In the summer of 2014, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation commissioned us to help with their summer programme held at the University of Salford in Media City.
Reform worked with a group of young people between the ages of eight and 16 to develop new skills and create this one off show, based around the theme of an alien invasion in Media City.
This is an edited version of a creative consultation Reform Radio Director Sam was involved with as part of his secondment with The Rio Ferdinand Foundation.
The idea was to use the format of a Radio Show to discover what kind of activities young people from the local area would like to see in the future.
The drive of the young people involved was breathtaking and the issues they raised so passionately, especially when interviewing local councillor Richard Critchley, seemed to arise from widespread lack of provision.
Reform Radio in collaboration with Radio Regen conducted a 4-week project working with young people with little or no experience in the radio environment. The project culminated into this live 1-hour radio show that was planned, presented, produced, marketed and edited by the young people.
The show features a variety of tracks and spoken word from artists in and around Manchester.
Broken Biscuits was a project made to help young people to both express their political opinions and learn more about the political landscapes, and then to turn this new familiarity with politics into a podcast. The participants took on different roles creating the podcast, such as being a host, a member on a game show or helping to write the show.
This project was funded by the Young People’s Support Foundation, Royal Brewery Fund, and Forever Manchester.
Reform were commissioned by the Everyman & Playhouse in Liverpool to work with a group of elderly residents to create an audio soundscape that encapsulated some of their favourite people and places.
Using sounds to compliment the stories, the idea was to evoke a sense of nostalgia and get the people of Liverpool thinking about their own favourite people and places.
The piece was played in the foyer of the Everyman & Playhouse during the run of Bright Phoenix, a play which revealed the magic of forgotten places and dreaming beneath the stars.
Showcasing Manchester’s best in culture, arts and creativity, the People’s Culture Awards celebrates Manchester’s creative heroes. Among awards like Best Performance, Best Event and Young Creative of the Year, Reform have been nominated for the Community Choice award.
Reform Radio have been recognised for helping young people across Manchester through 618 sessions covering employability, digital and creative skills. Reform’s free wellbeing support for their session’s participants and over 300 DJ’s has also been a contributing factor to the nomination.
Click here to learn about other nominees & to cast your vote.
Reform Radio have put together a selection of take over shows to celebrate the launch of the brand new website. Expect a wide variety of artists across the globe, from Mancunian Mr Scruff to Ok Sure based in Australia.
The special take over series kicked off on the 9th of September, with shows from Alga-rhythm’s, Mr Scruff, Yacre and DJ Raph hitting the airwaves so far. If you didn’t get a chance to listen to these shows, you can listen back at Reform’s Mixcloud.
To wrap up the celebration, we have two more shows coming up from OK Sure and QQ Circe. Ok Sure will be playing electro, techno and house on the 22nd September from 10 to 11 PM and QQ Circe’s show will be airing on the 27th September from 8 to 9 PM.
Tune in at Reform Radio.
Charting Visions brings the future of music to Manchester and beyond…
For the past two weeks, we have been working collaboratively with a group of young people through in-person and online workshops delivered as part of our Music Course. The end result, seven super fresh tracks from a creatively diverse group of individuals.
In response to Mental Health Awareness Week, the young people created a radio show presenting their new music alongside segments covering self-care, writer’s block and musician support resources.This project was funded by Manchester Adult Education Service.
Coming straight out of our project for the new Kickstart Scheme, is a show featuring gripping conversations on Feminism, Mental Health, and Neurodiversity.
Agency Unlocked is a show delivering discussions on controversial yet important issues from multiple perspectives of our local youth in society. An attempt to collect diverse answers from multiple demographics and backgrounds to create a holistic image on systemic issues.
Massive thanks to Prince’s Trust and the Future Workforce Fund for funding this project.
As the end of the pandemic looms, we explore our Nu Reality.
A nostalgic look at the past,
finding jobs in the present,
and a whole new future.
Expect nostalgic music, interviews on workplace opportunities with Sharp Futures, and hopeful talks of the future from Reform Radio’s Jade.
Hosted by a group of Manchester creatives who came together as part of the kickstart project funded by the Prince’s Trust and the Future Workforce Fund.
Musicals, lockdown, Lebanon and The Care System…Sounds enticing? The cohort from Get Started with Podcasting Programme stewed up a melting pot of ideas and creativity in their hour long radio show.
“You’ve got the sass, we’ve got the sauce.”
This project was funded by Children in Need.
Escape the four walls you’ve been confined to for months with Masks Off, Breathe Out – a show hosted by a variety of creative Manc-based minds from all (socially distanced) walks of life.
From music to literature, from comedy to technology, this is the antidote to your isolation, the cure to your boredom.
AudioFORM was a 12-week project, kicked off by Annie Mac and delivered by Reform Radio, that provided room to breathe and a gateway into the wonderful world of podcasting and audio production.
Masks Off, Breathe Out showcased six brand-new short productions created by an eclectic bunch of sound geeks. Each team was given just 72 hours to come up with their very own innovative podcast, from concept to execution.
AudioFORM was part of GM Fast Track’s #FastTrackFund, and was supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport & Lancashire Skills Hub.
‘Still Thinking’, a podcast collective that is still thinking about thinking…still.
A group of young people came together to collectively dive into the world of podcasting, learning new skills and joining forces to create radio show. The lockdown hasn’t stopped them from sharing some ideas and stories through Reform’s very own airwaves.
This project was sponsored by MAES and Reform Radio.
A group of young people came together to share their experiences of growing up in care.
Creative Listening is a show that platforms the many slices of creativity that the young people have to offer. Alongside these segments is a rich Round Table discussion which dives into first hand experiences of growing up in the system of care.
This show was in partnership with The Prince’s Trust and is funded by BBC Children in Need.
This show was created by a group of young people from Greater Manchester virtually in lockdown.
The show includes a round table discussion hosted by Manchester rapper Oneda, covering topics such as Covid-19, the BLM movement and Leadership in the UK.
A World United also dives into music, discussions, and spoken word pieces created during sessions. Finally the group ask each other the question “How can we become a world that is more united?”
This project is in partnership with The Prince’s Trust.
Rhythmshawe Festival reimagines the conventionally quiet space of the library, inviting Wythenshawe Forum Library visitors to try out songwriting, beat-making and DJing.
A group of young people from Manchester planned and delivered this project for Manchester International Festival’s Festival In My Neighbourhood series and Manchester Libraries’ Creative Spaces programme.
If you missed this wholesome festival don’t fret! We have a 2 hour radio show that will transport you right in the middle of this joyful micro-festival. Live music performances, dancing, radio broadcasts, and a special Stories in Sound section where everyone plays their favourite tune and shares the meaning behind their chosen song.
This festival was delivered with Creative City, and in partnership with Manchester Adult Education Service.
Listen to the full show below.
Dive into the perspectives of the younger generation with Gen Now. A group of young people from Manchester talk on the evolution of lifestyle, culture, music, politics, fashion & trends in this one hour radio show.
They have invited some exciting guests to join the conversation, including Emmanuel Jal and Manchester based artists Sandi Glowe, Kashi 47, Baby Flxcko & Anamelia. The group also stepped out of their generation and connected with Sara and Colin from our sister station, Sonder Radio. The two stations, Reform and Sonder, came together to understand and learn from one another.
This project was funded by Manchester Adult Education Service and European Social Fund.