Introducing The Black Voices Collection is a series of anecdotes and reflections portraying the realities of being Black and British - the highs, the lows and all that's in between. 

Reuben Arthur reflects on his experiences of finding representation in cartoons and TV.

950,000 individuals successfully applied for universal credit in the first two weeks of UK lockdown, but can the system support the increasing numbers of claimants?  

Are transgender people being treated fairly on the NHS? The waiting list to transition on the NHS is around two and a half years for an initial consultation, many individuals on the waiting list have limited access to mental health support. Cherise speaks to Jordan Palmer, a transgender man who shares his story of transitioning on the NHS.

In the UK a whole generation have been priced out of owning or renting high quality homes and this leads many millennials having nowhere to turn but the social housing system. We hear buzz phrases like ‘gentrification’, ‘the housing crisis’ and ‘sold off council homes’ all the time. But what do these headlines actually mean? In this episode, Cherise investigates the UK’s social housing system, exploring how and why there is a current lack of social housing, asking what policy could make a difference, and answering the question: why should we care in the first place?

An introduction to Interconnected Voices: Millennial Report: Do We Need Labour ? 

Despite being the age group most likely to vote Labour, under-30s have only ever experienced adult life under a Conservative government. How has this affected us? Cherise  takes a deep dive into this question and explores the millennial experience. 

Will Savid Javid’s knife crime reforms hurt or hinder the younger generation ? In 2019 their were 43,516 knife crime offences in the UK.To solve this epidemic the government wants to enforce longer prison sentences on young offenders.Cherise explores if the government should be taking a more holistic approach, focusing on improving deprived communities, creating more opportunities for young people and implementing more prison rehabilitation programmes. 

11 states in America have legalised cannabis. Will the UK be next ? Legalisation could change the public perception of cannabis sellers from criminals to scientists, whilst allowing individuals to run legal dispensaries.Despite this many people feel that legislation could be a disaster for their communities.Cherise chats with Niamh Eastwood and Daniel Rowe to explore the impact of legalisation on the millennial generation.  

Since Donald Trump was elected in 2016 a community of outspoken African American conservatives has grown throughout America.In this episode Cherise investigates why so many African Americans have politically shifted to the conservate ideology, how Trump's policies affect minority individuals and answer the question: Will Trump get reelected in 2020 ?