Exchange Radio 87.7FM, based at Hospital Radio Norwich and staffed by school students and youth organisations (ages 5 to 19), is on air from 9am to 8pm, Tuesday, March 23rd to Thursday, March 25th. This is Exchange Radio’s sixth spell on air.
The FM frequency broadcasts 15 miles around Norwich, but the radio station can be heard throughout Norfolk online at www.exchangeradio.co.uk. Twenty-one schools and youth organisations from around the county are taking part.
Each school or youth organisation has an hour-long slot. The students plan and produce their own programmes and have the chance to broadcast live as well as use some pre-recorded material.
New this year is White Woman Lane Junior School, Norwich who will be interviewing Norwich North MP Chloe Smith live during their programme at 9am on Thursday, March 25th.
Ella Sharff and Robert Bull, Barnham Broom Primary School,taken during their training session with Mike Sarre, Hospital Radio Norwich
Old hands, Barnham Broom Primary School, whose Head Teacher, Keith Wright is a Hospital Radio Norwich volunteer, return at 10am on Monday, March 23rd with an hour of music chosen by the students and parents along with news, weather and travel updates.
Oriel High School, Gorleston will have presenters in the studio at 10am on Wednesday, March 24th linking recorded items including Facebook – friend or foe, the impact that the images of women in magazines have on girls, the school’s scholarship scheme with Greshams School and recorded music and interviews from school bands.
Methwold High School presenters will also be linking a series of recorded items at 1pm on Wednesday, March 24th, featuring an item on Methwold’s relationship with a school in Nairobi Kenya trailing a visit there in July, a comedy sketch, a history of the Olympics looking forward to 2012 and an interview with a member of staff about child soldiers.
Mike Sarre of Hospital Radio Norwich supervises the broadcast output and trains the young broadcasters in programme preparation, interviewing and recording techniques.
Diane Sutcliffe, Project Co-ordinator from The Exchange explained: “The content is entirely up to the schools and youth organisations. Some include poetry, music, interviews, drama or work to a specific theme. It is a very valuable experience as it improves confidence and self esteem, as well as developing the students’ range of enterprise learning e.g. creativity, using initiative, communication, innovation and team working.”
The Exchange, www.norfolk-exchange.org.uk, tel: 01953 601439
The Exchange exists to support schools and businesses to work together in achieving effective partnerships.
