Spired.com Podcasts

News, views, opinions and works from young people in Oxfordshire

This podcast page is for stuff done by young people in Oxfordshire at various sound and music projects, as well as opinions, ideas and thoughts about youth work and youth issues.

Want to see your poems, rants, tunes, skits or brilliant ideas here? Talk to your local youth worker, or email sounds@spired.com.

Young people’s centres and positive activities

I travelled out to Eynsham young Peoples centre recently to talk to some of the young people and workers about positive activities. Top-most in their minds was a big residential they'd recently been on in summer 2010 which included lots of adventurous activities like canoeing and gorge-walking; but they also spoke about how much they enjoyed the sort of things they could do every day at the youth centre, like chilling with friends, relaxing and being themselves.

We know that taking part in positive activities is very good for young people. They boost confidence and empathy, and help them bond well with other young people. As this group and their workers talk about their experiences, the value emerges; we hear about young people helping each other, making new friends and facing new challenges, all around the catalyst of the activities. The group also included young volunteers, who helped support workers and the youth group; both workers and volunteers share their insights on how young person volunteers can add great value to structured activities -- and how they benefit from the experience, too.

We also hear them talk about how much they value and enjoy both the opportunities for activities and the extra support a young people's centre represents.

Oxford Connexions Results Day Podcast

A-level results on Thursday 19th August and GCSE results come out on the following Tuesday 24th August and and examinations. In this podcast, Debbie Denton from Oxford Connexions talks about how to get advice if your results aren't what you hoped, and we hear an inspirational track from Silecta from Ark T Youth project.

How to sort things out if your results aren't what you hoped:

Drop into call or text your local Connexions Centre to make an appointment.
Talk to your friendly, helpful Connexions Adviser.
Make the best choice from the available Opportunities.

If you need to talk to an adviser in the evenings or weekend you can contact Connexions Direct at any time between 8am and 2pm every day of the week. There will also be Connexions Advisers in schools on GCSE Results day, so whereever you are, you will never be far from good, useful advice.

Don't suffer in silence - speak out, stop bullying

Speak out stop bullying

This anti-bullying song was written, performed and produced by Oxfordshire Young People's Anti-Bullying Advisory Group 2009 in association with the Ark-T Youth Music Project.

It features the talents of Callum, Charlie, Chloe, Ellie, Helen, James, Lloyd, Paris, Michael, Natasha, Ollie and Sabrina.

Download the track or view it online, alongside images from last year's anti-bullying poster competition, at:

www.slideshare.net/spireddotcom/anti-bullying

Speak out... you can find out more about bullying and anti-bullying week on the anti-bullying pages

Telling it like it is - Lottie's story

Hold tight all the people that lost loved ones
Rest in peace to my brother JP Carter
I never forget you bro...

This track was published as part of Tackling Drugs week 2009, and recorded by Jason Byfield the Music Worker at Banbury Youth Centre.

Credits: Lottie, AKA Lady Exonic, Jason Byfrield producing

Hold tight... you can find out more about drugs and alcohol in the drugs pages

Mentoring provides young people with the support of an adult mentor.

It also gives them the opportunity to take part in activities which help with confidence and skills, like canoeing and residentials.

Menoring can be accessed via your local Early Intervention Hub

Safety Emergency (Safer Sex) by young men at Banbury Youth Centre

This rap about safer sex was produced by a group of young men at Banbury Youth Centre. Look out for some interesting thoughts, pro-condom lines and deep thoughts about consequences.

Download (right-click and select save as) or play inline:

Credits: Billy Biston, Danny Brown, Jordan Malloy, Damien Edwards producing.

Stop, think.... you can find out more about Safer Sex in the Safety Card section.

Want to do a podcast project?

If you're working with a youth group in Oxfordshire who you think may be interested in doing a short podcast project, we can enable that.* Please email sounds@spired.com if you are interested in recording and publishing on the internet.

* Young people must be aged 13-19. Details of what Spired.com can provide available on request. If you're after a music project, practice space for your band, or support from trained music workers, visit your local youth centre.