Are you a young person looking to make an impact while developing professional media skills? We Belong is recruiting 5 new team members to help produce their acclaimed podcast, Migrant Moods.
What You’ll Gain
Professional podcasting and media experience
Enhanced storytelling, speaking, and editing skills
Opportunity to turn your ideas into real episodes
Hands-on experience with audio/visual editing and social media content creation
Connection to an amazing team supporting young migrants across the UK
How to Participate
Location: Based in London or Manchester
Time: 12 hours/month commitment for one full season
Meetings: Remote participation twice monthly for script writing, planning, and marketing
Ready to Join?
Complete the application questionnaire on Typeform
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a brief interview
Our acclaimed DJ Sessions are one of the most popular free creative courses at Reform throughout the year. Over the course of the project, participants get hands-on experience in the likes of beat-matching, self-promotion and sourcing gig opportunities.
This project is kindly funded by MAES, and takes place across two weeks. The programme closes with a celebratory showcase. Lunch and travel is provided.
For the full information on how to get involved in our next round of DJ Sessions, check the flyer below.
Hop behind the scenes of one of our DJ Sessions in the video below.
Meet Erika that took part in our last programme who chatted to us about what she’ll be taking from it moving forward here.
Find out about our other free creative courses here. If you like the look of them, get in touch with our lovely Engagement Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
This year has been filled with so many exciting projects and partnerships for us. On Reform Radio’s 12th birthday, we thought we’d take the opportunity to reminisce over the past year. Let’s get into it…
Our Skills Bootcamp courses, funded by GMCA and GM Work and Skills, invited over 100young creatives through our doors. These participants had the opportunity to work with major clients such as Band On the Wall, Parklife, Blossom Foundation, and West Art Collective. Also, thanks to our amazing mentors, Skills Bootcamp attendees continue to receive support for six months post-project.
As we transitioned to DAB radio earlier last year, we have been exploring the need for censorship within live broadcasts. We asked ourselves questions to further understand the intricacies of censorship, such as, if and when is it appropriate to play a word that can be equally offensive and empowering? We took to our airwaves to open this discussion in a productive and informative manner. You can listen to this pivotal open forum below.
We teamed up with We Out Here Festival to curate and deliver a lineup for their WOH Radio Stage. They also joined us on the Reform Radio airwaves for multiple exclusive shows. To get a deeper insight into what We Out Here is all about and how we collaborated with them, take a look at their short documentary ‘Amplifying Voices’. This film beautifully encapsulates ‘The Power of Community Radio’.
Beyond The Music is another festival we curated a lineup for. This local festival brings music and energy to Manchester’s City Centre. We featured some amazing local DJs and some of our very talented DJ Sessions graduates.
Our most recent stage takeover was hosted at The Old Fire Station in Salford for the Sounds From The Other City festival on May 4th. Read more about our day of partying via our blog post here.
We were a production partner on BBC Sounds’ Audio Lab project, which empowered a young creator to bring their podcast idea to life. A big congratulations to Mia Thornton for creating ‘Instrumental’, a podcast which amplifies the influence of black artists on Britain’s favourite music genres. This 6-part series featured guests including Clara Amfo and DJ Paulette. Some of the episodes were aired on BBC 6 Music. Listen to all the episodes on BBC Sounds here.
Our podcasting team also produced a BBC Bitesize GCSE History podcast about Elizabeth I. In this revision series, Alice Loxton and Anouska Lewis uncover the history and hardships of this famous female monarch. Listen here.
The Get Up, our weekday breakfast show hosted by Yelena Lashimba, featured some exciting new segments, including industry adviceinterviews, guest mixes and getting to know the Reform Radio team. Some of Yelena’s guests over the past year include, Craig David, Andy Burnham, Efia Mainoo & THT GRL from Not Bad For A Girl.
We celebrated Record Store Day this year with a special programming of vinyl-only sets on April 12th. Also, we spoke to the lovely team at Vinyl Exchange about their preparations and predictions for the day. In store, they kindly played the exclusive programming as their customers browsed RSD away. After all, our lineup included one of their very own, Ailsa of Living Room Dance Club.
In the lead up to the MTV EMAs, we were a community partner for Paramount’s Content For Change event at New Century Hall. There was an amazing array of guests, panels and networking opportunities. We had so much fun getting to interview some amazing people.
