Uklongform
This Is What It’s Like When Your Job Gives You PTSD
Researchers in the UK are trying to work out which emergency workers are most at risk from PTSD before they even develop it.
11 Longreads You Need In Your Life Right Now
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
This Is The Real Story Of Windsor Council's Handling Of Homeless People
The leader of the Conservative-run authority said rough sleepers should be cleared from the streets ahead of the royal wedding, but BuzzFeed News has uncovered serious questions about the borough's homelessness provision.
Women Are Being Left To "Bleed Out" When They Have Their Periods In Police Cells, A Watchdog Says
Exclusive: Campaigners are calling on the Home Office to introduce minimum standards of sanitary provision for women in police custody, after shocking reports from unannounced visits.
This Is How Backbenchers Are Taking Back Control In Parliament
The lack of a government majority has highlighted a power shift towards the opposition and back benches that has been growing for decades. BuzzFeed News investigates.
Munroe Bergdorf: If I Can Get Through 2017, I Can Do Anything
The model and activist tells BuzzFeed News: “When you’ve got literally the whole media of the world painting you as this renegade woman, you do start in your private moments thinking, Well, am I?"
Inside The Controversial Therapy For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome That Some Patients Call A “Cult”
A recent scientific trial has led to acrimonious debates over chronic fatigue syndrome, aka ME, and boosted interest in a secretive therapy that some call a “cult” and others call a “miracle”. BuzzFeed News investigates.
Naomi Alderman: I Think After This Fucking Year, A Lot Of Women Really Wish "The Power" Was Real
Although she first started work on the book half a decade ago, the themes of The Power resonate today more than ever.
27 Of The Best Personal Interviews Of 2017
Stories of people who made an impact on BuzzFeed UK this year.
Losing His Brother In The Manchester Attack Made This Man Take A Stand Against Extremism
Dan Hett, brother of Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack in May, has accidentally become a spokesman against extremism in a culture war surrounding immigration and terrorism.
A Homeless Man Was Fined £105 For Begging After A Child Dropped £2 Into His Sleeping Bag
BuzzFeed News analysis reveals the extent of towns and cities across England and Wales introducing their own laws targeting homeless people by banning begging.
Meet The People You Probably Didn't Realise Will Be Working On Christmas Day
From forensic nurses and zookeepers to funeral directors and football groundspeople, there will be people from all walks of life clocking in over the festive period.
This Man Had His Leg Broken In Four Places Because He Is Gay
Chris Ver-Haest suffered a brutal attack in London in July. As the trial of his attacker concludes, Ver-Haest tells BuzzFeed News how this hate crime has devastated his life.
This Is What Happens When A Mosque Becomes A Homeless Shelter
BuzzFeed News joined volunteers at the mosque at the centre of Grenfell Tower relief efforts, which has now opened its doors to the capital’s homeless.
This Is How The EU Will Play The Next Phase Of Brexit Talks
“The negotiations are in London, not in Brussels.”
This Man Had To Face Drugs Charges With No Lawyer Because He Couldn’t Afford One
An exclusive survey of magistrates for BuzzFeed News shows 30% of all criminal defendants they saw at their last session had no lawyer, up from 24% in 2014.
This Woman’s Family Want You To Know Her “Psycho” Killer Was Actually A Victim Too
With local mental health funding set to be slashed, Sandra Bainbridge’s brutal killing is still sending ripples through a system that her family say desperately needs to change.
A Domestic Abuse Survivor Says Women Will Die If Changes To The Way Refuges Are Funded Go Ahead
Research from domestic abuse charity Women's Aid found that more than half of refuges in England would be forced to close their doors or scale back their services if the government’s proposed changes to supported housing funding go ahead.
This Young Man Wants You To Know What It's Like Being Intersex
When Anick was a baby, doctors knew his body wasn't like other boys'. He tells BuzzFeed News how he has spent his life battling shame, secrecy, and endless surgeries, but is determined to give others hope.
