Unravelled is a new podcast hosted by journalist Terri White exploring how lockdown exposed cracks in the system designed to protect vulnerable children.
The Sunday Times, The Guardian, New Statesman and former Empire magazine editor Terri, is a survivor of child abuse herself.
The five part series was developed in response to the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes’ in 2020, when he was kept out of school as well as therevelation that up to 100,000 children dropped off England’s school registers in lockdown.
Unravelled follows Terri going back to her hometown of Chesterfield after receiving a letter from her own primary school teacher who helped her through her traumatic childhood.
Driven by the ghosts of her past, Terri sets out to find out why so many children are still missing from education, with some enduring the same kind of upbringing she survived.
Terri said: “The shock and devastation of Arthur’s murder has stayed with us all. No child should ever have to suffer in the way that he did. My safe place was always school. It was a place of protection and sanctuary, a place where I mattered, where all kids do. So I was shocked and concerned by the statistics on ‘ghost children’.
“Up to 100,000 kids who’ve just fallen out of the education system. How many of these kids are now at risk? Is the system failing them – and if so, why. And perhaps most vitally, what can be done to keep them safe?”
Over six months, Terri examines her own social services records, reconnects with her old teacher and heads to Barrow to meet Caroline, a primary school head who goes out of her way to get children back into education.
She also speaks to experts and those on the frontline of child protection including social workers, the Children’s Commissioner and senior figures within safeguarding and children’s services.
Jonathan Crawford, Head of News at BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “The story of Arthur’s death affected our audience in many ways, and we as a station, want to highlight the hard-hitting and very real problem of child abuse in this country.
“We are pleased to have Terri White on board to help us do this. Not only is she a brilliantly talented journalist, but she will also bring her personal experience to this series.”
Unravelled will be on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live from Monday 20 March.
