Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, teacher viewing is recommended before watching with your students.
Amber is 16, pregnant, without a partner and on benefits.
She is living with her mum, Mandy, and her partner who are also dependent on benefits.
Amber reflects on the circumstances that led to her current situation.
She describes how she feels different from the other mums at the hospital who are older and have partners.
Mandy describes how she too was a teenage mum and the difficulties she faced.
We see Amber and her mum trying to manage the family’s financial difficulties.
Amber discusses her hopes and fears for her future and how these have had to change because of her pregnancy.
Being pregnant has meant that she has had to grow up.
Amber begins a training course but has to give it up.
We see Amber giving birth to a baby son.
This clip is from the series Growing Up Poor.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could research the immediate and future social implications of teenage pregnancies.
They could also explore the financial costs to a teenage parent and their family after an unplanned pregnancy.
Students could look at how the situation can be made worse through youth unemployment and poverty.
Pupils could research the social, medical and financial support available and its limitations.
Ask students to present their findings to their peers as a poster, report or leaflet.
Curriculum Notes
This clip will be relevant for teaching PSHE/Modern Studies at GCSE Level. This topic appears in OCR, Edexcel, AQA, WJEC KS4/GCSE in England and Wales, CCEA GCSE in Northern Ireland and SQA National 4/5 in Scotland.
More from Growing Up Poor:
Teenage poverty, education and finding a job in the UK - Frankie's story. video
Frankie is 19 and living in an overcrowded flat in London with his family who are dependent on benefits. He describes the appeal of life on the streets.
Teenage poverty in the UK - Shelby's story. video
This clip explores teenage poverty and unemployment. We see 17 year-old Shelby describing how she tries to budget but often runs out of money and is constantly hungry.
Teenage poverty in the UK and being an unemployed teenage dad - Wesley's story. video
Wes is 19, unemployed and living with his mum with whom he has a difficult relationship. Wes wants to move on, leave home and find a job as he has a one year old son to support.