7 Longreads You Won't Want To Miss
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
This Is How 700 Students In The Caribbean Ended Up Studying In The North Of England
After deadly Hurricane Irma struck, an entire university was relocated 4,000 miles away from the Caribbean – to Preston, northern England.
How A Misleading Story About Animal Sentience Became The Most Viral Politics Article Of 2017 And Left Downing Street Scrambling
After fox hunting and the ivory trade hurt the Tories at the election, a misleading but hugely viral story about animal sentience has shown the power animal welfare issues on social media have to catch the government off guard.
Twitter Has Suspended Another 45 Suspected Propaganda Accounts After They Were Flagged By BuzzFeed News
The social media giant is facing serious questions over its efforts to deal with fake propaganda accounts after BuzzFeed News uncovered a network directly connected to the Russia-linked accounts Twitter submitted to Congress.
One Of The Biggest Alternative Media Networks In Italy Is Spreading Anti-Immigrant News And Misinformation On Facebook
The network sheds light on the overlap between the fringe underbelly of the Catholic world, Italy’s nationalist movements, and for-profit clickbait.
How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Wear Cultural Dress
I didn’t want the spectacle of feeling different, but then the brown women in my family gave me a reason to rethink my relationship with with my clothes.
This Is Why Kids Who Aren’t White And Middle-Class Don’t Get Into Oxbridge, According To Teachers
"Honestly, I don’t think state school teachers always have the time and resources to support students who should be applying,” one teacher said.
Just A Bunch Of Stories Your Teenage Self Would Relate To Hard
Read these if you've ever been anxious on school photo day, worried if you can pull off bold lipstick, or used sexy fanfiction as a guide to life.
This Is What It's Like When Your Only Child Dies In Police Custody
James Herbert died after being restrained by officers and left naked in a cell. As a bill calls for changes when force is used with people with mental illness, his father said: "We're not going to get accountability, so let's focus on making the world better for people who are vulnerable."
Inside The Curious World Of “Freemen” Who Say They're Beyond The Law
A growing group of people are turning up to court and arguing that they aren’t bound by any laws made by parliament – but the state disagrees.
17 Stories That Will Make You Feel Smarter
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
This Is What Happened When A Quaker And A Methodist Minister Tried To Smash Up Some Fighter Jets
Have you heard the one about the Methodist minister and the Quaker who broke into a secure military base to attack state-of-the-art military fighter jets and stop them being sold to Saudi Arabia?
A Half-Century Later, British Women Are Still Fighting For Full Abortion Rights
Legislation that allowed doctors to legally perform abortions in Britain is 50 years old. But the women who campaigned for it say the fight for reproductive rights is far from over.
This Is What People Living With Sickle Cell Want You To Know About Their Invisible Condition
“Day to day is constantly painful – I get chronic pains. Some days it’s light but it’s always there.”
9 Stories That Will Remind You To Be Kind To Yourself
Read these if you've ever worried about money, fell out with a friend, or yelled at your therapist.
This Man Had To Defend Himself Without A Lawyer Via Videolink With Terrible Audio. He Lost.
A court transcript shows Folarin Oyebola was inaudible 71 times in his hearing, as new research suggests people representing themselves via videolink are disadvantaged in court.
Here Are Some Black Men You Should Really Know About
We spoke to four black British men, from musician MNEK to Olympian Lutalo Muhammad, about finding success in a world of hard knocks.
Here's Why Children In The North Are So Much More Likely To Be Taken Into Care
Experts say the figures are the result of underlying inequalities, with deprivation and drug and alcohol dependency higher in the north of England.
This Judge Says He Cries When He Has To Take Children Away From Their Parents
Stephen Wildblood, a senior family law judge, spoke to BuzzFeed News about helping the growing number of people facing court without a lawyer.
This Uni Was Called Out For A "Vile" Culture Of Sexual Violence. A Year Later, Students Tell Us What's Changed.
BuzzFeed News visited Durham University a year after it was revealed to have some of the highest reports of sexual assaults in the UK. As a new intake of students arrive, the picture is more complex than it first appears.
