Frome College students will stage a ‘24-hour Takeover’ of FromeFM on Saturday 5th May, starting at 12noon, to raise funds for their radio club and provide mental health counselling.
Frome College Radio Club is a student-led group for young people to express their views and opinions on local issues that affect them and the wider Frome community. The average age of the radio club is just 14, and over half of the club have some form of special educational needs, or come from a disadvantaged background.
They will broadcast live for 24 hours continuously on FromeFM community radio. Frome College say, “Please do listen in on 96.6 FM locally, or online at Frome.FM from anywhere in the world.
“The radio club has the unique and exciting opportunity to broadcast both live, and pre-recorded regular shows on FromeFM. Students meet in their own time to research, plan, edit and broadcast their shows. The radio club make features about life in Frome College, as well as wider local, national, and global issues that matter to them.
“It enables our young people of all abilities to work with, and get to know people within the wider community. It allows them to have a say in services which affect them, and to develop the confidence and expertise to articulate what matters to them. This can provide vital skills and experience that last for a lifetime.
“This funding drive will buy the equipment to help more students be part of the radio project, and bring their views to the whole community and beyond. The project will expand into the middle schools, helping year 8 students with the transition to Frome College, as well as start to equip them with the skills they will need in future life. For this we need to buy laptops, a printer, headphones and monitors, and employ the services of a media production trainer.
“For many young people, working with the radio club is enough to help them develop the confidence and skills that will last throughout their lives. However, some students need more intensive and professional support – 1 in 5 young people experience a mental health issue in any given year. Half of mental health problems are established by the age of 14. By addressing these problems early, our young people can grow to be healthy and fulfilled individuals, who will make a valuable contribution to our community. Part of the funding we raise will be used to provide professional specialist one-to-one counselling support for those young people who will benefit from it.
“If you would like to help support the students in this project, please go to www.frome.fm/24
“Don’t forget to tune in from 12 noon on Saturday 5th May.”
