Project 1 - Safe Hands - Everton in the Community - Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund

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Our first project involved working with young people with neurodivergent conditions such as autism who were having issues with attending mainstream schools. 

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Podcasting for Positive Change with Everton in the Community 

The first course of Podcasting for Positive Change was done in conjunction with Everton is the Community, one of the top sport charities in the UK, and attached to Everton Football Club. We developed a course in conjunction with EITC and the Safe Hands Group, which aimed to help students with neurodiversity who were struggling with mainstream education, and in many cases had dropped out of mainstream completely. This was to be a pilot course for North and South Education CIC and was done across six weeks in January to February of 2024. We identified an issue – life with neurodiversity such as Autism and ADHD – and did a podcast about the life experiences of these young adults. The expertise and care shown by the EITC staff, and the excellent facilities at the Digital Skills Hub at the EITC base helped make the course a highly successful one. The sessions and end podcast are reflective of the potential these young people have when they are given the support they need, and the importance of hearing the lived experience of those who are often excluded from the mainstream. It is estimated that up to 40% of people might be neurodiverse in some way, and at current there are up to 800 students in the Liverpool area not going to school regularly. This course worked with some of those people. Thanks to Everton in the Community for their facilitation, belief and support. The group consisted of eight students and took place on Friday mornings.

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The aim was to produce a podcast and to teach the key skills needed in podcasting using the latest technology. A Zoom Podtrak P8 sound system and audio technica broadcast headsets were used, all funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. We used Audacity online to record sessions, edit sessions, and produce our final product.

 

Some of the students were less keen to be recorded and share their experiences, but we made sure they were involved in editing, directing, and production, and script management. The students did some written work about their experiences, and a write up at the end. We also did a questionnaire to collect opinions and to get an idea of impact, and produced a podcast that the young people, EITC and North and South Education CIC can all be proud of. The students also took part in discussions about various aspects of neurodiversity such as education, difficulty in social situations, and their strengths and dreams and plans for the future as well as areas for development. Some students who were initially reluctant to take part soon volunteered for recording and editing and development of script. They also helped each other along, supported each other and worked closely with the EITC staff, who know these young people and their families and show so much care, devotion, and professionalism at all times.

As well as the writing, oral debates, and discussions, and recording and editing, student also completed four tutorials on how to create podcasts using Audacity and other platforms. By the end their knowledge and skill development shone through. We had a celebration at the end which was quite moving. All the students received certificates with all the competencies and skills they had developed acknowledged.

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We also learned how to make things smoother and better in the future for future courses using the feedback from the young people and the staff. You can listen to the podcast here. The students have all received copies of it too.

Here are some staff comments.

 

‘Hi Tim,

Massive thank you for the sessions you have provided for us, it really has been amazing for our young people to have their voices heard and have the opportunity to talk about their stories. I think you will agree that it has been great fun, and we had some good laughs with the group during sessions.

I have attached some of the folder of photos we captured throughout the 6 weeks, please let us know if you have any issues with the access to the folder.

Big thank you to Mick also for setting this up for us as well, really appreciate that you provided have given us an amazing contact who we will hopefully be able to work further with in the future!

Thank you,

Julia’

 

Hi Tim,

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for choosing us to do this project with you. It truly has been amazing and every one of them has taken so much away from this experience and I know they have all loved every minute of every session. We have an amazing group of individuals in our group and by doing this programme you have shown them that anyone can achieve if you put your mind to it and that anything is possible no matter what gets in your way.

I have just listened to the Podcast and don’t mind telling you it was a very emotional listen for me and I know it will be for many others as well. You have given them a voice and a platform that has allowed them to open up and speak to a new audience in the hope that again they are listened to and can be themselves without fear of being mocked or shot down.

I feel this may be just the beginning of this particular journey for them and look forward to working closely with you on the next instalment.

Huge thanks to you from the Safe Hands team, the young people and all their families.

Cheers

Russ

 

The staff also gave some very moving feedback on the podcast.

 

The questionnaire was also very insightful. While not all the students said they would be interested in doing podcasting in the future, they did say that the experience of podcasting was a positive in all cases, and that they felt strongly that people needed to know more about neurodiversity. In relation to skill development the participants mentioned confidence, learning to use audacity, learning to talk clearly, and technical issues relating to sound engineering.

 

One said, ‘the tech was a struggle for me through the first few weeks’ but was fine by the end.

 

With regard to social skills students said they learned to hear their own voice, speak clearly, and to communicate better.

 

One said, ‘It helped me to be able to listen to myself on the sound recordings. I could also learn to speak more clearly with practice.’

 

‘talking on the headphones’ was strange at first.

 

All students recognised challenges relating to confidence and technology and felt they made development during the course. All would recommend the course to others.

 

‘It helps people to learn to record their ideas.’

 

‘Yes because is fun to do with people you get along with.’ Many of these students would struggle in bigger groups.

 

‘it teaches people.’

 

‘I learned how to transfer stuff and telling the difference between MP3 and MP4 and editing.’

 

‘Yes because it can help boost your confidence.’

 

‘Yes because it can benefit you mentally especially for those who are struggling with their social side.’

 

‘I really enjoyed this and I never knew how to podcast till now.’

 

Two students said they wish they could have done more editing, but this was difficult as some in the group really struggled with concentration at times due to neurodiversity. Finding a happy medium is a key thing to bear in mind with future courses when some students might struggle.

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