Growing Up Poor In Britain: Boys & Girls (Poverty Documentary) | Absolute Documentaries

Filmed over one summer Poor Teens follows three very different teenage boys. All on the cusp of adulthood and dealing with the normal pressures of growing up with one similarity - they are all having to survive on under a tenner a day.
Over 300,000 teenagers claim benefits and 1 in 5 youths in Britain are unemployed. This absolute documentary follows 3 teenage girls Amber who is 17 and pregnant, Bridie, 17 and can't stay out of trouble, and Shelby, 17 who relies on benefits. They are all struggling to get by for many different reasons. They are caught by a disappearing childhood and an unknown future, this is their story
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From: GROWING UP POOR
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[@linda9115]

I felt bad for Craig his mum raised him he turns 18 she makes him homeless and is having another child. Your children are for life

[@sammshroo3494]

That's when I learnt how crisis prove self survival comes first before anything else or what most people like to say greatest love is a mother's love.

[@apeters3352]

She sounds like a woman that has just had enough.

[@ritamariemott2420]

Same

[@SnowWhite717_]

18 isn’t some magic number where Poof!✨ your kid automatically changes to responsible adult that is somehow different than the kid they were the day before. I totally agree with you.

[@leece_6702]

He looks like a young Pete Townshend of The Who

[@mirabella2154]

This is 10 years ago. It must be far worse right now.

[@cristinaevans139]

I love Australia ❤

[@melissawhite20]

Why are kids having kids. Especially when they already have financial issues and no jobs. It's ridiculous.

[@honeybunch5765]

Sadly it is their environment, parents that don't care or can't deal with them. I feel extremely sad for them. Parents and piers plays a big role.

[@JaneK6557]

Some get pregnant on purpose because that baby makes them eligible for free housing and public assistance. They think they are grown and want to be out on their own…at least until reality sets in.

[@marijacsoknya6765]

Craig needed a good father all his life.

[@jeanetteambersley9237]

Shelby is at least trying to do the best with her life. I definitely admire her and wish the best for her.

[@jordanrivers1]

Damn we need update on Craig. His mom is horrible. I could never do that to my kids.

[@rogue0621]

Craig isn’t a kid although he acts like one

[@belleepoque2544]

Oh my god, I hope that baby came out healthy. I'm 15- a year younger than her- and I know that smoking isn't healthy, especially when you're expecting a child.

[@evangelene12]

Up until the 1970s women routinely smoked and drank during pregnancies as there was no medical warnings until then. Most of us in our 50s would have had parents who smoked and drank during their entire pregnancies. We turned out fine.

[@belleepoque2544]

I admire Shelby and her tenacity. I hope she's in a good place now.

[@datacipher]

Unlikely - for obvious reasons.

[@jjoyce46]

​@@datacipherHow would you know? Are you a fortune teller? This show is from 2012 by the way.

[@mariekatherine5238]

What? Does every poor lad punch his bedroom door out?

[@lindaandersenholmes8270]

Have these young women not heard of birth control? They should realize they can’t depend on the boys. There is no excuse getting pregnant while you live in poverty. Bringing another generation into poverty is unconscionable. They should be educating themselves and working on a career. Schools should be teaching this reality. I just feel sad for the babies born to kids who aren’t prepared emotionally or financially and who perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

[@Abdulkhan-tw3qh]

You are absolutely right, your comment is one of the best that i have come across.

[@racquelford1595]

Watching this video it’s very interesting sad emotional. Responsibility is a big thing

[@anahor_nid]

Where are their fathers?

[@dilliganmadden6714]

Probably died in some b.s war

[@kittyestes3656]

The one kids anger issues need to be addressed he is not well and will never amount to anything till he seeks help for those except maybe a women abuser or something.

[@OU812cheeto]

They don't seem to realize that once they have a kid, their life is officially ruined. And Craig's mother is pregnant with no man in sight. She, too, has sealed her fate, doomed to a life of benefits. And where are the men who have knocked up these women?! Doesn't England make them pay child support??

