Eastbourne Youth Radio to Return

Eastbourne Youth Radio (EYR) returns to the airwaves next month on 87.7FM and online at www.eyr.org.uk.

Broadcast from Sussex Downs College, Eastbourne, from Wednesday 15th to Friday 17th November, EYR sees students from local schools and other organisations, present a radio show, creating three packed days of programming. The students, who range in age from five to 19, present programmes on a range of topics and in a variety of formats. This year’s EYR coincides with various notable dates on the calendar. These include Anti-Bullying Week, Global Entrepreneurship Week, UK Parliament Week and Children in Need. Some of the schools will be exploring these topics through their shows.

EYR will be helping to raise awareness of Anti-Bullying Week, the theme of which is ‘All different – all equal’ for 2017. EYR is also a registered project during Global Entrepreneurship Week and won High Impact event awards (2009-2014) for its work.

EYR 2017 included the return of flagship show Answer Back! (Wednesday 15th November, 6pm-7pm, sponsored by Brewers). Answer Back! lets the youth of Eastbourne raise questions on the topics important to them. Expect topics of discussion to include mental health issues, wellbeing and the future of Britain post-Brexit. On the panel are Stephen Lloyd, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon; Caroline Ansell, Conservative Spokesperson; Paul Howard, Labour Spokesperson; Stephen Holt, Business Development Manager, EDCC and EDEAL; Keith Ridley, Ambassador, Eastbourne Herald; Jamie Harris, Student Union President, Sabbatical Officer and Student Governor at Sussex Downs College.

EYR gives youngsters control over the airwaves in a presenter and producer capacity. It teaches them skills transferable to many workplace environments. Expect a variety of music, debates, interviews, poetry and plays. Tune in on 87.7FM or online at www.eyr.org.uk from 10am on Wednesday 15th November.

Dr Steven Goss-Turner, Chair of Eastbourne Education Business Partnership, says, “There are few projects that bring together so many schools, students, teachers and employers in such an energising experience of three days of live radio broadcasting. EYR provides the whole Eastbourne community with a local project that they can feel a part of, with parents, grandparents and friends all tuning in to hear the programmes and contributions from their family and their schools.”