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For a 3 part documentary called “Benefit Busters” two episodes will feature A4e. One episode that was shown on the 20th August 2009 was at A4e Doncaster focusing on lone parents whilst the other episode coming up next week will be at A4e Hull focusing on the unemployed.

At A4e Doncaster, Hayley Taylor co-ordinates a 6 week intensive course named Elevate which aims to give lone parents the confidence and skills to enter employment and persuade them they will be better off working than continuing to claim benefit.

It was largely thought that the programme would be criticising a4e and be bad publicity; it was a PR stunt all along to help develop promotion while they attempt to move in to America. My inbox was flooded with websites picking up on the A4e biased publicity from a press release and was only the last couple of days when a few sources picked up on the fame of the lone parents involved. The A4e website even has a page dedicated to Benefit Busters.

I don’t want to influence anyone in thinking one way or another so instead of watching the show (as in entertainment show rather than factual documentary programme) and writing an blog article on it – I have simply made bullet-points on the show along with a rough timeline (this won’t be 100% accurate) – please watch Benefit Busters yourself to make a decision via 4 on demand (or alternatively the re-run).

My initial thoughts was why just 3 shows for an entire series? It is either a one off documentary or at least 8 right? It is for this reason it is clear that one would be pointless (re-runs of the same one show is embarrassing) and it is also clear they didn’t have the budget allocated for the show to produce any magical results.

This can be seen from the actual production. From the beginning it is clear that most frames are deliberately to contain A4e (Hayley Taylor’s name badge, all scenes begin focused on A4e whether on a window or otherwise, the “brand new” branded cups, on the names displayed on the desks and even a corner of a poster display). However, even though they kept rather consistent with almost always starting scenes focusing on an A4e logo when the show got towards the middle when (if I recall correctly) she was lecturing someone about drinking alcohol the cameraman (or woman) seemed to have forgotten all about keeping the name badge in and gotten all sloppy.

Let’s get to the timeline… (I only took bullet-points so some parts may be slightly inaccurate as I elaborate. No ads)

2 mins Emma Harrison appears (no offense but with that money surely you would have done something to make you more presentable); the programme has barely began and already she appears. Promotion? Definitely.

3 mins Threats of disciplinary action should someone be ill followed by holding up a battery. Even to this minute I am still unsure of what the reference to the battery is.

There was a bit of writing (pens don’t use a battery), there was the fake interview technique (doesn’t use a battery), there was the verbal feedback session on Hayley Taylor (doesn’t use a battery, or does she?) then there was the group sitting around a table being phoned about being accepted (different type of battery in phones).

I am left feeling guilty of the assumption that maybe Hayley (this isn’t going to go down well with A4e) is some sort of dominatrix and the batteries are for something else. I am a male, not too sure what a group of initially 10 women plus a tutor would get up to! I guess that could be many people’s fantasy. Hehe. Moving on…

4 mins Hayley Taylor is dubbed “benefit buster”

4 mins 30 secs A4e and Emma – not more than 2 minutes after the first occasion

5 mins 30 secs The lone parents are told to make a difference. It can’t be easy being a single parent: are you saying that these single mums have not already made a difference giving birth to children and bringing them up on a low income?

6 mins 30 secs Everyone has A4e cups. It is clear that most frame up until this points have A4e written in them in some form.

8 mins Blurs a computer game even though after 9pm.

11 mins Enforcement of the bullying approach (although most are not shown).

13 mins Why did they publish the names of those who didn’t attend? It is unknown whether they are drop outs, gained employment or were off ill. The first 2 examples means they would no longer be on the programme so there is no reason why the names would still be there on the desk and the last example, solely a temporary absence.

Maybe they didn’t attend at a later date but an factual documentary that is done as a video diary needs to be done live and not waited for the time to past and edit what scenes to add and what to omit. This is why I call it a “show”.

14 mins Hayley Taylor needs to shut up once in a while. Why was it necessary to repeat “be yourself” 3 times and give the woman a lecture?

