Impact Report

Executive Summary

Kids In Communication (KIC) provides an inclusive, open-access, youth-led service, free at the point of delivery, for young people aged 10–25. We support a wide range of community groups, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), young people at risk of crime, looked-after children, care leavers, and refugees.

KIC Radio, our national broadcasting platform, gives young people a real voice in their community. Broadcasting on DAB+ across Walsall and Wolverhampton, through the KIC Radio App, website and major podcast platforms, we provide a safe, creative space where young people can build confidence, develop digital skills and feel part of something positive.

In 2025–26, we expanded our accredited training, increased volunteer and work experience opportunities, launched new digital content and supported young people into creative roles. The result is a stronger, more connected community where young people feel heard, valued and capable of achieving more.

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The Need: What Young People Are Facing

Young people are increasingly facing significant barriers when leaving school, including low confidence, anxiety, communication challenges, social isolation and limited opportunities to demonstrate their abilities. Parents, schools and local organisations consistently tell us that many young people feel unprepared for the next step and lack safe, supportive spaces to build skills and express themselves.

In our area, access to creative opportunities, industry‑standard tools and positive networks is limited. Many young people simply do not have the confidence, resources or encouragement to explore their artistic or digital potential.

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Our Response: What KIC Does

KIC Radio provides a trusted, youth‑centred platform that directly addresses the personal and economic challenges young people face providing creative opportunities, professional equipment, and a supportive environment where young people can develop their skills, voice and confidence.

Youth progression the Kids In Communication

Kicsters Digital Pop-Up Youth Club (Ages 10 - 18)	KIC Radio (Ages 15 - 25)	Support
Kicsters provide free, local, open‑access sessions designed to engage young people early and positively. Through a wide range of digital and creative activities including radio, podcasting, photography, videography, gaming and web design young people build confidence, develop new skills and form positive peer relationships in a safe, fun and social environment. These experiences create strong foundations that are directly transferable into volunteering, accredited training, further education and future employment. At age 16, young people with a clear interest in creative media are encouraged to progress into volunteering roles at KIC Radio, applying and strengthening the skills first developed at Kicsters.	KIC Radio offers a real‑life workplace environment, operating from industry‑standard radio and podcasting studios. As a youth‑led station, it enables young people to develop and showcase their creative and technical skills, work alongside like‑minded peers, access real creative opportunities, build a professional network, strengthen their CV and portfolio, and progress into volunteering, further education or employment. Young people take on a wide range of hands‑on creative roles, including radio presenting, podcast hosting, producing, editing, journalism, social media and digital content creation. Many progress through Youth Training & Volunteering, with access to accredited qualifications such as the Level 1 Award and Level 2 Certificate in Skills for Working in Digital Industries. KIC Radio plays an active role in Community Engagement, covering local youth achievements, creative projects and community campaigns, and supporting young filmmakers and creatives—including those producing knife‑crime awareness content.	Kids In Communication connects young people to a broad network of local and national support services. This includes pathways and guidance around mental health and wellbeing, SEND support, diversionary activities and crime prevention, financial advice, housing and wider youth support This wrap‑around approach ensures that young people not only develop skills and confidence but also receive the support they need to thrive.

Signposting & Referrals:

As a trusted youth organisation, KIC receive referrals on a weekly basis from a variety of community partners across the Midlands; schools, colleges & universities, Healthcare professionals, youth organisations, local authority and police. Alongside formal referrals, young people also engage with KIC through our regular open-access provision.

 

All these programmes:

• Provide a safe, youth-led space to develop communication and digital skills

• Give free access to innovative and industry-standard equipment and mentoring

• Unlock creative potential for young people who may not thrive in traditional education

• Build transferable skills including communication, teamwork, digital literacy, and project management

• Provide opportunities to discuss and/or create content on issues that matter to them (e.g., mental health, knife crime, local culture)

• Support wellbeing and self‑expression, particularly for those facing social or economic barriers

• Strengthen community identity by amplifying local stories, voices, and talent

• Create pathways into creative industries, which are a major growth sector in the UK

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Who We Reached

Young People Engaged   100+ young people aged 15–25 engaged in training, volunteering and broadcasting 10 young people achieved accredited digital media qualifications in early 2025	Audience Reach Daily listeners via DAB+ across Walsall & Wolverhampton. Growing listenership via the KIC Radio App, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Growing digital audience through app downloads, website traffic, and podcast streams (inferred from multi‑platform presence).

