Tonight:
3°c
The Dispossessed: Londoners have adopted Vincent and are helping him on his way
David Cohen 5 Mar 2010
- Special Report: The Dispossessed
- ES Comment: London’s huge response to the dispossessed
- Mayor’s millionaire poverty adviser takes a journey of discovery
- London’s huge response to the dispossessed
- We can no longer insulate ourselves against poverty
- Politicians who avoid the poorest areas must show moral courage
- What should be done? Have your say
Vincent Maduabueke set the big sealed box squarely on his lap and carefully opened it. For a moment the 18-year-old's face disappeared as he coolly examined the gifts inside at close range.
When he re-emerged, his composure had gone. His face, a rapidly shifting montage, went from curiosity to wide-eyed amazement to sheer delight. Finally, unable to contain himself, he broke into an enormous grin and lifted the box above his head and shook it as if he had just won the FA Cup.
For Vincent — the poverty-stricken student unable to afford a £19 UCAS college application fee and whose story published this week provoked an unprecedented response from Evening Standard readers — it was his FA Cup.
Inside the box was a postal order for his £19 UCAS fee, book tokens for £50, and an assortment of stationery, including pens, notepads, coloured pencils, mathematical instruments and files.
“Wow! This is everything I need to get me on my way,” he said. His mother, Gloria, hovering next to him in the living room of their social housing flat in Islington was overcome. “Oh my goodness,” she said. “I can't believe it, look at the quality, oh bless, I don't know what to say.”
“Who is it from?” Vincent wanted to know. He read out the handwritten card from Cam and Carol Spence, a couple from Walthamstow, who'd sent the box via the Standard. The card said: “Dear Vincent, this should cover your UCAS fees plus some book tokens to kickstart your university book buying. All the best. I know you're going to do really well in the future.”
“Oh bless, these people know what it is to struggle and that education is the key,” said Gloria, 50.
Indeed, in another letter addressed to the Standard, Mr Spence had written: “I was the first member of my family to go to university and I've always felt that educational opportunities are life changers for young people. It was very courageous of Vincent to speak so openly about his situation. Please pass on these items — they should be of practical use to Vincent in his course this year and next when he enters uni.”
This gift is one of more than 50 — and still counting — that readers have generously offered to Vincent and the other people who featured in our series on poverty in London, The Dispossessed, and which led to a “call to arms” by Prince William and widespread support by MPs and in the Lords.
In Vincent's case the gifts include theatre tokens, free meals out, financial assistance, an offer from Middlesex University, his preferred choice, to allow him to apply direct to its dance department without going through UCAS, and a job agency proposal to help him find a decently-paid part-time job.
Vincent's mother, a former housing officer who stopped work to raise her two young children and then fell into poverty when her husband left her, tried to put the readers' responses into context. “We're overwhelmed. It's as if Londoners have adopted him as their own and are sending him on his way to university.”
Vincent, his arm looped over his mother's shoulders, spoke softly. “I am surprised,” he said. “I wasn't expecting this response. It's been an eye-opener to see how much people care.
“I'm a private person and I don't usually talk about how things are for me but living as a teenager on £30 a week and trying for 32 jobs and not even getting an interview is demoralising. In some ways it's worse for me because I remember the good times, the days when mum had a job and we went on holidays.
"But now I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel, that my hard work will pay off and that I will get to college and succeed because I have so many people cheering me on.”
For Jaydine, 21, the single mother living on the Aylesbury Estate within sight of Canary Wharf and who has no fridge and can't afford a cot for her baby, the response of readers left her in tears. She has been offered a fridge, a TV, a sightseeing trip around London, a pram, and numerous cots, toys and items of clothing for her baby.
One reader, Natasha Kirwan, 39, a parliamentary press officer, captured the mood when she wrote to say: “I live on the edge of the Aylesbury Estate and have two small children. I have lots of things my children don't need any more — clothes, books, toys, which I'd like to give to Jaydine if she'd like them. We may also have other household things which could be useful for her.”
Jaydine, her 11-month-old baby on her hip, was momentarily lost for words as I read out just a few of the dozens of emails of support that have flooded in. “I am so touched by the public's response and desire to help me,” she said.
