Eastbourne Youth Radio goes live again for the fourth time today
(Wednesday).

Each year has seen an expansion of the project, and now, with 65 hours of
continuous broadcasting involving 1,500 young people from 27 local schools,
colleges and youth organisations, EYR 87.7 FM has become one of the largest
and most prestigious annual youth events in the south east.

This is the last time the project will be funded from the Government's
Single Regeneration Budget (SRB-6) and next year EYR will be entirely
dependent on local sponsorship.

EYR manager, Tim Sorensen, said, 'We've already had fantastic support over
the last four years from local businesses and organisations, and those
taking part have always contributed as well.

'EYR will definitely go ahead next year, but we now have to find ways of
paying for the following years from local resources, if the project is to
continue.'

Already, cities and towns throughout Britain have been casting envious eyes
on the prestigious project that has delivered a wide variety of educational
skills in such a unique and innovative manner.

Last year, representatives from Norwich visited EYR, and this year managed
to run their own highly successful youth radio, copying the Eastbourne
model.

Government education advisors are also known to be extremely interested in
the way EYR has motivated young people in Eastbourne.

Mr Sorensen said, 'Eastbourne has led the way in showing the rest of Britain
ways of engaging young people in their community in an exciting and original
way.'

Eastbourne Borough Council, recognising how EYR so effectively engages local
young people in community issues, has given the station special funding to
deliver the youth view on plans to regenerate the town centre, as part of
its statutory consultation process.

This has firmly given EYR for the first time an official place in local
government affairs, alongside that already given to local newspapers which
are paid to carry planning applications.

The programme schedules on these pages are the best witness to the rich
variety of ideas local young people have come up with in creating this
year's programmes.

This year sees an increase in live choir music, live drama, and, with a
general election expected next May, a greater interest in politics and local
affairs.

24 November 2004

http://www.eastbournetoday.co.uk/Vie...ticleID=893316