“Our Lockdown Experience” podcast challenge for Peterborough schools

As schools reopen their doors for a new academic year, Peterborough community radio station PCR FM has launched a school’s podcast competition for children to share their personal lockdown experiences.

Kev Lawrence, who recently joined PCR FM to host its breakfast show, is encouraging local schools to get involved. He announced the new competition live on the show this week.

The PT is backing the competition and will also be featuring some of the successful entries.

Mr Lawrence said: “We’ve launched this competition to capture the emotions and experiences of local children during the last six months.

“Their worlds were turned upside down by coronavirus when schools and play spaces were closed and they couldn’t see their friends.

“This would have had a huge impact on their emotional state. By getting them to record a podcast, we can get them to reflect on their experience and share what they did to cope.”

All schools in and around Peterborough are invited to get involved.

There are two categories - one for primary schools (Key Stages 1 and 2) and one for secondary schools (Key Stages 3 to 4). Podcasts should be a maximum of seven minutes long and can be created as a small group or a class. As schools can only submit one entry, they could even look to get the entire school involved.

The two winning schools will be announced in early November and their podcast will be played live on the PCR FM Kev Lawrence Breakfast Show and featured in the PT.

In addition, the winning schools will each receive a visit from the show’s host, Mr Lawrence, and receive an Amazon voucher for £250.

The podcast competition is sponsored by Peterborough-based software company, e4education, creators of innovative websites and digital solutions.

The company’s CEO, John Roach, who is also one of the competition judges, commented: “During the pandemic we’ve seen schools evolve and adapt to support their students and communities. This competition is the perfect way to encapsulate their experiences and I’m looking forward to listening to all the entries.”

Schools who would like to take part in the competition should visit the dedicated website www.e4education.co.uk/pcr or tune into PCR FM’s Kev Lawrence Breakfast show on 103.2 Mhz FM weekdays between 7am-10am for more details. The closing date for entries is October 23.