:33:500:33:52

Any gardener would be thrilled to have created a flowerbed

0:33:540:33:56

fit for Tatton. Well, almost any gardener.

0:33:560:34:00

I changed one or two plants

0:34:000:34:02

but they are still within what we had put on in the first place.

0:34:020:34:05

We must have had ten different plants I wasn't happy with

0:34:050:34:08

in and out, in and out.

0:34:080:34:09

But I think that looks the part now.

0:34:110:34:13

And it is not just the flowers that perfectionist Wilf

0:34:130:34:16

thinks needs attention -

0:34:160:34:17

even the solid iron pithead is wilting under the pressure.

0:34:170:34:21

It was even on Saturday,

0:34:210:34:23

it has levelled itself up for some reason this morning.

0:34:230:34:26

But it was the rugby posts what were tilted.

0:34:260:34:29

Wilf has high standards because he has faced

0:34:290:34:32

the judges of the Royal Horticultural Society before.

0:34:320:34:36

They are looking for bad petals, bad leaves,

0:34:360:34:40

the quality of the plants, the planting, what it represents.

0:34:400:34:44

News of Wilf's flowery hometown tribute has spread

0:34:440:34:48

and Wigan's finest turn out to lend their support.

0:34:480:34:51

You've done well.

0:34:510:34:53

This was one of the hardest things I have ever grown.

0:34:530:34:56

First in line is Wigan's Mayor, Councillor Susan Loudon.

0:34:560:34:59

I think it is absolutely wonderful what they've done.

0:34:590:35:01

I mean, they have done it in all their own time.

0:35:010:35:04

Wigan should be proud of what has gone on

0:35:040:35:06

and proud of these volunteers.

0:35:060:35:08

Wigan pride is in full bloom but, for Wilf, today is about one thing.

0:35:080:35:13

I just can't wait to get a result. That's...

0:35:130:35:17

Not for me, for everybody else.

0:35:170:35:19

Now Wilf and his team must make way for the judges.

0:35:210:35:24

It is strictly against the rules for entrants to be near the displays

0:35:240:35:28

as they make their inspections.

0:35:280:35:30

The judges from the Royal Horticultural Society

0:35:340:35:37

do their rounds.

0:35:370:35:38

There's nothing the Wiganers can do but wait.

0:35:380:35:42

-Just a bit of anticipation of...

-Apprehensive.

0:35:420:35:44

A bit apprehensive, yes.

0:35:440:35:46

The judges can award gold, silver-gilt, silver or bronze

0:35:460:35:51

and they are not going to be rushed.

0:35:510:35:53

3,000 flowers, 12 months' work.

0:35:570:36:00

The judges have made their decision.

0:36:000:36:03

-This is Wilf's moment.

-Fingers crossed.

0:36:030:36:05

-Congratulations.

-Brilliant, silver-gilt!

0:36:130:36:16

-Wahey!

-THEY CLAP

0:36:160:36:18

That is fabulous.

0:36:200:36:21

Silver-gilt is the second highest award

0:36:230:36:25

Wilf and the team's garden could have won -

0:36:250:36:28

official recognition of their green-fingered skills

0:36:280:36:31

and determination.

0:36:310:36:33

I can't believe it. I'm shaking, you know what I mean?

0:36:330:36:37

Nice one.

0:36:370:36:39

Oh!

0:36:390:36:40

Whoo.

0:36:410:36:43

It is dramatic.

0:36:430:36:44

Oh, my heart's pounding.

0:36:450:36:48

Oh, I'm very, very, very pleased.

0:36:480:36:51

Last year we got silver. This year, silver-gilt.

0:36:510:36:56

Next year we are going for gold.

0:36:560:36:58

I might as well say it, we are going to come back next year.

0:36:580:37:02

For Wilf and his dedicated team,

0:37:020:37:04

the road from Sussex Close to Tatton Park has been long

0:37:040:37:08

and the first step was a call to the council.

0:37:080:37:10

There can't be many people who work in social housing who can say,

0:37:120:37:16

"I've won a silver-gilt medal at a Royal Horticultural show,"

0:37:160:37:20

and that for me is wonderful.

0:37:200:37:23

Fabulous. Brilliant.

0:37:230:37:25

-What do you think, Tracy?

-Fantastic.

-Sue? Alan?

0:37:250:37:29

Family group hug.

0:37:290:37:31

Fabulous.

0:37:340:37:35

Over the past six weeks,

0:37:430:37:44

14 youngsters have been gaining work experience and training

0:37:440:37:48

at Wigan Council as part of the Confident Futures scheme.

0:37:480:37:52

This opportunity has just come at me.

0:37:520:37:55

But with the trial period coming to an end,

0:37:550:37:58

the candidates have one last chance to win a paid 12-month

0:37:580:38:01

work experience placement with the council.

0:38:010:38:04

A bit scared. It's a bit nerve-racking, really.

0:38:040:38:07

It is D-day for the Confident Futures candidates.

0:38:110:38:15

Six weeks of placements and mentoring

0:38:150:38:17

has been leading up to this moment.

0:38:170:38:19

You have met Steve before.

0:38:190:38:21

They are each just one interview away from a placement

0:38:210:38:24

that could change their lives.

0:38:240:38:25

But not all of the candidates on the Confident Futures programme

0:38:280:38:31

are guaranteed to pass this last test.

0:38:310:38:33

And for Jack, Anthony and Jess, the tension is building.

