Joseph’s future looks bright after Empower Works support
24-year-old Joseph Davison is thriving in his new job after a successful work trial in a state-of-the-art factory.
Empower Works
Jobseeker launches radio show
A jobseeker who relied on music to help him through his mental health struggles has launched his own radio show on a well-known community station.
Chris Rowntree, 32, debuted his show “The Pit Stop” on Lionheart Radio in Alnwick on Thursday April 3.
Chris was introduced to the radio station by his advisor on Empower Works, an employability programme run by the North East Autism Society and Azure Charitable Enterprises.
He says: “I sometimes struggle in social situations. We talked about expanding my friendship group and hobbies, and my advisor asked me if I’d considered going into a studio.
“I’ve been going in to Lionheart for an hour a week for the past six months learning how live radio works, getting familiar with the equipment, and putting together ideas for my own show.
"I have always been interested in music. It has been a big help to me, particularly in the past five years or so while I have been struggling with mental health."
Chris, who lives in Bedlington, embarked on a career in nursing when he left school before going into the care sector and working in a variety of old people’s, children’s and supported living homes.
But it took its toll on his mental and physical health, and he has since been in and out of work as he looks for a change in career. His last role, a business administration apprenticeship, broke down because he wasn’t receiving the right level of support.
His Employment Advisor, Philip Hutchinson, says: “We’ve been looking for an alternative apprenticeship or a job, but we’ve also been discussing the skills Chris would like to develop and radio was one of them.”
Chris first got involved in radio during the Covid lockdown, when he put together a music show from home to be aired on a local community station. He also began doing live radio – again using software on his own computer – for an online station called SparkFlame.
But this is the first time he’s got to grips with a studio, advert and news breaks, reading the weather and hosting a community section. He’ll also be interacting with listeners who message the show. He said:
“If I was talking with 50 people in front of me, it would be terrifying. But on my own in the studio, it’s amazing.”
“I would love a job in radio full time, but the reality is it’s difficult to get into. However, I’d still want to be involved if I got another job because they’ve put a lot of time and effort into training me and it’s good for me to be doing this.”
You can listen to Chris’s show The Pit Stop on Thursdays at 11am-1pm online at https://www.lionheartradio.com/ or on the radio at 107.3FM. You can expect a lively mix – he says he has an “eclectic taste” in music ranging from Vera Lynn to current chart hits.
You may also be interested in...
Keep in the Loop
Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop with all our latest news and events, gain access to exclusive resources, and be the first to know about our newest shop items and updates!