Common Truths Radio Series 3 begins

Hi everyone

Thanks for checking in, and welcome to the start of CTR3.

It feels great to finally be able to say that the new series is underway. This is going to be by far the biggest Common Truths Radio project so far, bringing together true-life climate stories, original music, workshops, young people, community partners, live events and a new 20-episode radio series.

At the heart of it all are real stories from people who have been personally affected by climate change. We are not trying to make something preachy or distant. The project is about human experience: home, family, weather, food, water, land, work, loss, change and survival. Stories from the UK and around the world, told with care, music and imagination.

We are currently in discussion with schools and Black Country Radio about the youth journalism strand of the project. Young people will be supported to explore and gather stories that will help shape the new series, with Black Country Radio also broadcasting the finished episodes and supporting the project through mentoring, roadshows and public engagement.

Work is also beginning with DiscoverU, a charity working to help adults with learning disabilities into employment, where part of the project involves a studio uplift and refurbishment of their IT suite. This will include improved creative equipment, recording facilities and a podcast studio space. We have started conversations with Luke, the carpenter who will be carrying out the practical work, and we are now finalising the equipment and workshops so that participants can develop skills in areas such as podcasting, filmmaking, music production, animation and digital media.

Alongside all of that, we are starting to bring together the creative team: scriptwriters, workshop leaders, musicians and artists who will help turn the gathered stories into a new radio series. I have also started producing music for the project, which is always the part where things begin to feel real to me.

Over the next few months, there will be a lot happening: story gathering, workshops, studio development, roadshows, live music, community events and plenty of behind-the-scenes work. I’ll use this space to share updates as the project develops.

For now, this is only the beginning.

Thanks for being here.

Gren