Poor Kids (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vnls
If you haven't watched it yet I urge you to do so on Iplayer as soon as you can.
Despite its peculiar time slot at 10:35pm it shines a light on our own problems in this country.
We focus our time, adverts, charities on third world countries, ignoring the plight of many people at risk in our own country.  We have an estimated 3.5 million people living in Poverty right now in the UK.  It's time we stopped being ignorant and faced the truth!
Poor Kids shows the stark realities for a lot of kids living in poverty.  Some people still will refuse to believe that kids actually live like this, that this program like any other twists the truth to suit its ratings.  But i have met Kids like these and it is often all too true.  You can keep doubting but that won't help anyone.
The program focuses on several kids, one who lives in mold, a problem bought on by constant damp, often created by lack of heating, which they just can't afford.  One who dreams of holidays, a playground which isn't falling apart and littered from drug users.  To one boy who finds himself bullied because of the state of his clothes.
Sam who's 11 years old sums it up quite well.  He tells life in his house as controlled by the money coming in from one day to the next.  How the lights or heating will switch off as the meter clicks over and everything just... stops.
“Until dad gets a job we don’t have any money and sometimes I don’t get lunch and I have to save my hunger for when dinner comes and I eat it all,” Sam says.
He is made to wear his sisters old shirts which are specially marked to show that they're girls, old trousers which don't reach his shoes and a mop top hair style cut by his fathers unskilled hands.  Needless to say the bullying hits him hard.  He points out that it doesn't matter what you look like or the clothes you wear, its who you are and what you do that counts.  Come his Birthday he receives a first trip to the barber, which he finds fantastic!  The idea that it will help him fit in even a little bit better makes him feel great.  Such a simple joy.
Courtney is found talking about holidays at one point.  Her friend has been to several other countries but Courtney never had the chance.  She questions why she doesn't get to go on holidays but it all comes down to being too poor.
The amount of Kids in our country that need help is horrific.  But we can do things about it.  We can give them a better chance.  Look up charities like save the children, lets start asking these charities and the government what they're really doing and help push them forwards to sort this out.
With CHICKS we can give them the holiday they need, it may not seem an important part to you but it helps a child's self-esteem no end.  Lets not let these kids think that they're not as good as any other, that they're bound to find themselves in the same position as their parents.  This program shows that it's not their fault and they are by no means stupid!
I'm going to do what i can, what will you do?