Benefits Street is back on our screens with a new estate and a new set of residents.
Kingston Road on the Tilery Estate on Stockton-On-Tees is where the focus is this time and as we met Julie, Lee and Maxwell among others, questions are inevitably going to be asked around whether the documentary series gives a positive voice to people who are otherwise often stigmatised or exploits vulnerable people for entertainment value.
Tom Pollard from the Who Benefits? campaign says that the Channel 4 show will never truly represent those claiming welfare.
He said: “We are pleased this series has more focus on the reasons behind why people rely on support from benefits, for example because they are living with an illness or disability, or caring for loved ones.
“But by using the title “Benefits Street”, Channel 4 continues to create the misleading impression that this is a series that presents a realistic portrayal of the lives of people supported by benefits or issues that affect only those on benefits. This is not the case.
“By focusing on a small number of provocative and extreme stories, Benefits Street ignores reality for the vast majority of people supported by benefits, who like many of us at some point in our lives; just need a little extra help to make ends meet.
“The reality is that hundreds of thousands of people face discrimination and even verbal and physical abuse simply because they are supported by benefits and by reviving the controversial ‘Benefits Street’ format, Channel 4 is contributing to this discrimination.”
The treatment of the sensitive and controversial topic divided Twitter.
Celebs were sharing their opinion on Twitter too.
Who Benefits? have launched a campaign to encouraging people supported by benefits to share their stories in order to change the debate.
During the last series a Who Benefits? petition was signed by over 3,000 people calling on Channel 4 to adhere to its responsibility to “support and stimulate well-informed debate on a wide range of issues”.
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