14 mins 20 secs It appears although part of the window has been omitted. We can presume it was meant to say “work” but why didn’t they film it elsewhere near the tree as later in the programme? Or did it say something else?

15 mins Although Hayley Taylor doesn’t work for DWP or Jobcentre Plus she seems to think she is qualified to state that one of the woman was “not entitled” to the benefit for turning down a job. She is not obligated to take it should her Jobseekers Agreement (JSAg) not state she has to work for those late hours.

16 mins She asks the rest of the group who else would give up a £5-7 per hour job. The woman who turned down the offer stated her reason as not being able to get back home after being so late after public transport and taxis run (she claims the taxis stop at 1 am). She is then criticised for not accepting the job as she could ask colleagues for a car share or family/friends to be able to pick her up after work.

The problem with this, if she decides to quit the job (even in probationary period) if she can’t get home (walking home so late at night could get her robbed, raped or otherwise assaulted) she will receive up to a 6 month benefit sanction. When you have kids this is definitely not an option to risk.

The National Minimum Wage means she would have to be paid at least £5.73 otherwise it is illegal therefore if the job offered from £5 per hour it is unlawful and she has “good cause” not to accept.

17 mins 15 secs Hayley Taylor criticises the woman again as she thinks the reason for living on benefit is due to wanting smaller debt repayments on her £75,000 debt. If she begins a fulltime job she is going to be hammered with emergency tax, her benefits such as housing would obviously and appropriately decrease and her debt repayments would increase. This could possibly stick her to a financial disadvantage for the initial future.

18mins Hayley states someone is progressing well solely on the basis that the woman came back from shopping and showed her what she bought.

20 mins Did I see a reed employment cup? It seems 2 weeks has passed already!

26 mins Emma talks and then joins the group (strangely) an appraisal on the “tough love” (maybe my initial comments above was right) from Hayley. This consisted of feedback from 1 person and then another person briefly chipping in with a statement.

The group had 10 people – I think it was 2 people who left – 2 people spoke – this leaves 6 people who didn’t get a say including the unemployed DJ who was heavily criticised and featured a lot.

I would declare to the people who are unable to think outside the box and don’t read in between the lines that the reason of this wasn’t due to fitting in for the show but for not featuring negative feedback – this might be why Hayley wept.

29 mins Week 4… Very quick week (see below time)

30 mins 40 secs Week 5 – advantages of employment is “social status”. This is a week one activity, not week 5!

35 min Poundland – 2 week work trial. Poundland has a very high staff turnover and is well known for poorly treating their staff. Poundland however does believe in customer service the price of the items doesn’t have a basis on the customer service provided which is better than Argos. Poundland even though branded “everything is £1” sells items for £5 etc. and have gotten away with it.

40 mins Emma’s mansion which is pretty much as beautiful as she is. I really was under the impression it was a lovely place but I think I prefer my ex-council home which looks far superior even though much smaller.

It appears 4 got fulltime jobs. Out of an initial group of 10 that is a 40% success rate. Not entirely bad and they have until 2010 to get this up to the 70% target. A4e: we are far past half way of 2009, you don’t have much time left.

43 mins Drunk woman/woman who has been drinking hands in a timesheet. A big deal is made out of it.

She has had a bereavement to deal with and I don’t think it is unreasonable considering the circumstances and the fact she wasn’t attending a course only handing a document in. This was the same woman before which Hayley claimed to have been drinking – if she had attended the course as accused being under the influence of drugs or alcohol she would have been dismissed from the course.

47 min 30 secs Clearly showing boxes of equipment (possibly empty) and adequate water supplies giving the impression they are fully resourced. I am very curious of what their Hull place is like with the unemployed coming up in the second episode.

The show also featured about someone refusing to work for £2.85 per hour more than on benefits (or £57.18 extra a week). There was an indication that the actual amount could be as much as £97.18 (£4.86 per hour) extra a week. We are not sure if this is gross or net. Was disappointing knowing the course failed.