Universities Are Grappling With A Surge Of Students Asking For Mental Health Support
Higher tuition fees and a growing awareness of their rights means students want more from their universities when it comes to mental health – and some are even taking them to court.
This Is What It's Like To Be The Only Conservative On Campus
"I remember when I first came here and I said, 'I’m in Tory Soc,' and someone laughed, 'Oh there’s a Conservative society here – surely there can’t be.' We have to make sure it’s not a joke. This is a serious society."
We Know Almost Nothing About How “Study Drugs” Are Used By Students
Despite the headlines warning of an “explosion” in students taking drugs like Ritalin and Adderall, their prevalence – and their risks – remains a scientific black spot.
17 Longreads You Really Must Check Out
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
These University Students Around The Country Showed Us Their Accommodation
“The price is completely unbelievable. In Cornwall you can easily get a bungalow or a semi-detached house for the same amount,” said a student who is paying £800 a month in London.
A Record Number Of People Are Representing Themselves In Court – This Is What It's Like
Exclusive: The number of people seeking support in court because they have no lawyer is up 520% since 2011. BuzzFeed News spent three days in Birmingham's courts to find out how these people cope.
This Is What It's Like To Be Given Electric Shocks To "Cure" You Of Being Gay
While studying for his A-levels, Jeremy Gavins was sent to NHS psychiatrists to "cure" his homosexuality. Here he tells BuzzFeed News how the treatment, forced on him by doctors, teachers, and the Catholic church, destroyed his life.
These Young German Voters Explain Why Angela Merkel Is On Course For A Fourth Term As Chancellor
Merkel’s handling of the refugee crisis has won the support of a new generation of voters who have made her the clear frontrunner to win again this Sunday after 12 years in power.
What "Skam" Taught Me About Being A Muslim Girl
Sana speaks with certainty. She swats away microaggressions. She goes to parties with her friends. She isn't good at peeling carrots. And best of all, she is portrayed as more than her religious identity.
How The MP Behind "Tory Glastonbury" Is Trying To Stop The Conservatives Losing To Jeremy Corbyn
George Freeman is on a mission to woo young voters from Labour. First he just needs to take control of his party.
11 Essays Everyone With A Body Should Read
Stories about synaesthesia, scoliosis, health anxiety, and more.
These People Were Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder And Bipolar Disorder When They Actually Have ADHD
BuzzFeed News spoke to adults who learned that they have ADHD after being misdiagnosed for years with conditions including borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, with life-changing results.
The Spaceship That Took Some Of The Greatest Images Of The Solar System Has Died
After 20 years in space, some amazing science, and some unbelievable images, the Cassini-Huygens mission finally came to an end. We asked two of the scientists who worked on it what the mission meant to them.
This Doctor Turned Comedian Wrote A Memoir And He's Holding Nothing Back
Doctors are laughing and crying over Adam Kay’s diary extracts, which he says show “the warts-and-all version of what the job is”.
We Went Inside Scotland's Community Of Recovering Addicts
A community of Scots in recovery from substance abuse has grown rapidly over the past decade. At their first ever national conference, they told BuzzFeed News about their plans – inspired by the LGBT pride movement.
A Major UK Domestic Violence Organisation Faces Accusations Of Failing Victims And Taking Inappropriate Payments
Following reporting by BuzzFeed News, Labour's shadow policing minister has called for an immediate government investigation.
This Is What It’s Like When A Court Tells Your Abusive Ex-Partner Where You Live
Civil courts are supposed to keep the safe addresses of domestic violence survivors secret – but BuzzFeed News has spoken to two women who had theirs released to their abusive former partners.
Read This Short Story From New BAME YA Anthology "A Change Is Gonna Come"
Aisha Bushby's short story "Marionette Girl" follows Amani and her family as they learn to cope with Amani's OCD symptoms.
How A Town With One Of The Highest Rates Of Knife Violence Is Trying To Protect Its Young People
In 2008, the number of young people stabbed to death in London reached an all-time high. With that trend threatening to return, BuzzFeed News spoke to those working to save lives.