Well, what a year it has been! A big shoutout and massive thanks to our amazing team at Reform, our DJs, artists, Advisory Board, young people and audience for making Reform what it is today. Here to another great year and many, many more!
At this year’s Sounds From The Other City festival, the team at Reform Radio worked hard to deliver a top-notch lineup for our takeover at The Old Fire Station in Salford on the 4th of May.
The general vibe at SFTOC this year was next level as they celebrated their 20th birthday. Perfect weather and a vast array of talent across all the venues attracted a bubbly and bustling crowd.
SFTOC took over pubs, restaurants, clubs and more sites all around the City of Salford. Our home for the day was The Old Fire Station pub, situated directly across from the ticket station at Salford University.
As guests stepped into our brightly decorated venue, a perfectly placed bar greeted them, inviting them to grab a drink before hitting the dance floor. The music flowed from the DJ station at the other end of the oblong-shaped room, seeping outside through the open doors too. The warm weather made for a perfect al fresco listening experience.
These acts brought everything including disco, bashment, cumbia, dancehall, house, UK funky, techno and jungle – what more could you want on a sunny bank holiday Sunday?
Even better, in case you missed out or want to listen back to your favourite set of the day, all Reform Radio performances were recorded and are now available to stream on our website here.
Thank you, SFTOC, for having us – it’s always a pleasure to party with you. Here’s to another 20 years of more music and more fun!
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, our Wellbeing Manager and in-house trained psychotherapist, Dan, is taking over the Reform Radio blog. When it comes to mental wellbeing and self-awareness, it can feel like a hard-to-navigate minefield. In this post, Dan invites us to expand our understanding of ourselves by asking ourselves just 5 questions. Here they are, straight from the therapist’s mouth…
Am I treating thoughts as facts?
Thoughts are not facts – perhaps an obvious statement, yet so easily forgotten in the moment. We jump to conclusions and panic, we assume what others are thinking and don’t dare check, we make predictions like they’re ‘going out of fashion’ (this a prediction in itself!) and then lose opportunities. Consider your thoughts carefully. Thoughts that give rise to uncomfortable emotions can often be distorted. What is the evidence for your thought?
Am I relying on ‘Emotional Reasoning’?
Emotional Reasoning is when we rely solely on our feelings to assess the situation. Sure, trusting our gut can be helpful. However, remember, feelings in themselves are rarely able to offer a detailed account of reality. For example, feeling guilty doesn’t automatically make us guilty! Feeling hopeless does not make it hopeless! Feeling shame does not mean we are shameful. Notice your feelings and consider if it is helpful to consider the facts before reacting.
Am I ‘Shame Savvy’?
Guilt is what we might feel because we did something bad. Shame is what we feel because we are bad (or so shame would have you believe). It is one of the most intolerable emotions. Shame makes itself known with “I am …” thoughts that don’t just tell you that there is a problem, or that you created a problem, it tells you YOU are the problem. “I am bad, I am inadequate, I am stupid, I am not good enough” are all signs that shame has crept up on you. When we’re not ‘shame savvy’ by naming shame for what it is (a feeling – not a conclusive character assessment) we can avoid the many barriers it presents to being our authentic selves, taking accountability, feeling enough, and much more.
Am I playing it too safe?
If there’s one thing our mind is great at it’s getting us to avoid the uncomfortable. Of course, it makes sense – as far as our primitive brain is concerned, comfort = safety! Just one problem –discomfort is so often not only a component in the process of personal growth, but conductive to it! Always playing it safe only serves to rob us of fulfilling our potential. In moments where you are invited to rise to a challenge ask yourself: “What matters to me most right now? Avoiding short-term discomfort? Or doing something to support my personal growth?”. Remember, often we can’t do both at the same time.
Am I setting healthy boundaries?
How we set boundaries has a huge impact on the quality and health of our relationships and our mental health. But how often do you say “yes” when you think you should be saying “no”. How often do you take accommodations that feel unfair? Avoid addressing behaviour you don’t feel comfortable with? Poor boundary setting does not make a person “nice”, or “easy going”. In fact, it so often leads to unpleasantness and difficulties down the line, for one or all of those in the relationship. Remember, people who want healthy relationships want you to communicate your boundaries, so they know what is acceptable or not in your relationship. If someone persistently disregards your boundaries, reacts unpleasantly to them, or guilt-trips you for setting them in the first place it may be worth considering whether or not that person can truly offer a healthy and equal relationship.
