On the 29th of June 2024, London’s newest youth radio station launched, called Radio Lewisham.
It has now been running for five months, and its main purpose is to give young people in Lewisham skills in radio and a place to express themselves.
The station is situated at Lewisham Music, Bellingham, and caters specifically to young people living, working or studying in Lewisham.
The most common activity in the radio station is allowing young people to develop the skills to operate a radio station in a safe space.
At the end of their course, young people can operate a radio table, edit audio, mix music and plan a radio show.
Some of the more advanced young people operate their own shows; currently, there are two shows: Young Politics, which explores young people’s opinions on different political issues, and Social Chit Chat, which discusses key issues in pop culture and on social media
Radio Lewisham also acts as a platform for young musicians and podcasters, as young people can sign up for a slot on air.
“Radio Lewisham takes young people’s conversations onto a platform where they can share thoughts, highlight important issues and and showcase talent,” said Micah Spence, who is a regular attendee and a peer mentor.
The project was set up by Lewisham’s former young mayor, who is called Jentai Gen-One, as he wanted a space for young people to freely express themselves.
Initially, the training and recording took place at the Bloomsbury Institute, near Tottenham Court Road, before moving to Bellingham.
The initial trainees were members of Lewisham’s Young Mayor’s Project, however, the training and the possibility of having a show are now open to all young people in Lewisham.
To help make the programme more accessible, the radio station offered training over the summer holidays as a HAF programme, which are programmes organised by the Lewisham council for young people on free school meals.
This allowed young people of a lower socioeconomic background to access the training and have the opportunity to have their own programme.
First hand experience in a local radio station can open opportunities for jobs in media, improve confidence and give young people the chance to have their voices heard.
Radio stations for young people are scarce, so the success of Radio Lewisham should inspire other areas to open their own stations for young people.
If you, or a young person you know in Lewisham, would like to either sign up for training, request a slot on the station or listen to Radio Lewisham, then visit www.radiolewisham.co.uk
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