Outcomes & Impact

Skills Development

Young people gained:

• Broadcasting and presenting skills

• Audio editing and production

• Digital marketing and social media management

• Research, planning, and teamwork

• Confidence, communication, and leadership skills

Accredited Achievement

• Completion of the Level 1 Award in Skills for Working in Digital Industries, covering radio production, podcasting, editing, and digital marketing.

Progression & Employability

• Participants built portfolios, showreels, and CV‑ready experience.

• Young people progressed from never having entered a studio to presenting live radio and producing their own podcasts.

• Young people progressed into paid professional creative roles.

Confidence & Wellbeing

• Council leaders highlighted the “energy and passion” of young people and the significant confidence growth observed during training.

Community Impact

• KIC Radio amplifies youth voices on issues such as mental health, knife crime, and local culture.

• Supported young people into volunteering, further education or employment.

• Provided diersionary activities leading to a reduction in Anti-social behaviour (ASB) confirmed by West Midlands Police on multiple occassions.

• Young creatives (e.g., filmmaker Molly Strafford) gained recognition and media exposure through KIC Radio platforms.

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Case Studies

Case Study 1: Accredited Training Success

A cohort of 10 young people completed the Level 1 digital industries qualification. Many had never used studio equipment before but progressed to producing podcasts, editing audio, and presenting live shows. Their achievements were celebrated at KIC Studios with Walsall Council leadership.

Case Study 2: Youth Filmmaker Spotlight

Young filmmaker Molly Strafford used KIC Radio’s platform to raise awareness of knife crime through her short film Switchblade. KIC Radio promoted her work, supported her premiere, and amplified her voice on BBC Radio WM.

Case Study 3: Empowered Through Opportunity

Elysa began her work experience at KIC Radio in September 2025 after struggling to find employers who could meet her support needs around Autism, which had knocked her confidence. At KIC Radio she found a supportive, inclusive environment where she developed practical media skills such as using recording equipment, planning content, conducting interviews and editing audio. As her confidence grew, she even led training sessions for other young people, showing them how to use equipment and produce media. The experience helped her build self-belief, recognise her strengths in a professional setting and feel ready to demonstrate her value in the workplace. Elysa’s journey shows how the right support and opportunities can empower young people to grow, gain confidence and move closer to their career goals in the media industry.

   

Feedback from youth volunteers:

“I am thankful to Kic Radio who were extremely supportive and informative during the course. From knowing minimal knowledge to gaining new and wider skills in the media sector in the production industry. I recommend this course to all youths who want to have a career in media, Kic Radio will Kic start your career.” ~ Harvey More	"KIC Radio has given me a great oppotunity to be able to get hands on experience with radio and its inner workings. It's a very welcoming and friendly environment to be in, and you are made to feel part of the team from day 1. I am really enjoying my time here." ~ Jamie Fullard	"KIC Radio has given me the opportunity to learn skills with industry standard equipment, alongside others who share the same passion, while also enabling me to gain qualifications." ~ Ryan Reid
KIC Radio has given me such a confidence boost. I started here as part of my college work placement and now I present my own radio show." - Elysia Thompson-Riley	Being at KIC Radio has allowed me to develop my creativity and technical skills. It also teaches me how podcasting and radio works which is helpful and fun!" ~ Ela Salts	KIC Radio has been a real eye opener showing me how the media industry really works. I've met some amazing people and I feel it's given me some certainty over my future." ~Tyler Jones
“I think it’s helped me in every way possible; I’ve been able to be more social and speak to people I don’t know, and you have to do it because that’s the job. You’ve got to sit there and speak to people you don’t know. You’ve got to take yourself out of your comfort zone. It will help me because I want to go into sports journalism, so I want to be interviewing people, I want to be editing stuff, I want to be recording stuff, and I want to be making content like this, and I think this [KIC Radio] is the perfect way to start learning.” ~ Leland Hartshorne

Feedback from schools:

