BBC Outreach & Corporate Responsibility Feed

It's fun to work with the YMCA

2016-07-30T06:25:12+00:00

Joanna Ing from BBC Radio 5live volunteered to work with a group of young adults to produce a short film celebrating the work of the YMCA in Bolton. The charity offers young people a choice of learning, social, and physical opportunities ranging from an onsite gym to international social exchange projects.

'The young people had some powerful stories to tell'

This project reminded me how important it is to get out of the office and talk to people. I was attracted to volunteering on this project for two reasons. The first was being keen to learn more about filmmaking and the second was a rare chance to get out and see projects like YMCA Bolton and the people who run it. My day-to-day role in radio is putting together an hour-long TV review show and making sure our content gets online. With YMCA Bolton, I was mainly encouraging the group to think about what they wanted from the film and then interviewing them.

Sharing ideas and planning the film at YMCA Bolton

I ran a workshop where we encouraged the participants to develop ideas for the look and feel of the film and then gained a general consensus on its structure. The young people had some powerful stories to tell of why the charity meant so much to them. For example, one young woman said attending YMCA Bolton was crucial to helping her gain more confidence which eventually led to her securing her first job in a supermarket.

We helped them unlock the fact that they had a story to tell about one of their staff members who started off as a visitor to the centre and is now part of their support team. We all wanted to make the film as vibrant as possible even though we were filming in a basement. We included shots of our young stars playing snooker, socialising and eating together. Above all, we wanted to get across the fact that the centre is a welcoming, safe place where the young people can feel at home, meet new friends, receive support, all in a social setting and just like one big happy family.

I was partnered with a BBC self-shooting researcher, which was great as I was able to learn a bit more about filming. And it freed me up to be able to chat to the YMCA members in much more depth than I might have been able to do otherwise. I found this incredibly useful to hear what the young people thought about the latest phenomenon that is Pokeman Go, to hearing their concerns about leaving the European Union as we sat and chatted over a cup of tea with the BBC News Channel on the TV in the background.

It is voices like this that you don’t often hear on mainstream media.

We also used the day as a chance to be as creative and innovative as possible – we positioned a wide-angled GoPro camera on a shelf to get a bird’s eye view of the young people in the centre, which will be speeded up in the edit.

One of the most difficult parts of the project was working out exactly what they wanted from the film. Luckily they were engaged and enthusiastic about taking part. As the young people didn't have a fixed idea of what they wanted we had a certain amount of freedom. We made sure we talked everything through with them, so that they would be happy with the finished project.

I found the young people who attended YMCA Bolton incredibly open, they were willing to share their stories with very little encouragement and were happy to take direction.

I spent two days on the project; on the first day we developed their ideas and filmed some straight interviews; and on the second day we filmed a narration and some extra footage of the day to day activities at the YMCA.

I have shared details of this particular organisation with our News Editor who is keen for me to keep in contact with them. I also discussed the possibility of doing an outside broadcast at the centre. One of the young people had an interest in radio so I suggested they visit the BBC Radio 5live studios later this year. I really enjoyed working on this project, as not only do I have fond memories of the day, but know I can continue to develop my positive working relationship with the organisation moving forward.

YMCA Bolton was a successful applicant through BBC Outreach's Community Doorway scheme which offers community and voluntary groups and charities the opportunity to apply to work with BBC volunteers on mutually-beneficial projects.

A passion for radio

2016-06-14T08:35:32+00:00

Karen Sault who works at BBC WM shared her radio skills with a group of young adults developing their on-air presentation in community radio. They are from the dedicated team of radio presenters who volunteer at Unity Radio, a Manchester-based community radio station.

‘I came out smiling, not just because it was a first for me, but because I had spent an evening with a group of people who have the same passion for radio as me’

Back in 1997 I was studying Sound Engineering at college. My favourite module was Radio Production and I couldn’t wait to get to college on those days. But, it wasn’t enough. I wanted to work in a real station. So I approached BBC WM and asked if I could come in and help out. I was shocked to get a “yes” reply and I started working voluntarily on the Saturday sport show.

Workshop at Unity Radio, Manchester, with BBC staff volunteers

Nineteen years later I am still at BBC WM (I’m paid now!) and I’ve worked right across the station. I currently produce the Ed Doolan show on a Sunday. The programme showcases Ed’s interviews from an archive spanning 40 years.

When I heard about the planned BBC Outreach workshop at Unity Radio in Manchester, where the presenters are volunteers, I jumped at the chance. I’d been in their shoes - having such a passion for something that they give their time freely.

Unity Radio broadcasts on FM and on the internet and plays a range of local, national and international dance and urban music, with a target audience of 15-40 years.

Justin Bones from BBC Radio 5live planned the workshop and I assisted him on the night. We met at Unity Radio’s premises on a warm June evening and we were over the moon when 20 staff chose our workshop over the beer garden.

It was a very relaxed setting and there was lots of laughter as we discussed ideas for talking points and where to find ideas. We listened to audio I provided from similar radio stations and discussed how to engage the listener in the 20 seconds between music tracks. I took along a short video of a presenter from BBC WM where he explains how he finds ideas for his show.

The group were really enthusiastic; they care about their station and want to do their very best. They asked plenty of questions and threw themselves in to group work. It was a real joy to see.

They obviously know what they are doing and our challenge was to not “teach grandma to suck eggs”, but to help them progress in the right direction they are already going. I think we achieved this, as the group came back for more after their break and were very grateful at the end.

I have never done anything like this before and despite my initial nerves, I really enjoyed it. I came out smiling, not just because it was a first for me, but because I had spent an evening with a group of people who have the same passion for radio as me … the future generation of radio.

Unity Radio was a successful applicant through BBC Outreach's Community Doorway scheme which offers community and voluntary groups and charities the opportunity to apply to work with BBC volunteers on mutually-beneficial projects.

BBC Outreach & Corporate Responsibility brings the BBC closer to its audiences - particularly those audiences we have identified as harder to reach - with face-to-face activity, community support and staff volunteering.