Their kindness gives me goose pimples and brings tears to my eyes, but they are tears of happiness. I feel I was brave to tell my story because the truth hurts. But the way I see it, there are lots of people like me. I've said my story.
“Now others can come forward and tell theirs and touch other people like I touched them. It will be great if people can speak up and we can start a ball rolling. I don't want to sound dramatic, but this week has changed my life. I ran away at 15 and grew up without a family who cared, and so to have the love and help of strangers is incredible.
“It inspires me to change my life and that of my baby. My plan is to re-sit my GCSEs and then get a proper job.” Her first step, though, will be to open a bank account, something she has never done because she's never had savings.
But to stop here would be to fail to tell the full story. Because not all the responses have been positive. The internet reaction to the story of Barbara Harriott, the mother of 11 children by five fathers who lives off state benefits, generated a firestorm of angry posts denigrating her as “irresponsible” and a “scrounger”.
How had Barbara responded? “To be honest, last night I was crying. I was thinking: is this what people think of me? Some of it is easy to dismiss because it's obviously racist, like people saying I should go back to where I came from. My message to them is this: I was born in Britain, so if they want to deport me, I'm afraid it's back to Lewisham Hospital.”
She laughed ruefully. “But the part that gets me is when they attack my children. My 15-year-old son refused to go to school today because people are saying horrible things about his mother in the playground. Yes, I've been irresponsible and had too many children by too many fathers, but now they are here, they are facts. Why should people punish them? It's not their fault I had them.
“Nor am I the only woman in England who's had lots of children and lives off benefits. I had a traumatic childhood and as a result was unable to form proper relationships with men. I've made mistakes, but at least I'm here for my children, teaching them the right way so that they don't make the same mistakes I did.”
Did she regret taking part in our series? “No,” she insisted. “I am a strong person. My pastor warned me some people might respond negatively but that I should hold my head up high. And some neighbours have said good on you for telling it like it is'. In the end you have to live with yourself.
"And the funny thing is that I woke up this morning feeling transformed. I will use the negative energy to make a positive change and get myself off state benefits and into a job.
“I've wanted to do it for a while. And with the right training and support — some of it from your readers — I believe I can.” Indeed, Barbara's battle to make ends meet has inspired support from readers sympathetic to her plight.
One reader, Charles, 32, an accountant from Essex, wrote to say: “I was particularly touched by the story on Miss Harriott and her children. Is there any way I can be of assistance to her financially as I was thinking of sponsoring one of her children or making monthly donations to her?”
There were offers of help for Ade, too, the penniless immigrant mother of four stuck in limbo without benefits and barred from working while the Home Office takes more than two years to decide whether she can stay in this country.
What's abundantly clear, though, is that the stories we've published this week have struck a chord with Londoners. Hundreds have called or emailed and one of the themes has been how ashamed they feel at how London has become a tale of two cities.
And the fact that such a small amount of money — £19 in Vincent's case — has the potential to make a large difference in someone's life has been revelatory.
Of course, the practical help offered to Vincent, Jaydine and Barbara makes only a minuscule dent on a massive problem — 650,000 of the capital's children live in families mired below the poverty line, half in “severe poverty”— but it is a beginning.
As Vincent's mother said: “It's a paradox. We live in lovely Islington where there are lovely restaurants and clothes shops and which people regard as well off. But there is another world of hidden poverty.
“The truth is there are thousands of people like Vincent in Islington, and tens of thousands in London. But I read what Prince William said and I've seen what ordinary Londoners have found it in their heart to do this week. It feels like something is stirring. It will be interesting to see what happens from here.”
Reader views (18)
It is such a shame the world is full of such bitter people, people go through different stages in their lives and it is good to know during those bad times there are good people out there.
I remember those times and because of good people helping giving me things like their used settee washing machine it gave me time to concentrated on improving my life I now have a good job and so has my children so god bless all those good will people out there
- Been There, london, 11/03/2010 16:39
Report abuse
VN Purley,
I contribute to my own State pension it is the mechanics of the way it is paid for means that the younger generation actually pay it. They are not funding my State pension I am.