18 Excellent Longreads You Need In Your Life Right Now
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
This Is What It's Like To Be The Son Of A Child Killer
Nick Castree was 27 when his father Ronald was charged with the murder of an 11-year-old girl, a dark secret hidden from the family for more than 30 years.
How The Parents Of Autistic Children Are Being Targeted By Misinformation Online
“This thing about alternative facts and fake news… We’ve been living it in the autism community for 20 years.”
Where Are All The Earth-Like Alien Planets?
The only truly Earth-like planet we know of is the one we're living on. These astronomers want to change that.
This Is What Paramedics Do In London On A Friday Night
BuzzFeed News joined a paramedic on the frontline of the emergency services’ battle against drunken behaviour, a crisis in mental health provision, and street violence.
7 Moments Of Solidarity From Strangers
I think I only partially understood what it meant to stand out before I discovered the solidarity that could come with it.
Inaccurate Or Misleading News Stories About Muslims Have Been Shared Hundreds Of Thousands Of Times This Year
Research by BuzzFeed News reveals that stories about Muslims that have been changed or entirely retracted since publication have received over 165,000 shares in 2017.
This Is Why Men Meet For Sex In Public Toilets
“I was looking for some kind of acknowledgement of my existence.” Six men tell BuzzFeed News what leads them to seek sex in public toilets and how the police have cracked down on "cottaging".
I Went Out On The Streets With One Of Scotland Yard's Elite Gang Crime Units
In a bid to tackle gun and knife crime, Scotland Yard has a series of elite gang units working in problem hotspots who keep tabs on London's gangs and work to disrupt their activity. BuzzFeed News went out on patrol with Lambeth's gang squad.
These Couples Say They Can’t Move In Together Because One Of Them Will Lose Their Disability Benefits
Couples who would lose disability benefits if they lived together told BuzzFeed News the situation makes them feel they “don’t deserve to have a normal life”.
These LGBT People Say They Feel Shut Out Of The Scene Because They Are Disabled
“I’d love to shag in your toilet, if only I could get in.”
A Day In The Life Of A Student With 24-Hour Social Care
“They are not just my carers. In some ways they are my friend, my mum, they are everything wrapped in one.”
What I Wish People Knew About Disability And Feminism
So much of modern feminism relies on the ideal of female bodies that work as expected. For me and lots of other disabled people, that’s a model we simply don’t fit.
How "The Last Leg" Went From Joking About The Paralympics To Taking On The Government Over Disability Cuts
“With great power comes great responsibility,” Adam Hills told BuzzFeed News. “I’m like a disabled Spider-Man; I was bitten by a radioactive prosthesis.”
6 Inventions Making British People's Lives Better In 2017
From a pair of "glasses" that can help some legally blind people see to the latest in prosthetic knee technology that's now available on the NHS – here are some of the products helping make people's lives better.
11 Longreads You Need In Your Life Right Now
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
This Teenager Had To Use Crowdfunding And 8 Different Charities To Get The Wheelchair He Needed. Here’s Why.
A BuzzFeed News investigation also reveals that 96% of areas are failing to supply wheelchairs within the 18 weeks guaranteed by the NHS constitution.
Here’s How You React To Your Son’s Autism When Your Language Has No Word For Autism
At first, Nura Aabe avoided her son’s autism diagnosis. Now she uses her experience to change the lives of other families.
These People Lost Their Blue Badges But Their Parents Are Fighting To Get Them Back
"The government just moved the goalposts and didn’t bother to tell anybody."
This Is What It's Like To Live With An "Invisible" Disability
"Never judge a book by its cover – not all disabilities are visible."
Stuck Between A Fence And A Hard Place
I can't free a stuck ram, but maybe I can try to untangle myself a bit.
This Is Why Prisoners Are Deliberately Reoffending After They Leave Jail
With prisons in crisis and probation services unable to cope with demand, prisoners are routinely leaving jail with nowhere to live and no prospect of employment. BuzzFeed News hears their stories and asks how this can happen in the 21st century.
