Inside Out East - 08/02/2010

Universities in England raise 1.6 billion pounds by recruiting overseas students - about a third of all the money raised through fees. Inside Out has uncovered evidence that suggests financial pressures are leading universities to accept students who don't have the language skills to be there. Inside Out goes behind the scenes and finds out that students are studying for degrees with only basic language skills and are flouting the system by paying for their essays to be written for them because they do not have the skills to get by without help. One whistleblower believes it is unfair on the students and is threatening the credibility of degrees and the reputation of English universities. Tom Ravenscroft grew up in Suffolk surrounded by LP records - his father was the legendary broadcaster John Peel. Tom goes in search of the disappearing record shop. The number of independent record stores in our region has declined by almost 80 per cent. The national picture is equally grim, with record shops closing at a rate of one every three days. Tom's journey to find a survivor takes him through empty shops still echoing with the ghosts of 70s and 80s music. Martin Elliott has spent most of his adult life in prison. But during his last sentence he started volunteering for a charity. It changed his life. Now he has a paid job as a manager in a shop, which includes handling money. The shop is run by Sue Ryder Care and after Martin's success the charity is planning to work with more prisoners.