Listen back to Dan’s recent conversation on The Get Up below.
We had an eclectic group of musicians develop their artistry on our Music Course at Reform Radio (funded by MAES). Whether first-timers or new artists looking for guidance, all the participants worked over two weeks to write and produce a song. Expert help from our Reform Radio mentors, Alex, Femi and Les, led these budding creatives towards their end goal, where they had the opportunity to play their new song live on Reform Radio’s airwaves. The sheer talent and passion from our attendees on this Music Course can be experienced via their ‘Quest For Groove’ show, where they let you into this new, exciting chapter of their musical careers.
Listen below.
We caught up with two members of the groovy crew at the end of their course to see how they developed over their time here:
Please can you introduce your name, and pronouns, and tell us a bit about what you like getting up to in your free time?
S: Hi, I’m Sakinah (she/her). I am a classically trained actress, but I’ve always had this hidden hobby for music. Music is something I’m in love with, it has saved my life. I love to listen to sounds like R&B, Ragga, Jazz and Hip-Hop. Hip-hop is my therapy. My goal is to make a lot of music and perform onstage.
J: My name is James (he/him). I’m a folk and soul singer-songwriter. I always grew up around music, and even when I wasn’t consciously looking for it, it became a part of my life. I love old soul music. Otis Redding is my favourite singer in the world. I have an eclectic taste, I love bits of everything. My end goal is to share music and help people with mental health – hopefully they can relate to my songs and put people in a better place.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
S: Tranquility, fun, light.
J: Unique, honest, brave.
If you were stuck on a desert island with a record player, what record would you want to have with you to listen to?
S: ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.
J: One song that’d keep me going is ‘Dry The Rain’ by The Beta Band.
Did you have much musical experience before? If so, what’s your favourite thing about making music?
S: I’ve mainly got acting experience. But my sister said to me when I was sixteen that I can’t sing, so I thought that I was never going to be able to do that. So I always hid behind dance and acting when truthfully, I’m a little superstar who loves singing!
J: I went to college to study music performance. But from growing up around music, I have developed an eclectic music taste. Music for me is about expression, you can really express how you feel; express soul and love and even unhappiness. Most sad things turn out beautiful in music. After studying music for three years at college, I really realised that this is my life. I like performing and feeling the soul and feeling a buzz. I don’t really feel that when I wake up, but when I’m onstage I feel something – I don’t know what it is but it’s something that keeps me going.
What prompted you to get involved with the Music Course?
S: I’ve come on this course to get confident being around other people who are creative in this music bubble. I just wanted to be able to feel confident. I want to create something and share it because I feel like loads of people are gonna relate to me. I’m supposed to make these songs to help people. I love healing the world, so this is my method of doing that.
J: I’m unemployed because I want to work in the music industry and it’s something that you can’t really just walk into. So, I was at the job centre talking about my music, and Damian, who’s very good, directed me to this course. It’s been really good, this course has helped me so much. It has taught me so much and shown me how music is important to me.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
S: I came here with an open mind, receptive to anything that was asked of me. I’ve got more clarity and confidence now because I’ve been able to practice what I do in front of people and have feedback, which I never had before.
J: Coming from college, I always found there was a lot of pressure to be a certain way. So I said to myself, “I’m going to come in here with a mindset that just wants to learn and grow with other people.” It’s been really chill, and I’ve met a lot of nice and creative people who genuinely care about the soul of music. People who care about the journey and not the destination. At college, it wasn’t like that. Alex and Femi are absolutely phenomenal, I’ve learned so much from them already.
What’s your go-to album to listen to after a long day?
S: When I’m creating, I don’t listen to any other artists. I only listen to frequency music. Because if I listen to them now, I’m potentially going to try and sound like them, and I can’t afford to do that because it’s important that I keep my originality. But when I’m not creating, I listen to Janet Jackson (‘That’s The Way Love Goes’), Lauryn Hill, and Missy Elliott.