"Tettenhall Wood School fully supports the outstanding work KIC Radio provides for young people with SEND. Since September 2025, our 16–19-year-old learners have taken part in work experience at the studios, gaining hands-on radio and podcast production skills that have been genuinely transformational, with several now aspiring to careers in creative media. The programme has strengthened teamwork, communication, employability skills, confidence, self-esteem and meaningful community engagement. Ben and Brook have been exceptional - knowledgeable, patient and highly skilled in adapting to individual needs so every learner feels valued and included. We strongly believe continued and expanded funding is essential to ensure more young people with SEND can benefit from these life-changing opportunities, which build practical skills, raise aspirations and support preparation for adulthood. Please contact me if further information or learner progress examples are required; we are proud to support KIC Radio and look forward to continuing this partnership." ~ Tom Walton, Curriculum Pathway Lead

 

KIC Radio has played a pivotal role in supporting our T-Level students by providing high-quality placement opportunities. From the outset, they have shown great commitment and flexibility—accommodating students who, due to unforeseen circumstances, required additional placement hours, ensuring that every learner could successfully complete their work experience requirements.

Beyond placements, KIC Radio has actively collaborated with us to enhance our students’ learning experiences. They have helped deliver a summer bootcamp for our Level 2 and Level 3 students, offering hands-on opportunities in media production, teamwork, and communication. Many students, inspired by their experience, now volunteer in their own time to contribute to both the radio and KIC’s youth programmes.

The impact of this partnership has been profound. Students have developed essential skills such as communication, live radio production, teamwork, and collaboration—skills that have enriched their academic progress and boosted their personal confidence. ~
Samantha Ray, Walsall College - Industry Placement Officer

 

Community & Partner Impact

KIC has a strong history of partnership across the MIdlands and is trusted by many local organisations, who often refer young people to our projects for targeted support. in 2025-26 we worked closely with strategic partners, parents, funders, and the wider community to actively engage and refer young people through direct referrals, self-referrals, and proactive outreach.

 

• Supporting schools and youth services through outreach and volunteering

• Providing a platform for community campaigns and youth achievements

• Reducing isolation by offering a safe, creative environment

• Increasing civic pride through youth‑led broadcasting

• Partnering with Walsall Council, National Lottery, and local organisations to deliver funded programmes

 

 

Organisational Development

Recent developments include:

• Renovation of the 40ft mobile creative studio with National Lottery funding (Late 2024, Early 2025)

• Launch of the KIC Radio App and expanded digital presence. (Early 2025)

• Growth of podcasting output introducing more shows to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube (Mar 2025)

• Launched on DAB+ across Walsall and Wolverhampton (Dec 2025)

• Funding secured to expand our studios through renovation of 40ft container with Better Youth Spaces: Government grant fund administered by Social Investment Business (SIB)

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Future Plans & Funding Needs

• Expanding accredited training to more young people

• Increase live output on KIC Radio creating a truly youth voice radio station.

• Continue to build on SEND work placement programmes helping the media industry become more accessible too young people with SEND.

• Increasing outreach through our pop-up creative studio

• Growing podcast and digital content production

• Strengthening partnerships with schools, NHS, and community groups

• Sustaining DAB+ broadcasting and app development

• Expanding studio facilities by renovating 40ft container into new KIC Studios; Radio, Podcasting, TV, Performance Lounge and Music Production. 

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Thank You & Acknowledgements

KIC Radio extends heartfelt thanks to the young people and volunteers whose energy, creativity and commitment drive everything we do. We are equally grateful to the local schools and youth services who open their doors, share their expertise and work alongside us to create meaningful opportunities for young people across Walsall. Our community partners and loyal listeners also play a vital role in amplifying youth voice, strengthening our programmes and helping us build a more connected, confident and inclusive community.

Key Partners

Ormiston Shelfield Academy City of Wolverhampton College Walsall Studio School Walsall College Tettenhall Wood School	Walsall Council Walsall Works West Midlands Police Black Country NHS - WorkWell

We also want to take the opportunity to thank those who have funded KIC Radio and invested in young people: 

     

The National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities	Walsall Council: Healthy Activities & Food Programme	Heart of England Community Foundation: The Inclusive Communities Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund - Awards For All	Police and Crime Commissioner - My Community Fund	Walsall Council: UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Better Youth Spaces: Government grant fund administered by Social Investment Business (SIB)