0:38:350:38:40

All the answers you were giving me, the questions we were going over,

0:38:400:38:43

that's all it is. That's all it is.

0:38:430:38:45

-I'll be all right.

-You will.

0:38:450:38:47

I can't stop shaking.

0:38:470:38:49

And it's not only the candidates who are feeling the pressure.

0:38:490:38:52

It is a big thing for me today

0:38:520:38:54

because these young people are my young people

0:38:540:38:56

who have been on my caseload

0:38:560:38:58

and the most I want is for them all to succeed.

0:38:580:39:01

Today is certainly a massive opportunity for care leaver Anthony.

0:39:010:39:06

A paid placement in the highways department will help him

0:39:060:39:08

-become self-sufficient.

-I'm nervous now. I'm sweating.

0:39:080:39:13

I have about 10, 15 minutes now before I go in.

0:39:130:39:15

Deep breaths, innit?

0:39:180:39:20

For Jack, hoping for a future in fleet maintenance,

0:39:200:39:24

this is his first-ever formal interview.

0:39:240:39:26

Jess wants to move into a fresh faze in her life

0:39:260:39:29

and has her heart set on a placement in CCTV.

0:39:290:39:33

Today the nerves are kicking in.

0:39:330:39:36

I just want it so much.

0:39:360:39:38

It is my live, basically, isn't it? That's what I'm thinking of.

0:39:380:39:41

-We've got Jack. You have met Steve.

-Hi, I'm Jack.

-Nice to meet you.

0:39:410:39:44

The candidates' mentor Jan leads the interview panel

0:39:440:39:47

of council officers and managers.

0:39:470:39:49

The next few minutes will decide the youngsters' futures.

0:39:490:39:53

So, why do you want to work with us at Wigan?

0:39:540:39:57

I love what I do, I love finding out how things work and, you know,

0:39:570:40:00

how to solve problems.

0:40:000:40:01

I'm very confident, I can talk to people,

0:40:010:40:03

I can get stuck in as part of the team and I'm always on time.

0:40:030:40:07

If not, I'm early, which hopefully I've proved.

0:40:070:40:09

Why should we take you on as one of the Confident Futures apprentices?

0:40:110:40:16

I think it will open a lot of doors for myself.

0:40:170:40:19

I have come a long way from where I was a few years ago.

0:40:190:40:23

It is a exciting opportunity. I really enjoyed CCTV.

0:40:230:40:26

-You are passionate about that, aren't you?

-Very.

0:40:260:40:29

I got such a good feeling about it. It is unreal.

0:40:290:40:33

My past, it's not very bright and I just don't look at the past anyway.

0:40:330:40:37

I have been on highways for three weeks.

0:40:370:40:39

It's something I want to do.

0:40:390:40:41

You just get on with it, do you know what I mean?

0:40:410:40:44

You are on machines as well.

0:40:440:40:46

-The interviews are over.

-Thank you very much.

-You're welcome.

0:40:460:40:50

The candidates have done all they can.

0:40:500:40:52

Now it's up to Jan and the interview panel to decide their fate.

0:40:520:40:56

He was absolutely one of the politest,

0:40:560:41:00

well-mannered young gentlemen I have ever come across.

0:41:000:41:03

He was so confident in how he portrayed himself

0:41:060:41:09

and those questions.

0:41:090:41:11

Very, very intelligent young lady.

0:41:110:41:13

Knows what she wants, got a good, strong head on her shoulders.

0:41:130:41:16

-Do you want to come through?

-Yeah.

0:41:160:41:18

Jack, Anthony and Jess all overcame their earlier interview nerves.

0:41:190:41:23

But have they done enough?

0:41:250:41:27

I've had tremendous feedback from highways about you, which I'm really

0:41:270:41:30

pleased about, so I am delighted to offer you the 12 months.

0:41:300:41:33

-Oh, thanks.

-All right?

-Yeah, that's brilliant, that.

0:41:330:41:36

We are pleased to offer you the opportunity.

0:41:360:41:39

-You have done well, Jess.

-Thank you so much.

0:41:390:41:42

-It means absolutely everything.

-Go and celebrate.

0:41:420:41:45

It's all over now.

0:41:510:41:52

Eh? I know.

0:41:550:41:57

I know, I never cry with my young people.

0:41:570:42:00

Success for Jess and Anthony. But what of Jack?

0:42:010:42:05

We are prepared to start you on the 12 months. All right?

0:42:060:42:10

-Thanks very much, yeah.

-Oh, brilliant, Jack.

0:42:100:42:12

You've earnt it, you've earnt it on tremendous feedback from Keith.

0:42:120:42:16

-Congratulations, Jack.

-Thank you very much.

-Great stuff.

0:42:160:42:19

-Thank you.

-I am made up for you.

0:42:190:42:21

For Jack, Anthony, Jess and the other successful candidates,

0:42:210:42:25

the future looks bright.

0:42:250:42:27

-You've gone and done it!

-Got a job.

0:42:270:42:29

I feel so overwhelmed.

0:42:320:42:33

I feel belting. I feel like a weight has been lifted.

0:42:350:42:38

I feel really good.

0:42:380:42:39

Now Jan can reflect on a job well done.

0:42:390:42:43

I have seen a lot of these young people, you know,

0:42:430:42:46

when they were at rock bottom

0:42:460:42:48

and needed that support to lift them back up.

0:42:480:42:52

So to see them gain a 12-month apprenticeship is just

0:42:520:42:56

overwhelming because now they have got the future ahead of them.

0:42:560:43:00

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