Help Me Investigate has teamed up with the Birmingham Mail on new project Behind The Numbers, looking at stories in local data.

The first story, a collaboration between Mail reporter Katy Hallam and Help Me Investigate’s Paul Bradshaw, was published in the newspaper Friday.

As well as new reports the section will also publish the numbers behind stories in the newspaper and sister title The Birmingham Post, as well as wider statistics around the West Midlands region. 

Anyone can contribute to the site, including Help Me Investigate users. It is hoped the project will stimulate more work on data projects in the region, and more opportunities for journalistic scrutiny.

You can read more about the new project in this introductory article. You can also read how the story was put together – and how you can repeat it in your own area – in this background post on Help Me Investigate Health.