New radio show hits the airwaves

The ‘Be Heard!’ radio production enabled blind and partially sighted people, aged 13 to 25 years old and living in and around Wolverhampton, to make their own radio programme.

The young people worked in front and behind the microphone, experienced live studio recordings and used radio equipment in fun and exciting ways.

They developed the content for a range of features and the final production includes the subjects of audio description for visually impaired people, owning a guide dog, the meaning of dreams, a friendship poem, a passion for football and a school visit.

Radio professionals from Wolverhampton City Radio (WCR FM) and the University of Wolverhampton provided training to help the group make the magazine-style radio programme, which was premiered to the young people and their friends and family at the University on Wednesday (17 February 2010).

Sam Hope, Director, Institute of Media Arts, said: “The ‘Be Heard!’ radio programme is informative, entertaining and an excellent achievement by all of those involved. ‘Be Heard’ is now included in the WCR FM schedule to be broadcast to the whole of Wolverhampton.”

The project ran from September 2009 to February 2010, in conjunction with weekly meetings at the Beacon Centre for the Blind Youth Group. The participants produced a number of features recorded on location at WCR FM, and the show will be broadcast on the radio station.

The project was run by the University of Wolverhampton in partnership with WCR FM and the Beacon Centre for the Blind and was supported by a Mediabox grant funded by DCSF. The trainers from WCR FM were Lee Bannister and Theo Neumann.

Further information

Picture: The young people who took part in ‘Be Heard!’

Photographer: Satvinder Johal

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736