Simone's Story

Simone, 24, from Gorton and Denton in the North West, wanted to become a teacher in a region facing critical staff shortages. But when she looked into teacher training, she discovered that HM Treasury's spending rules had forced the Department for Education to reduce bursaries for her subject area. The classrooms were there, the graduates ready to teach were there, but Westminster's political choice to cap departmental budgets meant connecting willing workers to vital posts became impossible. This episode explores how central government funding decisions block people from entering essential public service careers, even when the need is desperate and the capacity exists. Blocked Britain investigates when political choices prevent ordinary people from contributing to their communities.