If I lost my job, I be lucky if I got £ 64.50 for six months, but as I have savings over £ 16k I wouldn't get anything.
For me you points are moot.
I don't feel sorry for the 18 wothout a job as there are loads of them in the same position. As the Indian, who actually came from real poverty) fella commented the other day, virtually all the unskilled entry-level jobs are now filled by foreigners, so recession or no, Vincent would have a hard time finding something anyway.
Coming from the Elephant & Castle, I have seen real poverty in my time but people claiming not to be able to afford a cot, whilst paying five quid for a packet of ciggies or claiming that cannot buy school shoes for their children, despite having Sky TV, spending £ 20 quid a week on phones and having a tax-free income of £ 38k per annum (equivelent to a paid employment of £ 56k) is an absolute joke!
My nan raised ten children, two of which were disabled, by the sweat of her brow without assistance from the State or anybody else. Seems to me that far too many people in this country sit on their backside, contribute nothing and take loads. What's more worrying is there's a load of people out there who make any excuse possible for them to continue in that manner.
- Mark, South East London, 08/03/2010 09:15
Report abuse
This ES campaign has exposed a sorry truth - that there are a lot of extremely bitter and twisted people out there. What is wrong with your lives that you are envious of people barely surviving on benefits or handouts? Should the children of the feckless be condemned to starve because you don't approve of the mother's lifestyle? She was incredibly foolish and reckless but why punish the children? Should we condemn the ambitious young man who has failed to get a job during a deep recession? Would you swap places with him?
I don't want to be taken for a ride either but I'm happy to help those who are willing to try and improve their own and their children's lives. I applaud those who have offered practical help. To the whingers, I assume if you ever find yourself in trouble you will refuse all offers of state or charitable help. I assume you will survive in old age on your savings because these kids you have condemned will be working to pay for your pensions and you wouldn't want to be hypocrites now would you?
- Veritas Noire, Purley, 05/03/2010 16:49
Report abuse
I simply cried
- David, Surrey, 05/03/2010 16:18
Report abuse
I say something recently on an American newspaper website which I thought was interesting. Basically, a social or charity worker has a little space on the front page of the paper and they ask for very specific donations for individuals. The ads read something like this: Janine, a single mother needs $76 so that her son can go on a school trip. Readers can then send the money direct to the newspaper, who pass it on to the appropriate authority.
The nice thing about it is that it's very specific and targetted exactly to the need of the person, whose identity/name is changed
sarahn, London
So what happens to all the other $76 sent in? Or does only 1 person send in a £76 cheque?
A stupid idea if I ever heard of one, maybe the mother concerned shouldn't have kids if she can't afford them, rather than expecting everyone else to indulge her lifestyle choice.
- P Staker, London, 05/03/2010 15:48
Report abuse
I'm very disheartened to read the negative and heartless comments from alot of people. This story lifted my spirits and made me glad to see that kindness still abounds in London. No man is an island and sometimes individual effort is just not enough. I don't think that people should be embarrassed to ask for help and people should certainly not be embarrassed to lend helping hand.
- Hails, London, UK, 05/03/2010 15:48
Report abuse
Let me just make sure I've got this right: a woman chooses to lead a life of promiscuity with the feeble excuse that she was briefly homeless at the age of six (awful but hardly a unique story) churning out sprogs in double figures apparently without a care for what would happen to them if something happened to her, and you want to reward her by giving her MORE money...? I don't know what to say... the world has gone truly mad... I hope those of you mad enough to do this will give us regular updates on Barbara's progress because I for one will be laughing my socks off to see your looks of bemused disappointment when she's spent all your cash on plasma screens and designer trainers. The world has gone truly mad!
- D Woodstock, Leytonstone, 05/03/2010 15:30
Report abuse
...just what all these people need - more free handouts! ...bad enough we are paying taxes to support these leeches!
- Stephen, London, 05/03/2010 15:22
Report abuse
Despite all the negative comments here I am very heartened to see the generosity of people translated into good deeds.
I say something recently on an American newspaper website which I thought was interesting. Basically, a social or charity worker has a little space on the front page of the paper and they ask for very specific donations for individuals. The ads read something like this: Janine, a single mother needs $76 so that her son can go on a school trip. Readers can then send the money direct to the newspaper, who pass it on to the appropriate authority.