[@amandab8433]

I really hope all of them are doing well. I also hope that Frankie was able to make it. My oldest went to Uni for Game Design and has been working for Google since his Junior year at Uni. He graduated nine years ago.

[@cristinaevans139]

I hope they are all on their feet now ❤ there for the love of god go I ❤

[@DB-xo6xh]

15:42 WHAAATTT?!! Is there no help with family planning? Birth control and basic Basic education!?

[@sloeberdoet]

I think because of Brexit birth control stuff is out of stock regularly.

[@StarlaBizarre]

Oh my God, so many poor innocent babies born into this trash! Poverty just makes more and more poverty. Why do they just keep reproducing over and over and then complaining about the situation that they have put themselves in?!

[@combatduckie]

the NOISE LEVEL in those appartements and houses of the "poor"! It d drive me mad if I were a neighbor to these people!

[@barbaragardner8626]

These people can’t take care of themselves and then they have children who don’t have a chance. Don’t have children.

[@combatduckie]

the son said "She owns the house!" NO, she does NOT! As long as she still has mortageage payments on it, she does NOT own it, the BANK still owns it! Poor people never understand this and get in debts (by, e.g., getting pregnant while in bad financial situation instead of using working birth control!).

[@jjoyce46]

And rich CEO'S shouldn't be making 500 times the amount of their workers and hoarding all the money instead of paying their workers the amount they should to live! And getting govt handouts when they tank a company but still getting millions and billions for it! And rich people should pay their fair share of taxes instead of the brunt of taxes being paid by the poor and middle class. And the government needs to stop making poor people poorer with their bad decisions in govt and provide better and more jobs for people!

[@dinomariana679]

Massive respect to Shelby, poor girl though they serious should have provided her full time

[@oliverzhao1005]

GOOD

[@kittykatwolf8294]

What I cant understand, is all these unemployed people have revolting, filthy, wrecked houses! Soap is cheap! Stop feeling sorry for yourself & get some self esteem.

[@dianaabcalen9954]

we need an update for Craig he is the only one that has potential the rest are just a waste of air,. im rooting for him and i hope you pulled through in life

[@NYHeeb]

I got my working papers at 15. Im 42 there been maybe 6 months that entire time i was out of work. I didnt have a car for years walked hours every day to work for years never late. If u want it u will do it. No excuses

[@Daydreamer-yh8km]

They are just lazy and act entitled ( hope i've spelled it right )

[@forgottenfurbabies3315]

I would love to start or find a program to give some of these kids a chance in America. Mind you, I’m poor to middle class but there is definitely more of a chance for them here in America. I would open my modest home to help one of them. I would love to give Frankie a chance!

[@Myopinion8591]

With the right mentoring these youngsters could end up on the right track. I feel sorry for the ones with no responsible adult to turn to. I wish them all well and hopefully better things ahead for them.

[@jarrodbarkley9061]

I'm a native English speaker, and I can't understand a frigging word Craig or his mother says.

[@sandrashevel2137]

Don't churches or organizations have food banks? I'm from United States so idk. Bless all these people with prosperity

[@sandrashevel2137]

@Abi Brown thank you. Ive never been across the pond, im glad they have them.

[@niveditabhattacharjee7362]

I am so happy I was brought up in a third world country like India. Our grip on reality is strong from childhood, not tenacious like these girls. Unwed teenage mothers are not welcomed into the family with open arms and such enormous support. So we learn to be very, very careful. There is nothing called 'benefits' to fall back on and it is practically impossible for a teenage boy or girl to rent a place of their own so you stay in line at your parent's place. We are not a rich country like UK or as impoverished a country like Uganda or a prison country (at least for women) like Pakistan. We are good....our family structure is not crumbling, our women are not locked up behind blankets or looking into absolutely bleak futures like these girls. We are doing pretty well and I never really realized that.

