The North in Numbers

This episode is all about the rising tide of child poverty that has been gripping the north over the last few years, while also taking a look at how the pandemic has been affecting the situation.

We spoke to a single mum struggling below the breadline, a teacher who encounters the reality of child poverty in the classroom every day, as well as experts from anti-poverty charities and Trussell Trust Foodbanks, to put these shocking figures into perspective.

As of March 2020, just before Covid-19 hit, there were estimated to be 1.1 million children living in poverty across the North. That was up by around 300,000 children compared to March 2015.

It means that in the five years before the pandemic, the proportion of children living below the breadline had risen from 28% to 33% - affecting one in every three northern kids.

Written and presented by Annie Gouk and produced by Mark Magill.

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Each series, we dedicate an episode to looking behind the scenes of data. In this episode, we showcase the work of the data journalism project, Sensemaker.

For the project, the Manchester Evening News partnered with the University of Central Lancashire to co-create data sensors for journalism and community engagement.

One of these was a pollution sensor, which was deployed in schools and businesses across South Manchester.

Annie Gouk spoke to John Mills, Associate Professor at UCLan and one of the academic partners on the Sensemaker project, and Louise Taylor, who was the assistant headteacher at Cringle Brook school at the time.

Hosted by Annie Gouk and produced by Mark Magill.

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When it comes to producing players for the England national team, the North has always punched above its weight.
A total of 1,259 players have played for the men’s senior team since the first international match back in 1872.
The North West of the country has produced more of those stars than any other region, with 282 to date.
We spoke to respected football journalists David Prentice and John Gibson, England Under 19s coach Ian Foster, David Wetherall, Head of Youth development at the EFL and David Raven, ex-Liverpool youth player, currently at Marine and someone who came through the ranks as an England youth player, playing with Wayne Rooney.

Written and presented by David Dubas-Fisher and produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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We take a look at the huge rise in pet ownership seen during the pandemic - and in particular the soaring number of dogs being bought and adopted across the North.

With the help of animal charities and new pet owners, we explore the ups and downs of puppy love in lockdown, as well as offering tips and advice from experts, to help with training and pet care during these strange times.

Written and Presented by Annie Gouk. Produced and music by Mark Magill.

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To kick off the new series of the podcast, in this episode we’ll be exploring the state of pubs and bars in the North - from the long-term decline in the number of boozers across the region, to the recent boom in major cities, and of course the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

We discussed industry trends with hospitality experts and people running pubs and bars up and down the north.

Written and presented by Annie Gouk and produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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Welcome to Series two of The North in Numbers, a podcast that gets the human stories behind the stats. In this series we'll be looking at subjects such as child poverty, waiting times for mental health services and the effect of Covid lockdown on pet ownership.

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In this final episode of the series, we look at the boom in breweries across the North - part of a craft beer revolution that is sweeping the country. We speak to brewers, bar owners and beer festival organisers from all over the region to find out what's been driving the trend.

Written and presented by Annie Gouk. Produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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In this episode, we explore the introduction of Universal Credit, and the impact the controversial new benefits system is having on families across the North. We travelled to Teesside - an area with a high number of people on Universal Credit - to speak to claimants about their experiences. You’ll hear first hand how some people are desperately struggling under the system, as well as from charities and experts who want to see it improved.

Written and presented by Annie Gouk.
Produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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Annie Gouk takes a break as sports data journalist David Dubas-Fisher steps in for a look at the state of football in the north. He explores the financial gulf that exists between the Premier League and the Championship, speaking to academics, experts and local sports journalists about how the industry is evolving.

Written and presented by David Dubas-Fisher.
Produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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This episode takes a look at the huge rise in knife crime seen across the north, and the devastating effect it's had on communities in Merseyside in particular. We spoke to a mother who tragically lost her teenage son, the locals campaigning to make a difference, the Chief Inspector of Merseyside Police and the Liverpool ECHO's crime reporter.

Written and presented by Annie Gouk.
Produced by and music by Mark Magill.

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