Full Episode: Teenage Boys Navigating Poverty | Real Families 

An update for those that are interested...... In November 2016 Frankie graduated Honours BA in Computer Animation (2-1) by the University of East London. He is now working as a Software Consultant with Sparta Global and is very excited about his future in an industry he loves.

Franky seems determined to make it the right way. I'm rooting for him.

Found Frankie on twitter he's smashing it in life. Buzzing for him.

No fathers, no role models, no aspirations. Do feel really sorry for them

Frankie is a legend. He did it. He achieved his goals which, frankly, is more than I ever managed to do. Massive respect.

The teen who’s mom had to sell the house due to not being able to pay the. mortgage. How could she just leave without her son and leave him with no money. Terrible. I would never do that to him.

I feel really bad for Craig. The mom straight up abandoned him. As a parent, your children should come before you. I could never do that to my child. The child didn't ask to be in that position. Really selfish parenting in my opinion. I know he seems angry and lazy, but I also understand his pain. He hasn't ever had the best encouragement it seems bc he's just shoved off to the side.

Lovely lady cooking for ever one when I was kid some one told me its what's in the heart that counts and still think about today

"We're all in it together" Yeah, that must be why since 2008 income inequality has massively grown and the rich have more than ever.

WHO LEAVES THEIR CHILD TO STARVE???? And she has the nerve to have a mother child in her stomach. Incredulous!

As someone who grew up poor and is now wealthy I can’t imagine going back to those times, I remember being jealous of rich people thinking they can’t feel pain they can’t worry/stress and now I realise they can but being poor wasn’t the way people say it is

Frankie possessed an innate intelligence to do well on what he loves. He struggled against all odds to be the best that he can be in spite of his situation that he has no role model to follow but follow his own inner strength. Congratulations Frankie; poverty is a choice, but you choose to be not. You are an inspiration.

No change the struggles continues 2020.

As a dad, I can't imagine how it feels being in a situation with no food and power. I wish I could just give things to them.

As somebody that has had everything they wanted throughout their life like clothes, horses, cars, houses, food, water,private education, holidays etc, this has really opened up my eyes. I can’t believe people are forced to live like this. And my heart goes out to them.

Frankie's success proves that ANYONE can achieve their dreams. You just have to WORK for it & never give up. Too many people want everything handed to them. Life doesn't work that way for the majority of us. Incredibly happy for Frankie. To anyone struggling & doubting yourself...keep fighting for your future. It's never too late.

craigs mum is really harsh at the end of the day she had him how can she ust kick him out i feel sorry for craig

To some they are rich and that's the sad part.

This could have been taped in 2020 during the Pandemic instead of 2012 during the Economic Downturn and it would have been just as accurate!

Less to do with poverty and more to do with parenting. Unfortunately less than desirable upbringings often go hand on hand with low income.

I think really the guy with the wee baby is trying but still a bit lost! I can’t say I know what it’s like being a teen mum he hasn’t ran from his child that’s already a step closer to being a man now working with kids that’s brilliant

Franky is smart and he's not making any excuses. He said its the environment he needs to get away from. He's separating himself from his environment and doing something constructive. He's going to make it out because of his will & determination. The good thing also is that Franky doesn't have any kids to raise. That makes a huge difference. Many Blessings to you & I wish you nothing but happiness and all the desires of your heart 💜💙💚💛🙏

These lads are not what the usual youths they show in telly that are portrayed as good for nothing. This was a breathe of fresh air. Somebody please tell me if the lad who wants to go to university did actually got in?

My heart goes out to them :(

Education is very important to prevent poverty and also to not let the kids inherit poverty from their parents. Also contraception would be quite helpful!

There's no need for this type of thing in this day and age, greed is what makes the poor. MPS, Bankers all get yearly bonuses and huge wage increase year on year, but the poor will get 10p an hour increase on wage but yet increase on bills is pounds.

@45:12 professor said 'Animators are Crazy' Franky be thinking 💭 'No Professor your eyebrows be crazy' 🤪

I'm rly rooting 4 Frankie ✊🏼. I share(d) a similar dream in becoming a game developer. I'm rooting for all of them

This isn’t just a City problem it’s a UK problem. it’s happening to kids in your town

Doesn't want her son to join infantry.. Leaves son homeless... Lojecc

I will never comprehend how any human being who can’t take care of their own basic needs can bring a child into the world knowing the child will live in poverty. Please, end child poverty! Stop having children you can’t afford. If you don’t care about them, how can you expect others to?

Would love to see an update on all their lives and how covid 19 has affected them.

what is it was poor kids and punching holes in walls and doors?

Craig has nothing in the cupboards for days to eat, what does that little dog eat?.

It breaks my heart that people who have nothing, feel it's ok to have a child...that they can only provide NOTHING to. It is the most selfish act imaginable

This brought me to tears.. so many amazing young people with valuable skills who are struggling.

Found an inspiring update about Frankie online. In November 2016 Frankie graduated Honours BA in Computer Animation (2-1) by the University of East London. He is now working as a Software Consultant with Sparta Global and is very excited about his future in an industry he loves. aletheiafoundation.org.uk/2017/03/20/growing-up-poor-lads-frankie/

Where's your queen? What's she doing to help her people?her country???