[@zdenkakathyanderson7890]

India treat their women worse than dirt and your country is as poor as they come. I’ve been there and a majority live in shanty towns I would rather be in England any day then India

[@MrWise23]

The thing is India has slums and those slums are by no way compatible to the poor in Britain. Although the kids in those slums seem happy cause many other kids etc but for grown ups it must be dire. Rich and poor looks different in most country’s. I am from the Netherlands and although we have poor people we don’t have those old industrial towns. Even outside the city villages are alive which is probably cause everything is packed in the Netherlands so there’s always a city in a half hour drive and mostly faster

[@McAvoy-ft5fg]

AND THEY ARE ALL ROYALS !!!!!!!! ROYAL !!!

[@louisemason2918]

Love that Frankie man, I wish I could help him. I hope he makes it

[@lewthrasher4194]

It's funny almost everyone desperate for money to get food always has money for cigarettes and or booze.

[@sisino4471]

they need something to enjoy in their life... stop judging.

[@HaggisMuncher-69-420]

@@sisino4471 No, they need to get their life in order. Smoking or drinking doesn't do that.

[@leptir7110]

​@@HaggisMuncher-69-420bolje da puše i tako se rešavaju stresa nego da se drogiraju ili bave kriminalom

[@melissalove2463]

@lewthrasher4194 I know right !

[@lauraremde9118]

​@HaggisMuncher-69-420 how bout mind your own business nothing wrong with buying cigs

[@honeybunch5765]

It's a vicious cycle.They are the product of their parents and environment, and if they dont break out of the cycle, so will their kids be and so on.

[@eileenwatt8283]

Not even teens in third world countries go through times like these. Britian's teen poverty is 4th world,

[@kevinrai6620]

the lady consulting Amber is bomb.

[@alexanderp.297]

Habe die Doku gesehen. Leider sehr traurig. Besonders die Mädchen haben es schwerer im Leben. Es braucht sich keiner schämen weil er zu wenig Geld hat. Bridie ist ein sehr hübsches Mädchen. Im Abschnitt 1:15:31 - 1:15:35 ist sie sehr traurig ! Ich wünsche mir das ihre Mutter sie öfters in die Arme nimmt !

[@SHINESunshinee872]

Do they even have factories in the UK to work? That helps a lot of people the southern US.

[@kevinrai6620]

these kids need support

[@SnowWhite717_]

28:12 For the young men with rap aspirations… you need to find your own style & flow so you have a unique sound that makes you stand out from the others and memorable. Every single one has the exact style and you can’t tell one from the other. It’s like having 20 of the same style tshirt in every color and saying they’re different. Yeah they’re different colors but they’re exactly the same. Ya know?

[@isaiahmajka3030]

There is a Ocean close by I haven’t seen one person even think about working it! Especially during their school breaks.

[@slydoll7877]

What ocean? There's none near Rotherham!

[@dinomariana679]

What are you on about ? Like fishing ?

[@slydoll7877]

@@dinomariana679 I think that must be what they mean...don't they realise there is no fishing industry left in the UK lol. They must be American.

[@888ssss]

a man works for his own family. they are trying to substitute that for a collective. its not something im interested in. each to his own.

[@tammyhall1008]

Didn’t he not see the 2 cities were not there BEFORE his mum left 👀!!!!!!

[@sophiaschrenk1511]

Their parents should have support them more

[@lb2229]

There is always “Hope” I truly wish I could make a difference for these young people! Hope in the economy that will always get bettter….Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry… St. Padro Pio ✝️🙏❤️

[@zdenkakathyanderson7890]

Amber goes on about how she’s now an adult because she’s pregnant but she hasn’t contributed in any way as an a responsible adult would. She sponges off her mother and lives in her house

[@honeybunch5765]

She was still a kid. You are being a bit harsh. The worst is how seldomly the fathers are involved.

[@nicehar]

16 and pregnant. What took her so long?

[@chrilin5107]

12.45 better if she kept breast feeding than getting him on formula (it's an option for those who can't breast feed, if you can and can stay home to feed that's preferable).

[@melissalove2463]

Funny they have no money but they keep popping out kids !

