Episode 4 The Estate

This programme contains strong language.

Ballysally on the fringe of Coleraine,

home to almost 3,000 people.

Many rely on government benefits to survive.

With tough times, just getting to the end of the week can be a battle.

This is the story of a year on the estate.

Aaron, are you getting up?

-Aye.

-Aye.

I'll be up in 10 minutes.

Noel's on a mission to get his son Aaron up out of bed.

Ah, never you worry. What are you shouting at?

Aaron's just finished a government training scheme as a joiner,

but just like his dad, his prospects are bleak.

Noel's been out of work for 10 years and both he and wife Mandy

are worried that Aaron will end up in the same boat.

You just have to keep applying and applying.

-There will be something will turn up.

-I'd take anything going.

Where's my coat at? Where's my Polish coat.

Aaron's only option is the dole.

-Aye.

-It'll get you a job.

Monday we get you a job.

Noel's driving him to the job centre to sign on for the first time.

We're here, lad.

See you later.

I think there's about nine or 10, maybe more.

There's a we'en there that was on them courses they have for two years.

I think they're all on there today, like.

So the government should be doing something more for the young boys.

After a month of sleepless nights,

Emma finally has some word about her job.

Hiya, it's just Emma here.

I'm ringing to let you know

we're back in full swing at work and we've got the funding.

So it's just to get a catch-up some day this week.

She's letting her clients know the good news.

Thanks, bye, bye.

It's a real relief.

At least for three years I can kind of relax.

I think because my main concern was my clients at the time...

I don't know, has it really sunk in to me yet? It's more, like...

Thank goodness now they're going to be OK

because I think I was worried because a lot of them are so vulnerable.

It's such a big change, me not seeing them every week.

I was more worried about the effects it would have on them.

At least now they know they're going to have me for a wee bit longer.

It's now just about planning my weeks ahead,

and trying to make the project the best it can be.

You never have a day like the day before. Never.

I don't think I've ever had a day when it's just...

It's never the same.

Are you working Thursday?

Hey!

Kelly Ann's landed a holiday job in a restaurant.

But doubts are setting in.

I know it's in Portrush but I don't know where it's at.

I've never heard of it before,

so I don't know where I have to go.

I'll end up in a gay bar or something. I don't know where I have to go.

-Knowing my luck....

-It's at the top of the town I think.

It'll get her out of her and get her a we'en of pounds for herself.

Gives her something to do.

She sits about here and does nothing.

Nothing to do. She's bored.

I didn't work when I was her age.

I left school and had the we'ans so that was it.

I never worked ever.

If I took somebody their dinner and they said it was wrong,

I'd just be like, "Fucking eat it, you bastard," and that would be it.

Cos I am really thick tempered.

If they didn't like it I'd tell them not to come back.

Tough shite.

Just off now to get Lauren's new splints made for her.

Get her legs cast. Won't we, Lauren?

-Round this way.

-Round this way, yeah.

Nine-year-old Lauren is in and out of hospital on a regular basis.

Dad Jimmy has come straight off the night shift

to bring her to today's appointment.

Lauren's numb from the waist down and needs splints to help her walk.

But as she gets older they need to be replaced.

-That's the old splints. They've just about...

-Had it.

See the toes now, they're starting to get up near your toes,

-That's when you know they're done.

-Yeah.

They make your feet sweat, don't they, Lauren?

They give you smelly toes.

Daddy!

You might gas everybody out.

You can see the way it's moulded to the shape of Lauren's feet and legs.

If Lauren didn't wear them, Lauren couldn't really walk.

They are very important, her splints.

As Lauren gets older, she outgrows her splints,

just like a pair of shoes.

It's hard for her to get used to, though.

OK, missus - all right?

It's OK, don't be thinking about it.

Here, what's up here? Look, up here.

Look at the boats and this plane here.

Where's Mrs Potts. Where's Bella.?

Sure a lot of things is worse,

when you had to get needles and stuff like that.

-Ooh, Daddy, don't talk about that!

-Sure there's no needles.

There we go.

I can cut the sock off now, Lauren.

-Go through those now to see what...

-Thank you.

Here.

Another three weeks until we get your new splints.

Emma is bringing one of her alcoholic clients to court.

He's getting sentenced today, so we really don't know what way this could go.

The guy used to be a taxi driver, had his own business and everything

and it was the alcohol that ruined that, which is very sad because he's a very intelligent man.

He went to Academical College and I think he was quite high up in school.

He should be at this window up here.

But he's not, which means I'm going to have to go ring the buzzer.

Are you ready?

Right, that'll do. He's just up.

