Young people are already benefiting from a new radio station in Strathearn.
Radio Earn, a project being overseen by Creative Crieff, launched in June and is being run by volunteers with the aim of offering a wide variety of programmes to suit all tastes and age groups.
But the new media outlet is also providing three paid jobs for those between the ages of 18 and 25.
It’s technical coordinator and engagement coordinator are being funded by a grant from Youth Music’s Incubator Fund designed to help music industry organisations harness the potential of young talent.
The money is specifically ring-fenced for the two one-year, fixed-term part-time posts and Radio Earn was the only applicant north of the border to receive the funding.
In addition, Rachel Nugent (21) is pleased to have found her way to the station through the Kickstarter programme, a funding platform for creative projects, and she is flourishing in her new marketing role.
She said: “I was initially on Universal Credit and not living my best life. I got this opportunity and I jumped at it.
“I wanted to go to university but my personal statement was basically a mess. There was nothing to say – I had no experience with anything to do with media, and I want to do a course at Liverpool. Then this opportunity came along.
“It gives me a lot to speak about in my personal statement when I do that. They are very aware that I want to go to uni after this and they want me to build my skills, which I have.
“There is still loads for me to get better at, but I was such a bare canvas and now I feel so different.
“I think I can speak for everyone else too – we all feel that way, especially because of lockdown and then we got employed six months ago.
“Starting here has been great. It’s such a colourful place, everyone is brilliant and it’s such a great environment to work in.”
Station manager Frank Banksy said: “Rachel was really keen to come on board and we were delighted to take her. She has been amazing.
“She is now contracted by Creative Crieff to work on digital, social media and marketing.
“She is going to be the face of Radio Earn so we are pushing her to introduce herself to everybody and get to know all the presenters and find out about the guests they have on.”
Ian Christie (24) is the station’s engagement coordinator.
He commented: “When this job came up it was a charity, it was in an area that I really liked and it was a good project working with the community. It’s been brilliant. It has provided that creative position that I was looking for.
“I’m the engagement worker so for a lot of it I have been engaging with the community and trying to get them involved with the station.
“The main project I’m doing just now is called Your Voice. It’s a project with Richmond House Care Home.
“Elderly residents were probably hit the hardest in the pandemic in terms of loneliness and being separated from the community and the idea is to get that connection back, and especially a connection with the brand-new radio station.
“We are going to take some recording equipment up. It’s going to be run by freelance practitioner Megan [Moon], who is one of our presenters.
“She is going to run sessions for us and capture conversations and make a show for the radio.”
