What a year. It’s been a tough one for so many and a stark reminder why the UK needs journalism that is powered by its people and focused on making positive change.

📣 Help spread the word about the impact we've had in 2020 (thread) ⬇
We kicked off the year with our initiative to #ChangeTheStory of the news industry. We brought together an advisory group from all over the UK to reimagine the role of journalism and build a "People's Newsroom" manifesto to steer our work: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/blog/2020-06-24/change-the-story
After we reported that housing benefit rates kept people #LockedOut of affordable housing, the government increased the funds. We tested it on local rents & found it made little difference. Law centres, charities & councils used the data for policy asks: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-01-24/locked-out-why-the-housing-benefit-rise-wont-make-much-difference
Locked Out: Why the housing benefit rise won't make much difference

The government says the increase in line with inflation will give claimants an extra £10 a month, but a Bureau analysis suggests this will only make a handful more homes affordable

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-01-24/locked-out-why-the-housing-benefit-rise-wont-make-much-difference
We asked #WhoBenefits from the housing benefit system? And found investors were pocketing 79p of every £ collected to house vulnerable adults.

We published w/ @DailyMirror @BBCNews @peterboroughtel @RomfordRecorder. The work led to regulatory judgements: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-09-08/taxpayers-handing-millions-to-private-companies-for-housing-the-vulnerable
Taxpayers handing millions to private companies for housing the vulnerable

Housing associations pay higher than average rents to house the vulnerable

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-09-08/taxpayers-handing-millions-to-private-companies-for-housing-the-vulnerable
When covid hit, we partnered with @NUJofficial @ICNNUK and @PINewsF to launch #LoveLocalNews and celebrate the resilient local journalism that was breaking through these difficult times. Need some inspiration? No short of it here: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/blog/2020-05-26/how-do-i-love-thee-local-news-let-me-count-the-ways
How do I love thee, local news? Let me count the ways...

As part of its #LoveLocalNews campaign, Bureau Local showcases stories from around the country

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/blog/2020-05-26/how-do-i-love-thee-local-news-let-me-count-the-ways
When the government announced funding to bring "Everyone In" during lockdown, we reported on the secret policy that those w/ no recourse to public funds could be sent back to the streets. We published w/ @IsleThanetNews @myldn @EDP24 @HuffPostUK & others: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-07-03/gap-in-homelessness-help-could-force-thousands-back-onto-streets
Gap in homelessness help could force thousands back onto streets

Although the majority of those housed in hotels during the pandemic have no recourse to public funds, there is no national plan to help them stay off the streets

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-07-03/gap-in-homelessness-help-could-force-thousands-back-onto-streets
. @LondonersLondon published with us his own story of homelessness and took over our account and @TimesRadio to share his journey from Heathrow to a covid support hotel and back again #PaulsStory https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-06-26/opinion-paul-atherton-from-homeless-at-heathrow-to-a-hotel-and-back-out-again
I've gone from homelessness at Heathrow to a hotel. Where next?

Time is running out for Paul Atherton, a homeless man housed as part of the coronavirus Everyone In policy, as his eviction date looms

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-06-26/opinion-paul-atherton-from-homeless-at-heathrow-to-a-hotel-and-back-out-again
We continued reporting on #CouncilsInCrisis to reveal Thurrock council’s secretive £1bn borrowing & investment programme, funded by councils across the country.

We partnered w/outlets from @ThurrockGazette to @birmingham_live to @edinburghreporter & @FT: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-05-22/thurrock-council-borrowed-1bn-from-taxpayers-to-bet-on-british-sunshine
Council borrowed £1bn from taxpayers to bet on British sunshine

Thurrock council has borrowed more than £1bn from other local authorities

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-05-22/thurrock-council-borrowed-1bn-from-taxpayers-to-bet-on-british-sunshine
... the company at the heart of their investments has gone into liquidation, another failed to pay what it owes & the council has paused future investments.

Yet they refuse to say what else they invested in. We're fighting for this at a tribunal in 2021: https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-10-22/bureau-launches-action-over-hidden-council-finances
Bureau launches action over hidden council finances

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is going to a tribunal to force Thurrock council to release key details of how it has invested huge sums of taxpayers’ money

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2020-10-22/bureau-launches-action-over-hidden-council-finances
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