You can't fight anything on your own

and they've nobody to help them get where they want to go so that's why they stay the same.

All I'm doing is going in there and putting in statements to them so they can

You know, make small changes but to them they're big changes.

-How are you?

-Morning.

-You look a bit pale today.

I suppose we don't know what's going to happen today.

Just have to wait and see.

Probably this way is the best way.

Gary already has around 50 criminal convictions because of his drinking.

You're looking a lot brighter today from not drinking over the weekend.

Your eyes and everything.

He's just notched up another one, a suspended sentence

and a £300 fine to boot.

SIREN WALES

DOG BARKS

SHE SIGHS

Mandy works part-time as a cleaner in a hospital earning £150 a week.

Go round here first.

I personally would rather be out working

because I get bored very easily sitting in the house.

It is hard getting a job at the minute,

but I think it makes people lazy.

So, no, I just like to work for my money

You know, you don't maybe always get the perfect job,

but it's a job at the end of the day.

And they are very hard to get.

She's the family breadwinner as husband Noel is unemployed.

I plan to work in here to keep me going for two or three years.

That's a wee job I done the day.

The tools are still lying there and there's still more to do. I only hung the door.

I've done a wee bit of the lock

and the handles and all need to go on and then it has to be painted.

But we've done something that will keep her happy today.

Tomorrow will be a different story.

HE LAUGHS

I'm unemployed I would say ten years.

There's times I'd be feared of going for that interview

because maybe they like a bit of schooling.

I just was lazy when I was at school and that

and just never bothered, like.

I didn't see the need when I was 16 worrying about school and stuff.

So I just messed about with everybody else.

But whatever, ach, some day we'll maybe get something.

But at the minute were all right.

I guess the confidence is lost.

I'm always having to spell things for him.

He knows what he wants to put down on paper, it's just spelling.

He's very smart and has got really involved in the community this year.

He just wants to make something happen,

you know, for them,

so that they're not.. destroying things

and running about and destroying things on their own estate,

that they have something to do

and just somebody to look up to basically.

-Right, William, turn that off and get in here.

-Right.

-Come on.

-What's that big word there say?

-Acordingly.

-Oh, accordingly.

Aye, now you're talking.

With the drop-in centre up and running,

Noel has his eye on another project to occupy his time.

Gary lost his home on the estate when he was sent to jail.

On release he was re-housed in town, but with a view of the River Bann.

HE LAUGHS

Now he's settled in, Gary's saving up for curtains

and a washing machine to make the flat more homely.

CHILD SHRIEKS

Do you know what I like playing in the rock pool?

-What?

-Paddling in it.

Shift work means Jimmy and Denise are rarely off at the same time.

Trips to the beach are a rare chance for the family to be together.

These little days are our memories for when they're grown up.

And the simple things are usually the best things.

For Dylan it's more so because if we're busy with her

he's got to sort of make his own fun.

But he knows that we love him. He always comes to his mummy.

There's them off now.

Right.

-Oops, that's going down.

-See, you really need your splints on.

Don't you?

I want to go over to Dylan.

-Here, Dylan, are you taking this?

-You take her hands.

-BOY LAUGHS

-I might get you.

Aw, it's lovely.

Yeah, but I can't feel it.

I just worry as she gets older she'll spend more time in her chair.

You know, there's all these sort of things knocking around in my head.

-Oh!

-Is it all cold? The tide's coming in!

-SHE SCREAMS

-It's coming up, coming up!

There's lots she can do but there's lots we're finding out now that,

as she gets bigger, she won't be able to do.

And that hurts.

Gary hasn't been able to stay out of trouble.

He's just been awarded Disability Living Allowance to help cope

with his alcoholism, but his drinking's getting worse.

NEWSREADER: 'Some say a minimum price would not only save money,

'it would also save lives.'

Aye.

Well, according to the police, I fell out with my friend.

Apparently I headbutted him. That's the truth.

With a suspended sentence hanging over him, if Gary doesn't

stick to his bail conditions he could end up back in jail.

I'm not allowed to enter any bar in Coleraine

and the only place I can consume alcohol is in my own house.

Fucking shit.

And I'll tell you better again.

My fucking friends are in the bar next door.

Kelly Ann has a decision to make...

..what to wear to her new job.

Bazooka.

Her first shift starts in just an hour.

I'm shiting myself now, so I am.

I'm just really nervous...

..so I am.

But I'll try my best, and if they don't like it, then, you know,

there's nothing I can do, like.

I tried.

Before I go in I'm getting a smoke first, so I am.

Fuck that there.

Oh, my God. Claire just texted me.

