People and communities
Community fund supports Walsall’s future generation of radio presenters
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A community grant has supported 10 budding radio presenters and producers in Walsall to develop their skills in digital media.
KIC Radio, a youth organisation and radio station based in Pelsall, received funding from Walsall Council’s community grants programme to deliver a Level 1 Award in skills for working in digital industries.
The training has upskilled a cohort of young people with all the technical skills needed in the digital media sector, including radio production and editing, podcast creation and digital marketing.
KIC Radio were awarded £18,530 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. The community grants programme has supported a total of 26 small charities or not-for-profit organisations in the borough, since 2022.
Benjamin Williams, course tutor at KIC Radio, said "It has been a real pleasure to work with such an amazing group of young people.
“They’ve worked incredibly hard, not only to achieve their qualifications but also to gain a deep understanding of radio, podcasting and other media industry roles - something most of them had never tried before. It’s also been great to see their confidence grow throughout the course."
The training was primarily guided learning, and upon completion, the cohort were presented with their certificates by Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Garry Perry at a celebration event at the KIC Radio studios on 19 February 2025.
“ As soon as you walk into the KIC radio studios you are met with a great sense of energy and passion.
Many of the young people involved with KIC Radio have never even stepped foot in a studio before they get involved, so to see them go form that, to presenting live radio shows, and producing and editing their own podcast really is remarkable.
This is the exact type of project we want to see come from funding pots like the community grants programme. It’s projects like these which make a huge difference to the lives of our young people and instil them with big ambitions to go onto achieve amazing things in their career.
A big well done again to the young people who’ve gone through this training, and no doubt hear you on the airwaves for years to come! “
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