Press Coverage - The Lewisham Mercury

20.06.05

Youths Get Own Radio Station.

A new radio station for young people in Lewisham is being formed to give them a platform for their talent.

Point-Blank FM is to will broadcast out of former bakery in Downham.

The stations developer Shoreditch-based Point-Blank, hope it will be up and running by early next year.

It is currently recruiting teenagers aged 13 to 19 so it can begin training them.

Anyone in Lewisham within the age range is welcome to get involved and no experience is necessary.

The young people will be DJing, putting together programme schedules, conducting interviews and reading the news.

A permanent licence has been granted for the radio station but it does not know what frequency it will be on.

Point-Blank already works with young people in schools and youth clubs throughout Lewisham including Sedgehill School, Forest Hill School and Honor Oak Youth centre.

It provides courses for youngsters classed as being at risk of exclusion from school, young offenders and other people who are interested in music.

As its Shoreditch based it has four studios- two DJ rooms and two record production rooms.

In each DJ room there are seven sets of decks, so there is plenty of capacity for training young people.

Up until now, Lewisham youngsters have been travelling to the studios in Shoreditch or have been taught in their own environment.

Once the radio station is built, they will also be able to learn various skills on-site there. Point-Blank’s latest venture means the singing, song-writing, DJing and production work the young people have been doing will be given an airing on the radio.

Point-Blank FM is to broadcast seven days a week up until about midnight.

The radio station is being funded by the Downham Regeneration Scheme and is also supported by Lewisham youth services.