She said I have to wear my hair up.

SHE LAUGHS

Oh, my God.

I look like a man with my hair up.

It's only this one I need.

-Why do you need that?

-Cos I'd rather have boys' perfume.

-It's far nicer.

-There, I took that cheat off.

-Oh, shit.

-Give me that back.

-No.

-Bye-bye. Good Luck!

-See yous after.

-You really need to let some air in, Gary.

-Aye?

It's a bit smoky in here.

Do you want to cut down a bit, Gary?

The last couple of weeks you've gone overly mad, shall we say?

I think we really do need to get you back to kind of where we were

before the last couple of weeks.

And we do need to be using this DLA money for something more useful.

The next DLA, we're going to get you a washing machine

so it's won't cost a tenner every day.

Emma's trying to halt Gary's downward spiral

before he ends up back in jail.

When this court case goes, what's the point in me paying any fines?

Because I'll be in jail anyway.

At least you don't know for definite that's what'll happen.

If you have this blip and then you go in front of the judge

with no money, nothing else,

and you haven't done anything he's asked... Know what I mean?

Whereas, at least if you go and you've done everything but this...

OK, you got into a bit of bother, but you were having a hard time,

maybe you were drinking a wee bit more, but if he can see,

"Look, he's settled himself down again, he has done everything else,"

that'll go into account.

You just don't want to cut your nose off to spite your face.

-Aye, I know, Emma.

-Do afternoons suit you better?

-Will we say Wednesday about 2 o'clock?

-That'll do me.

Nice and sober and no alcohol.

I might have alcohol on me but have you met me drunk?

-Yes.

-When?

-I took you home one night.

I met you in Tesco's car park.

-Oh, aye.

-HE LAUGHS

He's was going from strength to strength.

But he's just hit a brick wall. But we can build him back up again.

She's helped me.

At least she's trying.

Oh, I need to pee!

Oh, my God almighty!

I'm shaking.

Right, I don't know where to go.

Kelly, this is Michael. Michael, this is Kelly.

Hello.

After only an hour on the job, Kelly Ann's proving to be a fast learner.

-What one do I give this to?

-Table 12.

-Is that that one down there?

-Just that man.

He's sexy.

I'm loving it already!

Ah, at the minutes them's just young birds at the minute.

They'll do their own thing and then they'll start to listen.

Noel hopes his new project will encourage young people

on the estate to listen to him, too.

C'mon! The cat'll get you!

He's started up a band.

If we don't do it, then I don't know how long I...

It's the same in every housing estate, not just our housing estate.

All housing estates is the same.

Very little for them to do in it

and then they get trapped up in drugs and whatever.

We'll not keep them away from everything.

They'll have to do that on their own, like,

but we'll try and guide them.

BIRDS FIGHT

There's a frenzy going on in there!

Emma's managed to persuade Gary to take a break from the drink.

Hello, Roy!

Ready to go?

-The booze?

-Not today, right enough.

-Aye.

Do you see coming off it? It's fucking worse than being on it.

I know.

He's run out of cash so Emma's recommended a food giveaway

run by a local church.

It's a bit of craic plus if you need the food you need it.

Excuse my fingers.

-Every week I write in my diary to come over here...

-Yeah.

-..but sometimes I just don't make it.

-You're a wee bit worse for wear.

Aye, that's it.

When you've been drinking heavy for a while you want to come off it

and you do come off it, but the moment you feel all right again...

Aye, you think you can handle it.

-Aye, you want to go back there again.

-Yeah.

Emma's received the worst possible news.

Gary has been found dead.

I'm so sorry to hear the news.

I though that was a big, big shock for you.

Gary's body was pulled out of the River Bann, yards from his flat.

The police weren't able to find out how he fell into the water.

I see your daddy at least twice a week

and I have never ever had any worries about him

in that way at all.

There was no drink in his system?

He definitely wouldn't have done anything silly when he was sober.

Right, OK, bye. Bye.

I've lost young people.

It's not the first time I've lost somebody I've been working with.

It's the first time in this job I've lost someone.

I just remember when I first started this job somebody saying to me,

you're going to lose people along the way

and, at the time, I thought, "None of mine are that bad."

Like, Gary - I never ever thought... it was going to be now.

Me, Gary Ferris, is going to stay out of trouble, this year,

next year and every year.

Next time on the estate...

It's band practice, not drink!

So...you can lay it out there if you want,

but if you bring it out here, it will go down the sink!

Look, look, look!

-There's no bar.

-Practise at the weekends. In the skin whistle.

That band was depressing.

This is my route out of it! It's pretty cool, isn't it?!

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