J: For me, that’s easy, I’m going to say ‘Otis Blue’ by Otis Redding. It’s got some really beautiful and calm melodies and some more upbeat melodies. Every time I listen, I think, “That’s my man Otis Redding”. I love that man.
Do you have any musical role models that inspire your practice and why?
S: Beyonce, because she does this thing, that when she’s creating a world and a body of art, she’s drawing from all these different elements and she’s using that to be the foundation of the art. Everything she does is calculated. She’s not putting anything together just because it looks good.
J: My dad. He’s been singing in bands all his life. Without him, I would not be the musician I am today. I’m very lucky because my mum and dad play great music. My dad taught me the basics of the guitar. He is my music hero.
What will you take from the Music course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
S: I want to perform. I want to do festivals and concerts and support artists; writing and write for people. With my whole new lease of life, I just want to live it. I want to get onstage and share to the masses.
J: Keep creating music. I need to start up a social media page for it. I’m not a big fan of social media, but I know it’s important if I want to raise my music awareness. I want people to see it! I’d love to work in the industry facilitating music courses for disabled people.
To find out about our future projects at Reform Radio, sign up to our Projects newsletter here.
Up-and-coming rapper Sindysman joined us in the studio for Jorgy & Cheech’s show in April. However, he did not bring the energy alone with Frankie Strange by his side. The duo hopped on the beat with their unique rap style. This live feature on Jorgy & Cheech’s show couldn’t have come at a better time for Sindysman, with his most recent song release, ‘Sharkboy‘ coming out ahead of a 42-track album entitled DOGTOOTH (set to be released on the 28th of May). Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for this exciting new music to come!
The Early Career Promoter Fund is open again for applications after a successful first year of the programme. For the latest advice see the ‘How to Make a Strong Application’ webinar with Grants & Programmes Manager Ben Price on the PRS YouTube channel here.
Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England, and offers grant funding and capacity building support, with the aim of bolstering the local, regional and national ecosystems.
Grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support a range of activity, including:
The booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances
Costs associated with those activities (including venue hire, production, artist and/or DJ fees, crew fees, administration and other related costs)
Capacity building (including mentoring, coaching, shadowing, workshops, masterclasses, and other skill building and networking opportunities)
Other expenditure which helps grantees to programme a diverse range of artists, develop new audiences and build their skills
The fund aims to help emerging promoters to do what they do best – book and promote shows to develop scenes, support artists and DJs and to reach and engage audiences locally, regionally, and nationally, and build sustainable careers in the grassroots music sector. Those receiving support will be able to step up to book and promote talent at a scale beyond their current level, and build their capacity, skills and networks.
Managed by PRS Foundation and supported by Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Early Career Promoter Fund also helps to address under representation, ensuring support reaches a diverse range of promoters, and proactively encourages grantees to support a diverse range of artists and music genres nationwide.
Change 100 is a flagship programme of paid summer internships, professional development and mentoring.
Alongside your paid internship, Change 100 provides support and guidance in sharing your disability and identifying and requesting workplace adjustments.
It’s also an opportunity to develop a peer network of fellow Change 100 participants, as well as accessing a wide ranging alumni community.
Consider yourself to have a disability or long-term condition as defined in the Equality Act 2010.
Be in your penultimate or final year of university level study, or have graduated within the last five years.
Have the right to work in the UK for a summer.
Still Not Sure If You’re Eligible?
If you’re still unsure if you can apply for our Change 100 internship scheme, you can find further information on eligibility criteria to help you check.
Peshkar are seeking artists across disciplines under the age of 30 who have an interest in working in a participatory way and an interest in digital practice, although experience in these areas is not essential, this is an opportunity for you to explore, develop, learn and accelerate.
There are no limits to artform, and they are interested in anyone from theatre, dance, music, visual arts, digital arts and beyond. All you need are some big ideas and are looking to develop your practice in participatory and digital environments.
This is a rolling opportunity and prospective candidates are contacted on a roughly quarterly basis.
This opportunity is for artists who would like to explore socially engaged participatory practice, identifying key target groups in the communities of Oldham, Bolton and Blackburn to explore themes and issues that are important to society in 2025/6.
