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Bradford v
For general enquiries and information about youth volunteering and updated v information contact us at the The Information Shop for Young People 12 Broadway Bradford BD1 2AY Telephone: 01274 744 344
or email us by clicking here
Keighley & rural v
For general enquiries and information about youth volunteering and updated v information in the Keighley and district area contact Andrew at: Keighley & District Volunteer Centre- 8-10 North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SE Tel: 01535 609 506 or email Andrew Sheppard : Youth Volunteering Adviser - mobile: 07967 584 416
12 January 2010 BCB Extra launched!
BCB Extra launched in Bradford, Radio and online magazine for young people run by young people throughout the Bradford district. If you are between 13 and 25 you can get involved or listen to the wide variety of music and interests that young people locally want to braodcast and write about. Check the website out, click on the logo below.

Joint Volunteering Media project with Hanson School, Bradford,
BCB, (Bradford Community Broadcasting) and Volunteering Bradford

During the Autumn of 2007 Andrew Sheppard (MV/v Outreach Worker Volunteering Bradford) approached BCB radio and Hanson School with a view to promoting a youth led project producing radio material to promote the wealth of volunteering opportunities and strength of youth commitment to community action locally. Liz Barritt, (6th form student support worker) at Hanson School, publicised the initiative and referred seven 6th form students onto the project. The students are currently re-taking GCSEs and reflect the diverse population of the school. The volunteers on the project to begin with were:Faisal, Ashley, Sean, Michael, Callun, Hardeep and Gemma. We were joined by Mahe later.

Dan Carroll, (Youth Radio Development Worker) at Bradford Community Broadcasting along with Andrew, facilitated the group, providing learning
experiences and support, throughout their introduction to radio and the production of broadcast material. This material includes the ‘Youth Arts on Demand’ and ‘Radio Revolution’ programmes, an Information jingle for NCH Action for Children along with covering local events of interest to young people, (Bradford Youth Summit)The project now has capacity to build on the original group and train new groups of young people to deliver entertaining and relevant programmes locally.

The group will gain accreditation and are putting the finishing touches to an OCN level one ‘Introduction to Radio Skills’. This has a cost implication that we are currently exploring through youth led funding organisations. The group are keen to pursue level two and level three. In our opinion the group are working at level 3 standard now. The group meet on Thursdays and have developed the confidence to produce their own programmes with limited support from Dan and Andrew. The group now consists of a team of four very committed volunteers working closely to plan and meet programme deadlines.The group have been given three programme date to work towards promoting volunteering with a mix of music, guest interviews and interesting debate.Dan and Andrew now have the capacity to bring in new groups to work on similar projects with the same high quality of training. This project has built its success on creative approaches to different learning styles and delivering these simultaniously. The project has been very practically based including the use of equipment and the protocols for booking and using studio time.

The group have been involved in other projects as a result of their work with BCB Radio, this has included a city project celebrating and showcasing young talent in Bradford called ‘Sounds of the City’ They’re contribution has been to produce a soundtrack background of city noises along with voiceover comments from people in the street on why Bradford is good. This has also extended their media knowledge as they were also asked to produce visual representation through photography to project at the event with their soundtrack.

In May three volunteers from the group will be taking part in a European exchange programme to tubingham Germany. The aim of the exchange is for young people from Bradford to visit tubingham and participate in a series of radio workshops and radio related events. During the production of broadcast material aired throughout the Bradford district the volunteers have reflected on and expressed their thoughts about volunteering, here are a few key quotes from a show called Radio Revolution produced by the group on 20/03/08.

Sean:
‘Before I volunteered I wasn’t fussed about it, everyone said why do it when you don’t get paid
for it, what’s the point? But when you do it you feel good about yourself, I’ve done good, made friends
and done something for someone, I’ve done a favour and felt good about it. I’ve learnt how to
communicate and explain things by going out on the streets and interviewing strangers and working
with staff at the radio station and getting to know them. Being on the radio you have to be well prepared.
I’m communicating a lot more now, It’s like being a baby again and learning how to talk again. Being on
the radio is a lot different than you think. In the past I’ve struggled with reading and writing, I’ve had the
wrong help made loads of mistakes and always been bottom of the class but here it’s easier and I’m
getting the right kind of help.’ I used to be afraid to ask for help but my communication skils are better
and I know I can do it now and if I need help I’m not afraid to ask. Don’t knock volunteering until you’ve
tried it’

Ashley:
‘Before this I hadn’t done volunteering, I didn’t really know what it was. I’ve come to BCB and
I’m pretty impressed with what I’m doing. I’m making a difference. I’ve learnt loads of radio skills that
have boosted my confidence. My biggest challenges have been time keeping in learning to meet
deadlines and talking on the radio, but preparing and learning to improvise and ‘blend it’ have really
helped.’

Mehe:
‘I am impressed with how well I’m treated here, I’m respected and treated as an adult, I’m
listened to and taken seriously. My challenges have been in joining the group late and catching up
with the learning and teamwork. When I’m given something to do I’ve got to get on with it because
if you don’t do it your letting the team down and yourself. Go and volunteer, you get more out of it than
you think’

Callum:
‘I thought volunteering was just for elderly women in charity shops or coffee mornings, stuff
like that. When I started I didn’t know anything about computers, I’ve learnt all that. We’ve learnt
before we.ve written it down, you can write it down after you’ve learnt it. At school you write it down
then they tell us to learn it, when you’ve already got it written down you don’t want to go back and read it.’