[@wyswygsommer2769]

Frankie will make it.

[@jivefive99]

This is from 2012 ... sheesh ...

[@lizziemartin2382]

smoking near children or whilst pregnant should be illegal.

[@LauraSnow-in3nx]

I feel bad for Craig. His mom is literally kicking him out and making away for the new baby I’m not sure why you would continue to have kids if you’re losing your home Can’t afford to take care of the one you have already I get that, but you don’t throw your kids out like that, that’s messed up

[@seanrm]

Luckily, the UK's population increased by around 4 million people since this was made (2012) and now things are much, much better.

[@kevinrai6620]

these kids are trying...help them

[@cristinaevans139]

Broke but alive 😢

[@Proudathiest1]

Does Britain not have welfare?

[@KimmieSunshine]

The UK has what’s called a “Nanny State”. It’s been that way since WWII. Basically, the government will provide for your needs if you need help. It’s different than my country so I find it interesting

[@CanadianMonarchist]

Britain has a very elaborate welfare state.

[@angelachanelhuang1651]

sorry

[@burly636]

At least Shelby is trying, and the other girl just worming herself way into the another person’s house. I always wondered what happened to Bridey. Pregnant girls got a lot to learn.

[@susanclaire901]

Bridie wasn't pregnant though. Shelby WAS pregnant by the end of the show.

[@sproket168]

Not a dad in sight. Not many mothers can raise good men

[@rinku1160]

In England One pound / in India 98 rupees equal

[@elainedoremus2688]

Create fewer humans. Fewer humans equal more money and power for each.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

1:45:13 England welfare is a hot mess!

[@rodneyscott2108]

27:25 Who are these wanna be Crips😆😆😆😆😆😆to much MTV raps. This is America’s gift to the world

[@johnsnowkumar359]

The British government says it is definitely a welfare state. Every affluent has a small project housing. The UK is still doling out welfare checks and free food. The government of the UK is running low on public housing. If a childless couple lives in a public housing, that house goes back to the government after the couple dies. The British government provides food and small financial checks and previously built housing too. Every affluent town has a government housing project. The British government says it is behind in building housing for the poor. In the Uk, people given government housing have to vacate public housing once they die of old age. British government is falling short of public housing being built for the poor.

[@bradd188]

This is why Andrew rate exists, for people like these guys. I see they want jobs but I also see a lot of young men that need some direction in their lives. Sitting around playing video games and smoking weed isn’t going to get you anywhere.

[@Proudathiest1]

Come on guys you’re in Britain home to some of the greatest music ever made don’t waste your time on bs rap music .

[@martinlester3454]

Why don’t u just go to Gambia and get it in real life and enjoy it with your own English female friends

[@eugenemullan4957]

Them again init

[@alisejankovska9125]

They can always afford cigaretes ...

[@ummomar8432]

30 pounds a day would be a dream life for kids in some countries.

[@Mark-rd1it]

Children should be born in marriage. It takes two parents to raise children properly.

[@kristinfrostlazerbeams]

First!

[@patscanlan2678]

2nd!🤪

[@Eggmanrocks]

@@patscanlan2678 3rd

[@joeycormier7489]

Craig’s mom, you single? You are pretty.

[@barbaragardner8626]

Teenagers should have a law that they can’t have children. That might stop some poverty. This needs to be addressed by adults and handled properly.

[@JH-hj9uz]

I find the fact they all smoke very disappointing, they are trying but the cost of smoking is detrimental to them getting ahead.

[@StarlightEater]

Whats with all these ppl whining about 'boo hoo, I ain get enuff free money' this s UK thing or what?

[@queen_of_ice]

No one wants to work but they love complaining about there free goverment money coming in late.

[@user-zr5si2rb9p]

It’s annoying that Frankie puts on such a fake Afro/jamaican accent grrrr 👿

[@DB-xo6xh]

15:42 WHAAATTT?!! Is there no help with family planning? Birth control and basic Basic education!?

[@anonmouse15]

All the birth control in the world won't work if you don't use it.