Thirty blind and partially sighted people from across the UK are to be given a unique chance to train in radio broadcasting.
A new training academy set up by Insight Radio, the award-winning station established by sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), goes live today.
Insight Radio has already helped over 20 people with sight loss to move into full-time employment or training. Most of the station's presenters and producers are blind or partially sighted, including 2008 'Big Brother' runner-up Mikey Hughes, who now hosts his own chat show.
The station transmits nationally via its website and on Sky 0188 and Freesat 777, and holds a community radio licence for Glasgow, broadcasting on 101FM. This year, Insight broke the 85,000 listener barrier and plans to launch a network of satellite studios in Edinburgh, Newcastle, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff and Belfast.
RNIB's radio services manager Ross Macfadyen said: "Over a three-year period, a minimum of 30 blind and partially sighted unemployed adults will receive accredited training in radio and broadcasting studies. This will take place in the station hub in Glasgow, our new satellite studios around the UK, and in RNIB Scotland's Employment and Learning Centre in Edinburgh, which has a training studio and residential accommodation.
"As well as providing unique training opportunities, these posts will contribute directly to the operation and development of the satellite studios," explains Macfadyen. "With our satellite studios on-stream, Insight will be able to interview people and cover stories in different parts of Britain."
The Training Academy is being housed within the newly refurbished broadcast HQ in Glasgow, with the potential to work with leading industry partners. Over the three-year period, it also plans to offer 18 training places to public, commercial and community broadcast companies.
"The development of our Training Academy offers tremendous opportunities to develop new partnerships with corporate bodies, and help blind and partially sighted people to improve their transferable skills and abilities for the general job market," says Macfadyen.
"The skills achieved through training in a radio and media environment include IT, communication skills, team-working and general confidence."
Earlier this year, Insight Radio was nominated in the 'Best Digital Radio Station' category at the inaugural Freesat Awards in London alongside BBC 1Xtra, Jazz FM, NME Radio and Planet Rock. Insight has already won a silver prize in the 2007 Sony Radio Academy Awards (the radio industry Oscars).
Presenter Mikey Hughes, who began to lose his sight age seven, was referred to a RNIB rehabilitation centre where he learned how to touch-type and use a computer screen-reader. After a four-month placement with BBC Scotland, he was employed as a presenter and producer on Insight Radio.
"Insight Radio has given me the opportunity to learn new skills and fulfil my personal potential," he said. "Had it not been for this, I probably still be on the scrapheap at home. So it's wonderful that more people with sight loss across the country will soon have the same chance as I did."
Jill Daley is a 32 year-old producer/presenter of her own magazine style show, 'The Daley Lunch'. Jill lost her sight to diabetes at the age of 19 but went on to study sound engineering and media studies at university. "With today's technology, I can't see any reason why more blind or partially sighted people shouldn't get the opportunity to work," she insists. "Insight Radio demolishes the myth that people with sight loss can't do things."
Press Release issued: 19 October 2009.