This is a 10 day paid engagement including access to mentoring to develop concepts and ideas, training, support to develop digital content to profile your work across Peshkar’s social channels, time to develop and deliver a participatory piece of work with a target group and the chance to showcase work created at Peshkar’s annual flagship event, the Young Digitals Festival 2026.
The full value of the contract to the artist is £1665.
Peshkar are actively seeking under-represented artists so would particularly welcome applications who possess protected characteristics. We are also actively seeking artists who currently reside in Greater Manchester, Pennine Lancashire or West Yorkshire (Calderdale and Kirklees).
HYPE THEM returned with a bang on the airwaves last month. Hosting duo, kaoti & sher, welcomed Salford’s Roukaya B to the show for an incredible live session and chat. Roukaya B has been making moves in the Northern music scene, fusing sounds of jazz, RnB and soul. Therefore, we were beyond excited to share her genre-bending melodies on Reform Radio.
Check out the full live session and show below.
Off the back of the show, we caught up with Roukaya to find out more about her musical journey and inspirations.
Please can you introduce yourself (name, pronouns and star sign)
I am Roukaya B, she/they and a Gemini.
If you had to describe your music in three words to someone who had never heard it before, how would you describe it?
If I had to describe my music in three words – which is very hard for me – I would describe my music as “analog in digital”.
Where did your journey with music begin?
It’s always been a part of me to be honest. I’ve always felt connected to music very deeply and as though I really understood it from an early age. For example, how certain songs would make me feel when you heard them or being able to pick up melodies and lyrics really quickly.
In primary school my older sister and I would make up dance routines to our favourite songs. I would sing, and in high school I did BTEC music which taught me about basic production and music theory. This was where I started to focus on refining singing more. From here and alongside A Levels, I did a little stint in the Manchester United Youth Foundation Choir. This taught me a lot about my higher range and blending with other voices.
After completing my academic college studies aged 18, I enrolled at Access To Music in Manchester to do a vocal artist course. This taught me more about my range and studio workflow. It was where I began developing my writing skills, started busking in the city centre and where I first auditioned for Little Mix The Search.
I think this period in my life was really the solidifying factor of where my music journey began. Having danced with the rhythm for years and swayed with only academics for a couple at an A Level college, my studies at Access opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I could do with music and why I feel it as deeply as I do. It felt like a natural step back into something that was, at this stage, partially unknown, if that makes sense.
Have there been any important figures/role models in your musical journey or any that have inspired your sound/aesthetic?
Diving into that whole “analog in digital” to describe my sound, I’d say I resonate with artists of that similarity, like Amy Winehouse, Joy Crookes, Raye, Erykah Badu and Greentea Peng. I love artists that fuse or blend genres. My sound is definitely inspired by that and I think it’s showcased in not only beat selection, but flow and tone. I take a lot of inspiration from rap styles and love me some early 2000’s hip-hop, West coast and different styles of UK rap. I think it can be seen in even my most contemporary releases.
Where do you find inspiration for your creativity?
Usually it’s something that flows out of me, a melody of something, a flow, or a kind of cadence. My approach to creativity is very holistic. There is no specific knack or place, position, maybe even real reason for creating. It is more about capturing the essence of something. It definitely involves feeling what the vibe of something is too. For example, the track, the room I’m in, or the emotion I’m currently experiencing. I think that, combined with my everyday human experience, is where I find inspiration for my creativity.
How does your music writing process look?
The first steps definitely involve the inspiration for the creativity mentioned in the previous question. Usually from this I have some sort of rough outline of how I want something to feel and sound. Intelligibility on the other hand is different. Depending on what is laid down, some vocal phrases might say words which also contextualise the mood set. Alternatively, the whole take could be freestyle and the rhyming scheme and context may also be there for me when listening back to the voice memo or project laid down in the software.
In terms of collaboration, the process above may be how we work it. However, if there’s a hook or verse already laid down by the collaborator, I have an alternative process. This involves listening to the track a couple times to grasp the overall vibe, cadence, lyrical content and context. Then, either on the second or third listen of the song, I will freestyle something I think suits the track and my vibe.
If you had to recommend a music-centred event, space or venue in Manchester to somebody, where would you point them to?
Do Not Disturb for your intimate vibes. Also, 0161 Spotlight, Savage PnP, Sofar Sounds, Black Creative Trailblazers and Heads UK have an array of creative things to get involved with. Formatt GG also has a cool event coming up at the end of May to keep your eyes peeled for.
