How England Works
A leap of faith. That needs your help.
Why would someone launch a crowdfunder in the arse-end of Winter?
When no one has got any money. Or energy.
Especially for a bloody podcast!
Yeah. Well. Hear me out.
First the financial crash of 2008, then austerity, Brexit, Covid-19 and the energy and cost of living turmoil.
Aside from the immediate politics and the economics - many reasonable and educated professionals have really begun to notice how tangled England’s systems, structures and delivery models actually are.
The labyrinthine networks and layers of councils, health authorities, business ecosystems and investors, universities, public services and decision-making committees.
Not many people know their LEP from their LGA; a startup incubator from a scaleup accelerator; apprenticeships from internships from traineeships; social housing from affordable housing; a Town Deal from a Local Deal from a Local Plan. It goes on and on and on...
This stuff is supposed to drive our local business and public service success. But it does feel like we're playing by complex rules that no one had time to properly explain.
It’s easy to think that English policy, politics and funding are needlessly complicated, even compared to other parts of the UK. And many end up arguing that nothing really works at all.
And then it becomes a wrestling match of questions about how public money is allocated, why some places are treated differently to others, who answers to whom and why policy changes seem to appear from nowhere.
I’ve been working on a mad idea for a little while.
Combining a love of simplifying things. Telling stories. And being nosey.
I want to try and humanise some of the economic and policy pushes and pulls that I discuss in this blog, but for a much wider audience.
The How England Works project is a simple, upbeat look at the everyday systems shaping our lives.
The facts behind the opinions.
Accessible explainers that make sense of things in a clear, fun and useful way.
A series of short, punchy podcasts, animations and clear online resources that cut through the spin and red tape, and that anyone can dip into.
We’ve already begun recording interviews with some brilliant experts from business, academia, creative industries and public services. And we have assembled an energetic team of student animators and designers who are helping us bring these important details to life.
For series one, we want to produce:
• 12 short (20-minute) podcast episodes
• A batch of 2–3-minute animations to break down key topics
This will then be developed into:
• An open-source website with straightforward, searchable summaries and resources
Will you help me?
How England Works has been launched as a Kickstarter project because it will be best if it is genuinely made in partnership and in the spirit of sharing knowledge. If lots of people have a stake in it, it means it will matter more.
always possible is already funding half of the costs, and my time. But to make these podcasts, animations and online resources as accessible as possible, we need critical mass.
Can you pledge a couple of quid and be part of the journey?
Or you could share with your network and colleagues.
Or perhaps you run an organisation for which this could be an amazing value brand partnership opportunity?
We’re offering a range of rewards tailored to professionals eager to stay ahead:
Early access to podcast episodes and animation previews
Exclusive behind-the-scenes discussions with experts and producers
Access to private online events exploring the nitty-gritty of topics like business support, higher education and housing
Customised in-person talks for organisations that want to deepen their understanding of how England is run
Brand partnerships and advertising opportunities for companies with heart that want to reach a curious audience with a big splash
By backing How England Works, you’re helping to:
Pull back the curtain on complex funding and governance systems
Equip professionals and organisations with the facts needed to make better decisions
Inspire genuine collaboration between sectors that rarely speak the same language
Help employ some early career creatives on a game-changing project
An any subscribers to this blog who pledge something will get a lifetime full paid subscription for no extra.
The people behind it
This is a truly collaborative project.
The brains behind the How England Works are two parts of an eight-year professional partnership.
Er, me! - founder of award-winning economic and social innovation agency always possible, and Chris Thorpe-Tracey - globe-trotting musician, writer, and sound recordist and founder of podcast production company Lo Fi Arts.
Check out their other collaborations The Possibility Club or The Brighton Paradox*, and you'll get a flavour of how their creative work has evolved into smart, grown-up storytelling about changing economics, culture and political systems.
Interviewees who have trusted Richard and Chris to help make sense of life in Britain include Andy Burnham, Deborah Meaden, Lemn Sissay, FatboySlim, Peter Kyle MP, Baroness Nicky Morgan, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Caroline Lucas, Charlotte Church and Jimi Famurewa (+ over 200 others).
And joining us for How England Works is visual creative director Sandra Staufer, and young designers and animators Amelia Hodgetts, Haniyyah Nauzeer and Vince Mosti.
THANK YOU!