Single dad Steve , 45 appeared on the BBC1 documentary Poor Kids and was overwhelmed by the response. More than 700 people posted messages on the channel’s website and many wanted to help Steve.
“I got sent new school uniform for my son Sam who is 12. It sounds like a small thing, but that was a big help for me,” explains Steve, a former forklift truck driver who has been out of work since 2000.
Steve’s wife left when his daughter Kayleigh was seven and Sam just two. He turned down a £21k job to look after them and planned to get a part time job once they were settled.
“Looking after the children was harder than I thought it would be and I had to concentrate on them,” says Steve.
Steve suffered a heart attack in February and has recently moved from Leicester to Wales where the kids have been looked after by a carer whilst he was recovering.
He has applied for 200 jobs in the last two years, but has been unsuccessful. At the moment he survives on £64 a week benefits.
If you saw Poor Kids, you’d know what a great job Steve has done with Kayleigh and Sam, who are bright, intelligent kids who unlike many of today’s youngsters, don’t ask for much.
“They’ve been brought up knowing that money’s tight. They hardly ask for anything and they never complain. I’m so proud of them. Kayleigh’s got 9 GCSE’s and she’s going to college to study forensic science. It’s not money that matters in life, it’s your family and your health,” says Steve.
We had to push Steve to come up with a bucket list as he says he doesn’t like to ask for help. We are sure there are many more things Steve could have mentioned, but these are the things which will make a difference to him.
Steve’s bucket list:
- Primark or Top Shop vouchers to buy clothing for Sam and Kayleigh.
- A single duvet for Kayleigh as her’s is falling apart.
- A vacuum cleaner (Steve says he can do without one, but it would make life a LOT easier).
- Supermarket gift vouchers
- ihelpuk.com would like to raise enough cash to buy a Christmas hamper for Steve and the kids. Drop us a line if you’d like to donate.
Steve's kids Sam and Kayleigh
Steve