If my son spoke 2 me the way Craig speaks 2 his mum he’d have been out the house long ago

the ignorance of people in these comments is so shocking, the UK needs to educate its people on the realities of what goes on.

Well done Frankie lad. 👊👊👊

Craig's mum seems to forget she has a son. I couldn't do that to a stranger, never mind my own son.

God bless! ❤️🙏🇨🇦

Why can he not go with his mum? It's not like he's 26yrs.. The boy is 18yrs!!?!!!

I lived right by where the area Wesley's story was filmed in and still do now, I believe he's still around, I was 16 at the time

Well done Frankie. Feel sorry for Craig

One word - PRIORITIES!

I wish they would put the year of the documentary in the description. This is social history, and so the context of knowing which year would be useful.

I hope Frankie does well

Always believe in yourself, make as many mistakes you want but you will succeed once you've learnt from them.

Damn i lived on the exact road as wesley did for 10 years. As a young indian kid i expected hostility as they were only black and white people but wesley and his friends were actually quite pleasant and played football with them. Never had any issues.

With all the moaning and groaning of some of you, me and my brothers are doing better then my parents and now my kids, nieces and nephews are doing better then we are. We strive for better every generation. From the day they are born, my kids heard about school, school and more school. I put them all in school at 3 years old. They are all successful because I made them think success. THAT is the problem with parents who live on the dole or in this country on welfare and the government. The kids in most cases live the same as their parents on welfare and it just goes on and on and on. I showed them that every generation has to do better then the last. They saw us working our butts off and now they do the same. If you set the bar low, kids will go lower!! SET the bar HIGH and kids will go higher!!

the point he is making is no one is in prison for no reason. lets keep it that way in lockdown 2020

Well done frankie

I can't work out if this is a send up or not, it said growing up poor, I saw lots of electronic goods, popular sportswear brands, costly tattoos, gold jewelry. What kind of poor is that.

Welding is an Int’l SKILL. He had other alternatives than the Army. Good FORTUNE to them all. THEIR HEARTS & SOULS R IN THE RIGHT PLACE❣️

Franky should be showed more it’s true you don’t get away unless it’s education took me a long time to get that

Growing up poor these days is well off by 60s 70s standards as far as money is concerned but poor parenting poor attitude and education is endemic

Least you lads trying and making life for your self's ✌️

Being poor you care about friends family and other poor people you get rich you care for yourself

Feel sorry for Craig man, I hope he joined the army and made something for himself.

You never gona be now how it is growing poor.You never see how is it be a poor in eastern Europe

Skint but money for weed lmao..there's the problem

I think that is actually a good idea that they have the washing machine and dryer in the kitchen.

Please update us on how these young men are doing in 2020!

❤️🙏🏽🇨🇦

I dont really feel for laura the mum struggling. She got pregnant with some one on JSA he is still a teen he was not ready to be a father. Tho ofcourse he should of used birth control..

I live in the same area as some these lmaooo

Why have kids if your poor? I don’t understand why people who are poor and have kids makes life 12x more harder.🤬🤬🤬🤬

Hey. u r one of my college student.

They're kids and they want a house??? Like this is really a first-world problem. If you cant live with 59 pounds a week, don't fake have a child.

Any update on Craig

24:43 anyone else checked the site?

Craig should try out for modelling!!

Literally the rich are now billionaires not millionaires. And the working man now live on the beard line. I own my own house have 2 cars I own. But no it could all go jus like that 😔

Woodgreen uno

Further Frankie update: difrent.co.uk/blog/introducing-frankie-mcgowan/

I had no doubt in my mind that Frankie would make something of himself, but the road will be difficult. He had no children to burden himself with & he had a strong desire to make something of his life. I hope that he continues to be successful & perhaps even return to the community where he grew up & show someone else that poverty doesn't have to be a life sentence & that there is a way out, albeit difficult, it exist.

Hope these all changed for the better

GUY GOT HIS STUDENT LOAN AND GOT A STONE ISLAND LMAO

Well that was a long time ago probably 10 years ago. I wonder what they're all doing now ?

I wonder what they are all up too now days

Frankie has his head screwed on the rite way, and Frankie please don't get any girl pregnant stat single free travel enjoy your life and your future your doing great.

Damn for being so poor those kids sure do wear better clothes than ive ever worn on my childhood.

Frankie reminds me of Slowthai, anyone else?

When was this made?????

It ain’t that bad I’ve been in worse situations

In everyone of these programmes why is it that all the doors and walls have punch holes in them?begin with taking care of what you've got!broke but buy weed everyday 🤔

imagine just recording

is anyone helping these kids? do they get anything from this

Upload Growing up Poor , girls.

Kids having kids doesn’t help..glad Frankie landed on his feet…

Stop buying weed then

59 pounds a week is equivalent to $78.60 in US dollars. That’s pretty good! How can they not buy nappys and things with that!?

0:55 he’s called Wesley and that’s in Quinton ik him in real life

Lots of children in your area, And lots of single parents i suppose , And not much work. Less work in the bedroom would be a good start.

Dudes got a stone island jacket and says he’s poor...priorities

Francis Vitalik Buterin has done well for himself!

Being poor does not make you irresponsible!!!

Frankie is the only one that seems to want this the rest are Lazy they need to stop smoking weed and clean up there act and I'm saying this from experience 💯