I’ll also say keep an eye out for Beyond The Music 2025. There will be so much to explore there and I know Factory International also has really cool showcases and events.
What do you see for the future of your music? Do you have any particular goals you’d like to achieve with your creative journey?
For the future of my music, I see myself being very experimental. I see myself diving in more with the capabilities of the human voice and seeing how it can be communicated through music as an instrument. I have a lot of really cool demos in the mix. These are blending more alternative/indie styles with soul, jazz, blues and rap. I’m really excited to start reworking them later this year to see what comes out of the project.
With my creative journey, my goals are to release music that continuously inspires me to create more. I want to create a community that unites those that have taken a few years to figure out what’s going on and how they truly want to express or communicate that. My goal is to make music that unites the outcasted or those labelled as something other than just being themselves. We’re all just figuring out what life is and my main goal is to capture the journey of chaos and the beauty of life.
Where’s the best place for people to find you on social media and to find your music? Instagram for gig updates and hot pics @iamroukayab. TikTok if you want the real me @badgyalroukrouk. My music is out on all streaming platforms – just search Roukaya B.
Here at Reform Radio, we kick-started the year with another one of our podcasting courses. In January, we had a group of eager, new podcasters come in for a two week program funded by MAES. During their time here, our participants learned the ropes of podcast production including scriptwriting, audio recording and editing. The attendees also got the exciting opportunity to visit the BBC Studios. They headed to Media City for the day to experience the liveliness of the broadcasting industry first hand. The group worked hard to create their own podcast show, which was aired live from the Reform studios at the end of the project. Listen to the show via the link below.
We spoke to Madi and JB to uncover their personal experiences of the podcasting course and their exciting future prospects.
Please can you introduce your name, and pronouns, and tell us a bit about what you like getting up to in your free time?
M: I’m Madi, my pronouns are she/they. I’m very involved in the art scene. I am a freelance director and actor, which is very cool and fun. I’ve also done a few short films, but I’ve not really had the opportunity to learn much about podcasting, which is why I’m here.
JB: I’m JB, my pronouns are he/him. I’m a musician outside of here, I really like music and photography as well. I also had no clue about podcasting or radio, so that’s why I’m on this course.
Describe yourself in three words.
M: Energetic, passionate and caring.
JB: Passionate, calm and sporadic.
If you had to recommend a podcast to someone who’s never listened to a podcast before, what would it be and why?
M: I think it depends on your mood so I’m gonna do two. If you’re looking for a storytelling, human experience, I would recommend ‘The Moth’. I think ‘The Moth’ stories are absolutely excellent, they’re from all over the world. If you’re looking for a sit down comedy, I’ve got to say my girl Brittany Broski.
JB: I didn’t listen to a lot of podcasts before, so I’ll say one that really got me, which was ‘George The Poet’. It really expanded what I thought podcasting was. I think he talks about some really interesting things.
If you could have anyone on your own podcast as a guest, who would it be and why?
M: This is a really random one, and I think my answer to this would change day to day, but recently I’ve really gotten into Dolly Parton. I just love that diva. So if I could have the opportunity to sit down and chat with her, I would absolutely jump on that.
JB: There’s a rapper I really like called Earl Sweatshirt, I feel like he’d be fun to interview. I’d like to pick his brain about stuff – he seems quite with it.
What prompted you to get involved with the Podcasting Course?
M: I’ve always been really interested in radio and podcasting. I had a horrible podcast in school with one of my friends. It was just a phone set up in our car and we would eat and just chat. And so, I was really excited to do the audio aspects. I’ve always done film, but I’ve not really had the opportunity to learn specifically about the audio. Bad audio really ruins an entire film, so I really wanted to get into the nitty gritty of that.
JB: I think I actually feel the same, but also peer pressure… Someone who was on this course told me “you have to do this course,” and they weren’t wrong. I did a video podcast sort of thing in the past and I came here trying to revitalise it. I ended up thinking about it so much more broadly as a result of coming here. It’s opened my eyes a lot.
What has been your favourite thing about audio production and podcasting through the project?