This Woman Wants To Change The Way You Think About Halal Food
There's more to halal food than curry and controversy, says tech entrepreneur Zohra Khaku, founder of website Halal Gems.
Two Funerals And A Funeral
It's said that life comes at you in threes. Sometimes death does too.
Meet The Feminist Wrestlers Of London Who Make "GLOW" Look Tame
"We really only have one rule: 'Don't be a c*nt.'"
Here’s How Legal Experts Say The Grenfell Inquiry Can Avoid Becoming A Whitewash
Survivors and victims’ groups have expressed concern that the inquiry into the deadly blaze could become a whitewash. BuzzFeed News spoke to three barristers who have acted in similar-scale inquiries to find out how that can be stopped.
Seven Rules For Being Alone
Loneliness can be combated using this one weird trick: Hang clean laundry up.
31 Aristocrats Are About To Give Another Aristocrat A Say Over Brexit In Britain’s Most Exclusive Election
31 aristocrats are about to elect another aristocrat to join them in the UK’s upper house, where they will get a say in crucial Brexit debates. Hugh Somerleyton hopes it will be him.
This Is What Happened To Men Sent To Jail In England For Being Gay
Fifty years after homosexuality was partially decriminalised, Keith Biddlecombe tells BuzzFeed News about what happened when he was sent to prison in the 1950s, and the devastating tragedy that unfolded as a result.
Here’s What The Key Players Of The Junior Doctors Dispute Are Doing A Year On
One year after the end of a long and bitter dispute over the junior doctors’ contract, the final batch of staff are about to be moved on to it. But those who battled against it are still pushing for change in the NHS.
This Is What People Displaced By The Grenfell Fire Are Going Through Now
Anxiety attacks, sleepless nights, and missing home: BuzzFeed News spoke to people trying to rebuild their lives four weeks on from the inferno.
This Woman Always Thought She Was British. Now, After 30 Years, The Government Says She’s Not.
Within the space of a few minutes of questions in a bland cubicle in Croydon’s Home Office building, Cynsha Best went from proud British citizen to illegal immigrant.
This Is The Complex Web Of Companies And Government Agencies Facing Questions Over The Grenfell Tragedy
Three weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire, BuzzFeed News asks what role fire regulations and a complex web of public and private agencies may have played in the disaster – and what could be done to prevent similar fires happening in future.
Here's What It's Like To Meet Your Online Friends IRL
Online I created a persona based on the person I wanted to be. It was a better version of me; it didn’t have all the ugly bits. But I’ve since learned it’s the ugly bits that make us interesting.
Pictures Of Women From London's '80s Subcultures, Then And Now
A BuzzFeed News article in 2014 helped a photographer to find women from London subcultures whose pictures she took more than 35 years ago. Here, they describe how their lives have changed.
Here Are The Challenges Asian Muslim Women Face In Political Life
A new report urges political parties to sign up to a code to stop Muslim women being locked out of public life because of patriarchal clan politics.
9 Longreads You Need In Your Life Right Now
The best longform reporting, feature stories, and personal essays from BuzzFeed UK over the last month.
Can The Harry Potter Fandom Survive New Canon?
In finding alternative pasts, presents, and futures for the magical characters that defined a decade, we've been able to heal wounds that new canon might open back up again.
How Falling In Love With Harry Potter Shaped My Life
Twenty years ago a publisher put a silly-looking book out into the world, and two years later I fell in love with it.
Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, And Christians Showed Us What They Wear When They Worship
Five couples showed BuzzFeed News the clothes and accessories they wear when they pray or attend their place of worship.
How The Grenfell Tower Community Helped Themselves – Because No One Else Would
The inside story of how local volunteers came together to open up refuge centres, collect donations, create a database of survivors, and provide legal advice – while the authorities were nowhere to be seen.
Sex Attacks In Bars And Pubs Are So Common Women Go Out "Expecting To Be Assaulted"
The new figures, released to BuzzFeed News, are likely to be the tip of the iceberg.
