Eastbourne Youth Radio marks milestone broadcast year

Eastbourne Youth Radio is marking twenty five years on air with a four day RSL broadcast featuring programmes created by local young people.

Run by Eastbourne Education Business Partnership and hosted by East Sussex College Eastbourne, the annual FM service has aired every November since 2001 and continues to showcase radio made by schools, colleges and youth groups across the town.

This year’s schedule follows the familiar format of hour long programmes made and presented by children from the age of five, with speech content and live music performed from the college’s performance room. The aim has always been to provide practical experience of radio production while giving young people a platform to share their ideas.

Two long standing elements return. Answer Back is recorded in advance and gives pupils the chance to question local politicians and business leaders about issues that matter to them. Meet The Media takes place live, with a panel of industry professionals answering questions from an audience of school children. This year’s panel is made up entirely of former East Sussex College students, including Chris Bailey, now an audio and creative producer with On The Sly Productions, and Autumn Browne, a producer at Radio Reform in Manchester.

EYR has seen many of its past participants move into media roles. Alumni include James Barr, now co presenting the Hits Radio Breakfast show.

EEBP’s Tim Sorensen said: “Since launching EYR in 2001, there have been thousands of young people participating in partnership with many local businesses and organisations that sponsor the programmes. This has been an amazing success story for Eastbourne that we look forward to delivering with East Sussex College for years to come.”