Torbay’s very own Ocean Youth Radio has brought home the prestigious award for Best Achievement in the Community at this week’s Young Audio Awards 2020.
The Young Audio Awards, supported by both commercial and BBC radio, is a national competition aimed at discovering the next generation of audio talent, which is judged by experts from across radio and podcasting. As well as winning the Best Achievement in the Community Award, 3 young producers from Ocean Youth were also nominated individually for 3 other awards. The awards ceremony which is normally hosted at the BBC’s Radio Theatre and presented by BBC Radio 1 presenters Matt Edmundson and Mollie King, was streamed live.
The team at Sound Communities who manage Ocean Youth Radio alongside the young people had planned to take a bus of young producing talent to London to be there in person. Listening in from their own homes members of Ocean Youth had to turn to social media to celebrate together, but the excitement was contagious all the same. Last year, Ocean Youth’s producer Alexis Weller won Best Rising Talent and two other producers were nominated as well.
Mike Cook, Director at Sound Communities and Project Manager at Ocean Youth Radio said, “We are delighted to win such a fantastic award that recognises all the commitment and endeavour our young presenters and producers have dedicated to ensuring young people’s voices from across the community of Torbay are heard. Radio and music production has been an incredibly important part of improving the self-esteem and wellbeing of so many young people in the community, so to receive an award that showcases this makes all our team of young people incredibly proud. Thank you Young Audio Awards!”
Finn Boyes, from Paignton, was nominated for the BBC Sounds Rising Talent Award 2020 for ages 12-15. Finn said, “ I used to be really shy but this has really helped me. I can talk to more people now.”
Ricardo Burt, also from Paignton, was nominated again this year for the category of Best Comedy Radio. “Ocean Youth has given me the ability to develop and show confidence in radio from live presenting to interviewing, and then use what I’ve learnt to teach others. Over the 6 years so far at Ocean Youth, I’ve loved every minute of it. With the station, there’s always something you can do, or work on. Whether it’s jingle making or helping out on an Ocean Youth project, I always feel my time and effort is appreciated. And that is why I think I’ve never wanted to stop. “
Winning Best Achievement in the Community Award is a national recognition of the work that young producers and presenters from Torbay have been doing in our local community since 2011. Sound Communities & Ocean Youth Radio work with many schools, youth groups and partners across Torbay, have a studio in Paignton Library, and in 2019 took over a building on Winner Street in Paignton which has been converted into a radio station. In March 2020 Ocean Youth Radio launched Shipwreck Radio on Ocean Youth in response to the lockdown under Covid-19 to provide ways to tackle isolation and ensure young people’s voices continue to be heard.
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