BBC Radio 4 LW

Born in Bradford

Documentaries

Factual

Winifred Robinson reports on research involving children born in Bradford 2007-2009.

Radio 4 has been given exclusive access to research involving the families of children born in Bradford 2007-2009. Winifred Robinson charts their progress over the years.

Born In Bradford

Born in Bradford: 23/02/2021

23/02/2021

BBC Radio 4 - Born in Bradford, 23/02/2021

Winifred Robinson finds out what's been happening to families tracked in Born in Bradford.

Radio 4's been alongside Born in Bradford since it started in 2007 and Winifred Robinson regularly returns to find out what's been happening to families and to track the research.

Born in Bradford is one of the world's largest longitudinal studies, tracking 14,000 children and their families and reporting on factors affecting health and well-being: Winifred Robinson reports.

Radio 4 has been alongside Born in Bradford since it started, in 2007. The first children recruited are now teenagers and Winifred Robinson investigates the impact of lockdown life on them. Such a wealth of information exists on the thousands of children in the study - from the basics of height and weight, through to their family backgrounds, living conditions and daily routines.

The researchers are now focusing on lockdown life and its impact on health; conducting detailed questionnaires with around 2,000 of the families. As the virus continues to spread through the community and the number of patients admitted to hospital slowly rises, the results provide a heart breaking insight into the impact on children.

Winifred looks at the findings and speaks to youngsters about their concerns. For some these revolve around fears their families will lose their homes and jobs – others have already seen this happen. The tales range from not having enough to eat, through to not having a winter coat. They explain how they cope and who they talk to about what is happening in their homes.

There are powerful insights into the emotional impact of lockdown on the youngsters. There has been an increase in hospitalisation rates for self-harm and accident and emergency staff have picked up other trends in admissions which concern them. This is such a difficult time and Professor John Wright, who heads the study, says these experiences are important to chronicle: 

“The epidemic of mental-health is less visible but will have serious longer term consequences. The challenge that policy makers face is how to balance the scales of clinical harm from the virus on one side, against the wider social and economic harm on the other.”

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Born in Bradford

23/02/2021

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4