About

Council_BuildingWhat is ‘Raised on Benefits’?

‘Raised On Benefits’ is a new documentary that questions the impact of the media’s representation of families on benefits. As the team are keen to explore these issues on their own terms we wish to proceed as independently as possible. As such the project is self-funded.

What’s the Story

From Benefits Street to Prime Minister’s Questions – the negative representation and scapegoating of people on benefits is a divisive and much discussed issue. As damaging as this mindset is to adults, what we’re interested in looking at is the impact this has on children – as they have neither the critical faculties nor psychological strength to question these assertions for themselves.

In order to explore this we will be talking to successful people who were raised on benefits, experts in the field and will look to ask: –

  • How difficult is it for a child on benefits to succeed?
  • How can a child on benefits empower themselves in the current climate? – What are the barriers to success?
  • Why do some children on benefits succeed but others don’t?
  • How much influence do all the different factors in a child’s upbringing influence their future success?

The Impact

This project is valuable because we believe that an equal society is better for everyone. That it is the responsibility of the strongest to safeguard the weak. It is not enough for us to question the lack representation and bias in the media, in making a documentary about it we wish to contribute to the public discourse in a responsible and accessible manner.