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Chek Whyte
Intro | About Chek | Chek's Testimonial
The early years
A large amount of his childhood was spent in and out of children’s homes as his parents, who were heavy drinkers, were unable to cope.
Generous to a fault, giving away thousands to Charity every year, Chek now wants to take a more direct approach to his financial donations and is eager to help somebody. “I need to do this, “stresses Check, “I know how hard it was and I want to give something back”.
His new life as a secret millionaire
Living under cover in Salford, using his birth name of Anthony, Chek soon realises that finding people to help is not the issue…it’s the scale of the problems in this socially disadvantaged northern town and the amount of work that is needed that is going to make Chek’s final decisions on who to help a very challenging job.
Salford
Known locally as the “dirty old town”, Salford was one of the first industrial cities. Today its docks and mills are all closed down and the area is now home to one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country.
But as a result of the regeneration, the local community has literally been wiped out. Instead, Chek finds how the pressure of not knowing what is going to happen to their homes and their lives is taking its toll on so many people. For ten years the residents of these streets have been living under the threat of demolition, but no final decision has ever been made. Families are suffering from damp and poor health due to the empty houses surrounding their homes and are concerned that they may not be able to afford to live anywhere else if their homes are finally knocked down.
Lack of opportunities for the community
Added to this problem of a dwindling community and unaffordable new housing, is the fact that there is very little for the youth to do. Chek recognises himself in many of the young lads he meets on the streets of Salford who are just drifting aimlessly. Chek realises he was one of the lucky ones, managing to find himself some labouring work in his teens. But many of these young people are being sucked into drugs and a life of crime as they have nobody to turn to for help.
Salford Lads Club
Some hope exists in the shape of the famous club up by volunteers 100 years ago. Then it was a thriving youth club, open every night for the local boys to burn off some energy, make new friends and keep themselves fit and healthy. Chek is impressed to discover that two of the clubs earliest members, Eric and Archie, are now still part of the club’s fabric. But sadly, the club is seriously dilapidated, lacking in volunteer funds and help. Eric and Archie do what they can to keep the club afloat, but it is only open three nights of the week now and even that is under threat.
Loaves and Fishes
This much needed homeless and day care centre is another important place for the local community. Set up only a few months ago, it’s open to anyone who is homeless or in need of some company in the day. Chek joins the ladies who help run the place to fully understand the kinds of people who clearly benefit from such a centre. In a scene that really pulls at the heart strings, it makes Chek reflect on his own childhood and how somewhere like this could have really helped his mum, and consequently the rest of his family, when life was getting her down.
This much needed homeless and day care centre is another important place for the local community. Set up only a few months ago, it’s open to anyone who is homeless or in need of some company in the day. Chek joins the ladies who help run the place to fully understand the kinds of people who clearly benefit from such a centre. In a scene that really pulls at the heart strings, it makes Chek reflect on his own childhood and how somewhere like this could have really helped his mum, and consequently the rest of his family, when life was getting her down.
Striving to please
Having decided to concentrate on doing voluntary work only during his 10 days undercover, so he can really get to the heart of the community, Chek really throws his heart, body and soul into his mission as the secret millionaire. But in doing so, he puts himself under enormous pressure to do the right thing by everybody who has touched his heart. And being a big softie, that is a lot of people…
Intro | About Chek | Chek's Testimonial
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