Stories behind the headlines

Investigative journalism series’ aim is to get to the truth

If you’re interested in stories that affect the whole country and not just London you’ll be interested in a new podcast from JPI

Media called Uncovered. Uncovered is a new series from National World that goes behind the headlines to give you an in-depth look at the stories that matter.

On each episode, host Kelly Crichton (right) is joined by National World reporters to discuss the work that goes into the team’s investigations, and highlights some important stories that have gone uncovered in the wider media.

Episodes to date have covered topics like MPs’ second jobs, the rise in spiking attacks, and the poor charge rates for crimes against nonwhite victims of sexualised and gendered violence.

On this week’s episode of Uncovered, Kelly is joined by Harriet Clugston, Data and Investigations editor for National World, who has been looking into the pressures faced by local authorities, particularly in relation to their child social care budgets.

The recent case of sixyear-old Arthur LabinjoHughes, murdered by his father and step-mother in Solihull in June 2020, has broken hearts across the country, and prompted a wave of public anger and revulsion at the suffering he endured.

Children’s social services in England have faced £4 billion worth of budget blackholes over the last six years with demand far outstripping council resources – and the North is worst affected.

Analysis by NationalWorld reveals spending on children’s services rose 1.6 times faster than budgets between 2014/15 and 2019/20 – despite councils upping the latter in an effort to keep up with spiralling demand to help at-risk children.

Social workers, children’s charities and councils have been warning for several years about a crisis brewing in children’s social care in England, with repeated calls for action to protect children.

Harriet hears from Marcus Johns of the Institute of

Public Policy North about how they have found that austerity fell on the north of England hardest, making a significant difference for the life chances of children there.

■ Listen to Uncovered at linktr.ee/laudable_podcasts.