No one in Westminster is talking about fatherlessness, but our Alliance of 700+ small charities tell us it’s a huge issue. That’s why our star-studded CSJ team came together to discuss it in the latest episode of Beyond Westminster.

It’s part of a new podcast series we’re launching, led by the voices of small charities. Informed by daily visits to our Alliance network, we’ll be taking hot-takes from the frontlines and bringing them right to the heart of SW1 by debating them on our podcast.

Kicking off this series is a CSJ Alliance charity in Darlington called Parents and Children Together North East (PACTNE), who provide supported housing for families at risk of losing their children to the care system. They say fatherlessness has had the biggest impact on their work.

Fatherlessness was also identified as one of the areas driving the crisis facing boys and young men in Lost Boys: State of the Nation. Find out more at lostboys.org.uk.

Host

Andy Cook, Chief Executive

Guests

Ed Davies, Research Director

Mercy Muroki, Development Director

Joe Shalam, Policy Director

'Beyond Westminster' returns on Mental Health Awareness Week for a discussion on the ‘Screen-Demic’ and what Government should do about it.

With the Safer Phones Bill going through the House of Commons, we ask why the Government has watered down its plans to protect young people.

This conversation draws on research conducted in Change The Prescription, the CSJ's landmark report into mental health which evidenced social media and smartphones as contributors to the rise in mental ill-health. Read it here: centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/change-the-prescription.

Host: Fraser Nelson - Times Columnist and former Editor of the Spectator

Special Guests: Sophie Winkleman - Actress, Charity Patron and Campaigner

Rt. Hon. Kit Malthouse MP - Former Policing Minister and Secretary of State for Education, Co-Sponsor of the Safer Phones Bill

Dr. Sanjiv Nichani OBE - Consultant Paediatrician, and Founder of Healing Little Hearts Global Foundation

Boys and young men are in crisis.

While the last hundred years have been marked by great leaps forward in outcomes and rights for women, in this generation it is boys who are being left behind. And by some margin. From the day they start primary school, to the day they leave higher education, the progress of boys lags behind girls.

On Wednesday 5th March, the Centre for Social Justice launched a State of the Nation report on Britain's Lost Boys with a star-studded panel speaking to an audience of politicians, charities and, most importantly, the young boys from around Britain who helped shaped the report. The panel included:

• Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Health Secretary.
• Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Chair of the Centre for Social Justice.
• Lawrence Dallaglio OBE, former England Rugby Union Captain and Founder of Dallaglio Rugbyworks.
• Miriam Cates, CSJ Senior Fellow and former Member of Parliament.
• Sonia Shaljean, Founder of Lads Need Dads.
• Charlie, a young man who has been supported by Lads Need Dads.
• Andy Cook, CSJ CEO.
• Luke Taylor, CSJ Researcher.

Over the coming months, the CSJ will be looking for solutions to this growing problem. This report aims to paint a stark picture of what is happening in six significant areas of life. It makes the urgent case that action is needed. This report will not cover every issue facing young men and boys, but it is a start. CLICK PLAY to hear the panel discuss our findings.

Today, we’ll be diving into the King’s Speech, breaking down Labour’s social justice agenda, and exploring what’s coming from the new government. We'll discuss how these changes could impact communities across Britain. Is big government back? Does this legislative barrage address everything from Labour’s manifesto, or are there key elements missing? What does all this mean for the future? Tune in to get the full scoop!

Guests

Andy Cook - Chief Exec, CSJ

Nathan Gamester - MD, CSJ Foundation

Matthew Patten - Political & Communications Director, CSJ

Beth Prescott - Education Lead, CSJ

Welcome to our latest episode, where we delve into the pressing questions shaping the current political landscape. What implications does the election hold for society's most disadvantaged members? Did the party manifestos truly address the needs of the poorest? As we navigate the aftermath of the election, we explore what the new government should prioritise in its first 100 days to advance social justice.

Join us as we go beyond the sensational headlines and surface-level stories, taking a deeper look into the heart of Westminster politics. This episode is a call to think critically about the promises made and the actions required to uplift the most vulnerable among us. Tune in for an insightful discussion that transcends the usual political discourse.

Guests:

Andy Cook (Host) - Chief Executive of CSJ

Ed Davies - Director of Policy at CSJ

Sophia Worringer - Deputy Director of Policy at CSJ

Rhian Heisman - Director of Development.

In today's episode, we explore the disturbing rise in severe violent crime across London, focusing on the sharp increase in knife crime offences since the pandemic. Recent research reveals that nearly one in four Londoners have experienced threats or attacks within the city over the past five years. As concerns mount, 63% of residents now back the police's stop-and-search tactics to combat violence. Join us, as we deep dive into the challenges facing policymakers, the impact of soaring crime rates on the upcoming mayoral election, and the strategies being considered to enhance safety in the capital.

Guests:

Nikita Malik (Host) - Author of CSJ Report “Serious Violence in London”

Lord Bailey of Paddington - Former SpAd to David Cameron on youth and crime, Former London Mayoral Candidate

In the labyrinth of our communities, the spectre of criminal exploitation casts a long shadow, entrapping both the young and the vulnerable in a cycle of coercion and crime. Today’s episode dives deep into this critical issue, exploring the multi-faceted dimensions of criminal exploitation in the UK, from 'county lines' drug dealing to the alarming trends of cuckooing and beyond.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of this pressing problem, examining how financial deprivation, family breakdowns, and vulnerability factors contribute to the risk of exploitation. Through a series of enlightening discussions with experts and those on the frontline, we gain insights into the prevalence of this form of modern slavery, it’s devastating impact on victims, and the challenges in tackling it.

Guests:

• Louise Gleich (Host) – Senior Researcher for the Joint Modern Slavery Policy Unit at Justice and Care & The Centre for Social Justice
• Eleanor Lyons - Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
• Sir Iain Duncan Smith - Conservative MP for Chingford and Woodford Green and Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice
• Colin Ward - Former Police Officer
• Amanda Radley - Child Exploitation Expert at the British Transport Police
• Joella Smith - Assistant Director of Services at Action Homeless Leicester