Coleg y Cymoedd scoops top prize at High Sheriff Awards

Students from Rhondda Cynon Taff and Caerphilly based Coleg y Cymoedd have been enlisted to give their views on the BBC’s UK-wide music radio networks.

More than 40 students and staff took part in an event hosted by BBC Audience Council Wales (AWC) to gather the views of audiences on the BBC’s music radio stations, which will contribute to the ACW’s advice to the BBC Trust as it conducts a service review of those stations.

The discussion was held at the College’s Nantgarw campus and offered students the opportunity to express their personal opinions on the output of BBC Radio 1, Radio 1 Extra, Radio 3, 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network.

One of the students to take part in the discussion was Rhodri Parker, a second year Level 3 BTEC computing student at the College’s Nantgarw campus.

Rhodri Parker, 18, from Cardiff, said: “I was one of the first to sign up to the discussion, and as a Welsh speaker I was particularly keen to express my views on the need for Welsh language programming to better cater to a younger audiences. This was a rare opportunity to provide direct input to the BBC and I hope our contributions were helpful.”

Findings from the discussion will be used alongside the results of other outreach events to inform the Council’s advice to the BBC Trust.

Sion Brynach, governance coordinator and secretary to Audience Council Wales said: “The Council’s events at which members hear directly from audiences are always interesting, but it was great to experience the enthusiasm of both staff and students for BBC music radio during the event at Coleg y Cymoedd. Radio clearly plays a significant part in many people’s lives and it was great to be able to hear, at first hand, what staff and students at Coleg y Cymoedd enjoy, and what they think could be improved in the BBC music radio output. The Council greatly appreciated the welcome afforded by the college and its help in hosting this event”.

Karen Phillips, deputy principal at Coleg y Cymoedd said: “We are delighted to have been asked to host the BBC Audience Council Wales for the second time. Our College is proud to represent students from across the South Wales Valleys; I hope that the dynamic nature of our student body and staff has presented the BBC with an opportunity to gain an accurate representation of our communities’ views.”

Share!