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On the right wavelength
Bransholme will have its own dedicated radio station thanks to pupils from Winifred Holtby School Technology College.
The pupils won a grant of £15,000 from the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) to launch the station this spring.
Serving 10,000 residents, it will broadcast interviews with local people, provide local information and promote community events.
"We already produce a newsletter that goes out into the community and this will be our next step in developing broader communication skills," says Chloe McKenzie (14).
"It's about bringing the community together and getting their views and opinions.
"And it's a chance to promote local talent to local people, by finding actors, performers and musicians to record their stuff."
A sound idea
The team of six 14 and 15 year-olds came up with the idea after a radio workshop in class.
But they had to go through a rigorous process to get the money, including being interviewed by a YOF panel.
"We're now setting up meetings with equipment suppliers and gaining an understanding of licences allowing us to broadcast," says Luke Smith (15), who wants to pursue a career in music or media.
"The broadcast unit will be kept in school and as it's totally mobile, we can take it out to local events and really involve the community."
The station will be streamed through the Internet and there will also be podcasts for people to access.
Tune in to more funding
The radio station is one of 270 local projects which have shared more than £650,000 from the YOF and Youth Capital Fund (YCF) during the past year.
And money is still available until 2011 for more young people's projects, whether it's DVD making, staging a music gig, buying IT equipment or building a skate park.
Applications can be made by any young person aged 13 - 19 (plus people up to 25 years with specific disabilities) for grants between £150 and £7,500.
The bid must be planned and led by young people and there must also be proof that a project will benefit young people or the local community in some way.
The closing date for the next wave of bids is 15 March, with the second round closing on 20 September.
For more details visit www.hullcc.gov.uk or contact 300 300 and ask for the Hull Youth Development Service.
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