M: I definitely didn’t think it was going to be something I was good at. I have hearing damage, and so, I didn’t think at all that I was going to be good at it. Originally I just wanted to do a chat with someone, but now I am actually able to listen to the audio and know how to edit the tracks. I think that’s been an eye opening thing; how much I really do love sitting down and editing.
JB: I second that. Editing has been the most fun part. It’s like a big puzzle for me, getting all the pieces together and finding what works. My serotonin levels are at an all time high.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
M: I graduated in July and it’s been a constant stream of applying for different creative jobs and every single one coming back and saying no. So, I came in feeling defeated about my career, what I was doing and not really having creative juices left. It’s been really refreshing here and I think it’s built up my confidence again. I can go out and feel like the way I think is worthy in and of itself within the creative industry.
JB: I think I’m a lot more comfortable. I think that the space, the mentors, the people you’re surrounded by on the course and also the people who work at Reform are all so welcoming and quite warm. I feel that over time, it’s not just thawed me a bit. But it’s definitely made me a bit more like ‘yeah, I can be comfortable here.’ I feel like it’s a great space to facilitate that.
What will you take from the podcasting course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
M: There’s definitely the confidence of going back into the world as a freelance artist, which is exciting. On top of that, after leaving the education system where so much of the art you’re pushing out is for a grade, it’s nice to have a personal creative endeavour that I want to continue. I’m not going to get anything from this apart from satisfying my own brain and head. But, I think that’s really cool and it’s important to have projects like that.
JB: I do want to continue the concept I’ve got. The original idea was to do my previous show and make it animated but including the audio. I think I’d still do that but with this new idea. This course has opened a lot more doors. I can now gather as much creative potential as possible and see where it lands.
To find out about our future projects at Reform Radio, sign up to our Projects newsletter here.
Deadline to apply – 12pm, Monday 24th March, link here
Salary: from £30,000-£33,000 per annum, depending on experience – where £33,000 equates to a high level of relevant experience across the role and a strong demonstration of competence through the application process.
Hours: Full-time. Main office at Cobden Works, Salford, UK.
Walk the Plank seeks a brilliant production manager to support the delivery of the company’s ongoing programme of ambitious arts and cultural activity.
This is an exciting time for the new Production Manager to join Walk the Plank, one of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisations, and winner of several recent awards including: National Outdoor Events Association -’Sustainability’, Access All Areas – ‘Best Operations’, Event Production Show – ‘Best Use of Tech’, Global Web Excellence – ‘Accessibility’ and ‘Cultural’.
As one of three Production Managers, you will have a chance to work on projects in many different locations, as part of an exciting creative environment.
Our production team plays a crucial role ensuring that each project is executed to the highest standards for our clients – from festivals and local authorities to government agencies and commercial clients – with regard to artistic quality, budgets, creativity, safety, sustainability and audience engagement.
Manchester is a literary city and so there are a multitude of Manchester writers’ groups. Below is a list of all the writing groups in Manchester that we’re aware of.
The groups we list here are mostly for creative writing rather than non-fiction. They cover all genres and types of creative writing: short stories, novels, novellas, screenplays, theatre and poetry. Most of them are free or have a nominal charge.
Click here to see the list of creative writing groups in Manchester.
We are so excited to be working with the Key Fund on our new marketing strategy for 2025! We have lots of exciting plans coming through, watch this space for updates and news.
This project is supported by Key Fund, Access – the Foundation for Social investment, Better Society Capital and Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Manchester songbird Naomi Kalu was the most recent guest on Jorgy & Cheech’s Show for a natter and an exclusive live performance. With her soulful vocals, the songstress is Sheba Arts’ Artist in Residence. It was a joy to have her raw lyricism and acoustic storytelling on the airwaves.
“Helpful and supportive regular online and in-person get-togethers for podcasters from everywhere!
We’re a community of global podcasters who help each other make brilliant podcasts.
We all make podcasts as producers, editors or presenters.
Each Podcast Club meetup is a real-life podcaster FAQ asked and answered by the awesome MIC podcaster community who come from across the world.
(yep it says Manchester, that’s where we’re based – it won’t let us put EVERYWHERE!)
Our monthly events are online, and we (aim to!) host quarterly in-person meetups too, what we like to call our ‘socials’.
