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How the Other Half Live

What’s it like growing up in poverty in 21st century Britain? The last of three Channel 4 programmes airs on Thursday.

Wednesday 12 August 2009

There are almost four million children living below the poverty line in the UK. The effects of growing up in poverty can last a lifetime. Average life expectancy in the UK is 79, but for someone growing up poor, it is ten years less than that.

Made by the team behind The Secret Millionaire, this new documentary series aims to show just what it means to grow up in poverty in 21st-century Britain. Each episode follows the story of two families, as a wealthy family decides to assist another family living below the poverty line.

More than half of all children in inner London live in poverty. Eleven-year-old Sam shares a small council flat in North London with his big sister Harley, half-brother Teddy, and mother Toni, and stepfather Jimmy. Sam gets up at 6.30 am seven days a week to do his paper round. Fifteen-year-old Harley wants to go to university and become a lawyer. Jimmy used to earn £800 a week as a scaffolder, but had a 30-foot fall, and now gets up at 3.30 am to deliver fish, earning £260 a week. The family are struggling with debts and the council has threatened to evict them because of rent arrears. The family long for a garden as the children have nowhere for the children to play safely outside.

Meanwhile, Rosie, who is also 11, and her eight-year-old sister Maisie have 16 acres in which to play. They live in a 25-room mansion in Kent's beautiful countryside. Their father Peter is a self-made multi-millionaire. He also grew up on a London council estate, and worked as an electrician until he was 29, when he borrowed the money he needed to open a caravan park. Now he owns caravan parks across the country, but knows the assistance of others was vital in helping him achieve what he has. Now Peter and his wife Julie want to help Sam and his family. And they want their children Rosie and Maisie to understand the value of what they have.

Meanwhile, Toni and Jimmy want their children to be inspired by Peter, to see what hard work can achieve.

Watch the third programme on Channel 4 on Thursday 13 August at 9 pm.

Read about the second and first programme in the series.

Donate to the UK Child Poverty Appeal or please call 0800 8148148.

Find out more

Read about our child poverty work in the UK.

Read our How the other half live briefing.