Mel B spends, “7 Days On The Breadline” as a single mum on benefits

October 26, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: News

Harehills in Leeds is rough, many of the homes have bars on the windows, drug abuse is rife among teenagers, there are vermin everywhere and hope is absent in the stale air of deprivation.

Mel B has returned to her home town of Leeds after two decades. The Daily Mail reports Mel saying: “it’s a world away from the glamour of Los Angeles where I now live what is, admittedly, a very privileged life.”

Mel B was in Harehills to take part in an ITV documentary series called, “7 Days On The Breadline.”

She tells the Daily Mail: “I agreed to take part because I thought it was a worthwhile social experiment, spending seven days and nights living as a single mother on benefits. Anything that takes you out of your comfort zone and gives you a chance to challenge yourself is always rewarding - and it was even harder to say no when this project involved returning to Leeds.”

The impoverished home prior to be invaded by the star was occupied by Elaine Henry and her five children - aged six, eight, 12, 16 and 18. Living on a budget of £264 in benefits. Mel B was reported to have been constantly monitored by her own minders and police.

Mel continues: “Although I was living on the estate for only a week I was cut off from everything. I had no access to a mobile phone or a computer.

“Elaine’s life, so similar to others around her, is apathetic - how can she instil any drive into her own children? It’s a vicious circle that leads to what some have called ‘ Broken Britain’.

“The Government might disagree, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes and that is exactly how I would describe the situation for huge numbers of people who barely survive on the poverty line.

“The truth is that the families who live on benefits are largely forgotten - and ignored unless they cause problems. It’s only after some horrible event is reported in the media that people start wringing their hands and asking why more wasn’t done.

“If the Government will not admit that things have reached a chronic state, then I don’t see how we can begin to put things right.

“I had to run a home and feed six people on £264 - I got £46 on the Monday and a further £218 on the Wednesday, when I did the big weekly shop.

“The total benefit money paid to Elaine and her family was barely enough to live on - it certainly didn’t leave much left over to go anywhere or do anything. Not surprisingly, the Henry family has never had a holiday.

“Families like Elaine’s are stuck in a rut, what job can they get that will cover the money the State hands out?

“Even if Elaine managed to get a part-time job, she would end up being penalised and lose a chunk of her benefit. So there is often no incentive for people to get back into work, even if they really want to.

“Of course, I accept that there is also a culture of benefit entitlement that has killed ambition.

“Teenagers know that they will get dole money once they reach adulthood and girls learn from their parents that if they have babies they will become eligible for a council flat. It’s little wonder that teenage pregnancy rates are higher in Britain than anywhere in Europe.

“I believe his attitude might have been better had he been able to attend a community centre while growing up or if he had got involved in some local project.

“Local government spending cuts have meant that many community centres have since closed. The few that remain often get vandalised.

“It was not my role to tell Elaine how to live her life, but when she saw how I had cleaned and organised her house, and that I had respected the property, I think on some level she did say to herself, ‘Yes I do have to clean up more often’. Whatever your living conditions, there’s no excuse for your house being in a mess.

“During my time at Harehills, I organised a car wash so that the children could understand the concept that money equals work and work equals money. It’s important for them to get that motto into their heads very early on in life.

“It is what I have done with my own daughter Phoenix. She carries out chores for which she is rewarded with pocket money.

“Despite all the luxuries that I could provide for her, I want her to value money. So, at the end of the week, if she has done her chores, she gets $6 to do what she wants with it.

“The experience of filming this documentary showed me that I have a lot of patience. I usually do things full steam ahead - if I want something I just go out and get it. But while living with Elaine’s family I had to be realistic and logical with every decision I made.

“It also reminded me just how good my life is. Not that I was ever complacent, but just in case I needed a jolt, that’s what it gave me.

“I hope the show will make people think twice about people on benefits, rather than calling them lazy moneygrabbers.

“That’s another reason why I wanted to do the show - to expose the rut people get in when living on benefits. If you do not give people a way out, educate them, provide them with somewhere to live, and a community centre for them to visit and be stimulated, then how can you expect them to have the urge to get up and do anything with their lives?”

One resident said of her passing visit, ‘We’ve seen more police cars this week than in the whole year.’

ITV1’s factual entertainment series, “Seven Days on the Breadline” opened with almost 4 million viewers on Tuesday 19th October.

Read the full story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1222661/MEL-B-My-week-Apathy-City-living-family-benefits.html