We also have a special podcaster guest most months to give their expert take on a chosen podcasty subject. To date, we’ve had talks from chart-topping and award-winning podcasters about shortform podcasting, rating and reviews and remote recording.
Our guests have included Arielle Nissenblatt, podcasting legend, Olly Mann, Brown Girls Do It Too podcast, Obsessed with Line of Duty podcast producers, BBC Sounds Commissioner Louise Kattenhorn, Dan Maudsley (BBC: Paradise), The VO Social podcast, Clare Freeman (ASFB Productions: Slimming World Podcast…), Kate Cocker (The Presenter Coach: Everyday Positivity), Alex Bennett (Lower Street Media, Art of Podcast), Guy Kilty (DipDap productions, BBC 5Live: The Price of Football), Sam Walker (BBC, Desert Diaries, Northern Power Women), Emma Goswell (Gaydio, Coming Out Stories), Mark Asquith (Captivate, Rebel Base Media), Amy Woods (Content x10), Ant McGinley (XS Manchester, On The Left Side).”
Do you want to work in the Creative & Cultural Sector?
Reform Radio are bringing you a brand new Skills Bootcamp in Video Podcast Production. It’s free to access and travel and refreshments are provided. The aim of this programme is to support you into a paid role in the Creative and Cultural Sector.
This programme takes a hands-on approach, responding to real creative briefs and producing a piece of content from development, through pitching and production, to post production and showcase. You’ll have access to masterclasses from industry experts and be fully supported by our team using the latest video and audio equipment.
Join experts from Reform Radio, BBC Studios and more.
On this programme you will work in a small group to create:
A 5-10 minute episode of a podcast
A 1 minute taster
2-3 video teasers for social media
You will learn:
An overview of the podcast landscape, including the increased importance of video
How to interpret and respond to a creative brief based on client’s needs
How to script, structure and plan a podcast
How to develop the idea into a production workflow and plan
Training in Reform Radio’s industry standard video podcast studio, event space and production gallery
Working with talent and contributors
Tips on presenting and interviewing
How to record and edit both video and audio podcasts using latest software and technology
How to split the final product into different lengths and formats for various social platforms
Developing a podcast launch and marketing strategy
Podcast distribution and analytics
Read our interview with some of our recent Video Podcast Production participants to find out more about what you could get up to on the course here.
Programme Dates:
Round #5
Weekdays from 10th March to the 28th of March (10AM til 4PM)
Employed but looking for new work in the creative and cultural sector
Have the right to live and work in the UK
No prior experience needed
If you work within the sector and are looking to upskill and stay in your current role, please get in touch with mike@reformradio.co.uk for more information on how to get involved.
How to get involved
If you are interested in applying for this programme please answer the questions below and send to mike@reformradio.co.uk
Name and current employment status
Are you 19-30?
Do you currently work or live in Greater Manchester?
Why would you like to apply for the programme?
What type of role are you looking for in the creative & cultural sector?
Can you commit to all sessions on the programme?
What is your phone number?
Please apply by submitting either:
A written application – 1 page max
An audio or video application – 2 minutes max
If you need any support with your application or have any questions please contact Mike on mike@reformradio.co.uk or on 07719 873972.
This training has been made possible thanks to Greater Manchester Combined Authority securing funding to deliver Skills Bootcamps, which form part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life.
Do you have a creative vision you want to bring to life? Or maybe you have the heart set on becoming your own boss but don’t know where to start? If this sounds like you, then meet The Freelancer’s Blueprint. This is a 4-day project dedicated to freelancing and setting up your own enterprise. It is funded by Manchester Adult Education Service.
The Freelancer’s Blueprint is a comprehensive course that will teach you everything you need to know about facilitation, funding, finances and what it takes to be a freelancer. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this course will give you the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Learn how to understand your audience, navigate self-employment, and manage your taxes. You’ll also gain invaluable skills in facilitating workshops, delivering socially engaged projects, writing funding bids, and more.
We collated the full session plans of The Freelancer’s Blueprint and funding resources on our blog here. Head to the link for the full down-low on what you can expect from the programme and a collection of materials to help you with your freelancing journey.
Check out the flyer below and find out how to get involved in our upcoming course.
Find out about our other free creative courses here. Get in touch with our lovely Engagement Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
