Why read this case study?
70% of project participants were young men.
Young members of Castlemilk Youth Complex were involved in all stages of the project.
Widespread community support for the project.
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What is Castlemilk Youth Complex?
Claire Mulgrew, Chairperson and Cllr William Perry, SRC. opened the Youth Complex in September 1994, to "... establish a high quality youth facility where young people are valued, respected and ultimately empowered through personal development within group work settings and arts initiatives..."
Castlemilk Youth Complex is the largest 'Urban Programme' Youth Project to date. Built at a cost of over £1 million it provides a unique one door approach to youth information, education, training and the arts. The Complex is an alcohol and drug free zone - a safe environment for the young people of Castlemilk aged 12 - 25 to meet, socialise and develop their talents. The project is overseen by a board of directors with a majority of places set aside for young people. The Complex is supported by Castlemilk Partnership, Glasgow City Council and the National Lottery Charities Board.
Today CYC involves young people in a wide range of arts and cultural events whilst also working in partnership with issue based agencies e.g. health and local enterprise. You can become a member of Castlemilk Youth Complex if you are12-25 and live, work or study in the Castlemilk area. The area has particular issues relating to poverty, territorialism and health but after 10yrs of investment in facilities the young people are showing enormous talent and an ability to create and take opportunities.
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How did Cyclone Fm start?
'Good to hear you on air'
Radio listener
Castlemilk Youth Complex has a board that consists of 6 adults and 15 young people as well as an established youth music forum that meets weekly. They decide what projects they are interested in and also deal with any issues arising from projects. The proposals the forum make are part of the objectives of CYC and Castlemilk Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP). The Music Development Worker who is based at CYC is responsible for reporting to the SIP during the projects.
There have been three radio projects at Castlemilk; initially suggested by the music forum. The first project was management led, in partnership with the local enterprise agency. The second project and the current project (2003) were youth led. Many of the youth workers come from the area and are well known to the young people and the community. They worked to encourage young people spending time in the informal areas of the youth complex to take part in the radio projects.
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A youth steering group for 2003
Six young people formed a steering group for the 2003 project. They were a slightly older group, 16-25yrs, who had continued to be involved in the project. Their responsibilities included:
- Finding a good time for the project to happen, they decided on the Easter school holidays
- Discussing previous radio projects, which some of them had participated in
- Deciding from these discussions how to develop training for this project
- Sourcing funding and planning the project, writing the funding application
- Discussing the structure of the broadcasts and their content
- Attending weekly meetings
- Advertising and branding the project, although posters, flyers were made the most successful advertising was through word of mouth.
As there have been two previous radio licences young people were able to pass on their skills by planning and running the training workshops. The music development worker co-ordinated the project.
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How is it funded?
The music development worker is a permanent post and is funded by Castlemilk Social Inclusion Partnership. A group of young people gained funding for the radio project through the Princes Trust Millennium Fund. CYC offered facilities developed during previous projects. Local businesses, local enterprise and health agencies also bought advertising time on the radio station.
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Getting a radio licence
It was crucial that there was going to be a radio licence, as this encouraged new faces and the younger end of the age range to be involved.
The project had to apply for the radio licence, the British Broadcasting Authority has a pack supporting this process which gives information on the legal requirements of having a radio licence.
"Keep up the good work sounds good."
Radio listener
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How were the workshops set up?
Once funding was secured the training workshops were planned. The workshop content was based on past experience, especially in the decision to include training on planning a radio programme. The workshop leaders were two young people, under 25, who had been trained in previous Castlemilk projects and continued to be members of the complex.
The workshops were open to 12-25yrs. They attracted around 70% young men, especially in the 18yrs plus age group. The under-18yrs girls that took part mainly choose to answer phones and take on administration of the radio project when it was on-air. Around 18 young people a week took part in the 4week course in 2003.
- Examples of course content in the 4x45min slots
- Do's and don'ts
- Legalities, including politics, religion and use of language on-air
- Composition: what makes a bad programme,creating a good programme, music per hour
- Practicing a programme
- Technical training and phone logging/call back.
They also had the opportunity to practice using the facilities at Castlemilk for a couple of weeks before the live broadcasts started.
Young people have taken the training on board and developed an enormous amount of pride in the radio station. Around 60% of those attending the course don't normally take part in the music project or groups run at the complex.
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How is it evaluated?
At the end of each week the workshop leader was responsible for the evaluation of the workshops. Feedback is constantly received during the licence period from phone-ins and to a lesser extent street work questionnaires. Participants are also asked to complete questionnaires about the project. The radio licence authority asks that all broadcast is recorded so a complete record is kept of the broadcasts.
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The on air buzz?
"Luvin the show"
Radio listener
There has been an enormous buzz in the centre during Cyclone FM, with many young people becoming involved who have previously just come to use the open areas of the complex. There was also a large number of people hanging around the broadcast room. There have also been outside broadcasts, using mobile phones, in a local shopping centre. The phone-ins generated 4500 phone calls a week, many of them from people not normally reached by Castlemilk Youth Complex. The broadcast area covered the southside of Glasgow, reaching as far as Paisley on a clear night.
Young people involved are taking an active part in providing a service to their community whilst also developing a wide range of technical, co-ordination and social skills. The radio licence also presents an opportunity for advocating the youth centre to the wider community, including attracting new members.
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What's next?
- Annual radio licence, if young people choose
- Participants developing their involvement through other projects
- Greater diversity in programming of next radio licence to include other groups within CYC and the local community e.g. drama, bands, reviews, local celebs and road shows.
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What are the key issues in a project like this?
- Are the young people interested in running a project of this kind?
- What existing resources can you use and what will you need?
- What other groups can work with you to develop programmes?
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