The nice thing about it is that it's very specific and targetted exactly to the need of the person, whose identity/name is changed.
Maybe something the Standard would be interested in?
I would be much more inclined to give money to something like this than to the big name charities, many of whom have forgotten who they are supposed to be helping.
- Sarahn, London, UK, 05/03/2010 15:06
Report abuse
I don't believe this. People are encouraging this boy even more to scrounge and take hand outs? If it is true, what he actually needs is a good kick up the you know where to get him going instead of sitting around whining. I don't know when I have ever been angrier - and I think the Evening Standard is trying to cover it's backside by a disastrous and misconceived "campaign" which is clearly totally against the public feeling and opinion.
- Fanta, London UK, 05/03/2010 14:53
Report abuse
I hope the Standard is happy with itself now that people are giving this waste of space Harriott woman £s. If you had run a story on deserving cases of poverty such as pensioners who can't afford to heat their homes or ex-servicemen who have fallen on hard times then maybe some of THOSE people would be getting help they dearly need but no! Let's just give yet more £s to the mindless breeding machine who's already had tens of thousands thrown at her! As for her pastor - he should be struck off for encouraging her. I am sure I'm not the only one who finds this entire story utterly VOMIT INDUCING!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
My sentiments exactly.
- P Staker, London, 05/03/2010 14:02
Report abuse
Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Fear not, you are not alone..........
- Andy Woodhead, London, ENGLAND, 05/03/2010 14:02
Report abuse
Let's hope the Evening Standard does an article about London’s poor old age pensioners soon, those same old people that were born here, fought for the country, and rebuilt the country after the war, and built the NHS with their taxes and sweat etc.
My 80 year old wife needs a Blue Badge parking permit, which has so far been denied to her by my council etc; as she can’t walk much at all anymore, and she has advanced Alzheimer’s disease, making her mostly housebound and helpless, although she tries hard everyday to help herself etc, and I do my best to care for her 24-7 on my own.
OK she has had her life and can’t dance or sing anymore, or work hard, but that is no reason to leave her to fend for herself now that she no longer works or pays taxes etc.
All she wants is to go out to her local park and see the flowers again before she dies, a Blue Badge costs the council nothing, yet they still have not given her one etc.
So I hope the Standard does an article on London’s poor and sick pensioners; after all they people in poverty as well etc; only they are old people that have done their bit, and not fit young people that have not; fair is fair, what is good for the goose, is good for the gander; they say, but age discrimination is still practiced by local councils, and the government.
My wife asks for nothing apart from help getting out everyday; we will be happy to just get a box with a Blue Badge in it.
- Mickinlondon, london, 05/03/2010 13:49
Report abuse
".. provoked an unprecedented response from Evening Standard readers .."
Yes, it most certainly did.
Did he get the map to the local job centre I sent him?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 05/03/2010 13:46
Report abuse
I anm going to throw up in a minute at these useless stories. I have picked up the Evening Standard and discarded it straight away. What about a story on the way OUR old age pensioners are treated in this 3rd world country
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 05/03/2010 13:44
Report abuse
I hope the Standard is happy with itself now that people are giving this waste of space Harriott woman £s. If you had run a story on deserving cases of poverty such as pensioners who can't afford to heat their homes or ex-servicemen who have fallen on hard times then maybe some of THOSE people would be getting help they dearly need but no! Let's just give yet more £s to the mindless breeding machine who's already had tens of thousands thrown at her! As for her pastor - he should be struck off for encouraging her. I am sure I'm not the only one who finds this entire story utterly VOMIT INDUCING!
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 05/03/2010 13:07
Report abuse
You'd need a heart of stone not to laugh.
- Squiz, Islington, 05/03/2010 13:07
Report abuse
Its stories like this that give me a little bit more faith in people. Am very pleased to hear about Vincent in particular. People are so quick to critise, especially when someone wants to study the arts, however anything should be achievable, not matter how rich or poor you are.
- Nat, London, 05/03/2010 13:03
Report abuse
