I was given a warm welcome at ICE FM - dubbed "Coventry's Frostiest Beats" - a detached radio project run by Coventry Youth Service. Young people from the Foleshill area have the opportunity to gain an accredited OCN qualification in broadcasting. This involves Ofcom regulations, planning, content creation and broadcast skills - all before the station goes on-air. The aim is that qualified young people will work as peer mentors to the next cohort, adding to the project's sustainability. The hard work paid off. I saw (and heard) a professional, slick operation. Saif, on-air during my visit, looked a natural; cueing music, linking to news and playing jingles while chatting to listeners - his own local community benefiting from their own radio station. The playlist included young local musicians and features, such as a programme on drugs, transmitted during the week-long Restricted Service Licence (RSL) broadcast. According to Ofcom, since 2004 youth oriented projects have been awarded 238 RSLs, which allow short-term broadcasts of up to four weeks.
Then there's the longer-term Community Radio Licence, or the potential global reach via internet broadcast, which doesn't even require a licence.
Radiowaves, a network of online stations for young people in schools and youth projects, has been awarded government funding to boost young people's involvement in politics through radio projects. And this is the tip of the iceberg. With recent press accusations of young people using web sites like YouTube to portray scenes of violence and bullying, shouldn't we investigate the potential of this good old-fashioned broadcast medium? Radio offers a positive activity and opportunity for young people to have a voice, influence and opinion celebrating their own culture. If you get the chance to listen, tune in and see what you think. Radio Blah Blah? I don't think so...
Roger Morford is information officer at The NYA. He can be contacted at rogerm@nya.org.uk.
