We recently enjoyed a trip to Birmingham for the National Community Radio conference and awards.

The inclusive radio show Life on the Edge, which I make with the young people at Edge Ahead UK, was shortlisted for an award in the Voices of the Community category.

People from all over the country came together to celebrate community radio and share ideas. There were talks on a range of topics. I joined a panel discussion on equality and diversity in radio and shared experiences of involving people with disabilities in radio projects.

My journey began when I was volunteering at hospital radio. I was asked to train a gentleman called Mark who has autism.

At the time I had no idea what that was, but I saw a young man who had a passion and would make an excellent broadcaster. We just needed to get him to that point in a way that worked for him.

We achieved that and Mark went on to present his own radio show. He has now moved to Staffordshire but we remain close friends.

Emma and I were able to have lunch with him on his 40th birthday, which by chance was the day before the awards. Mark told me he wouldn't be the person he is today if it wasn't for the support and encouragement given him back then.

I felt emotional seeing the impact on his life, and on my own too, leading to me becoming a support worker with people with learning disabilities.

During Covid we created "The Supported Living Radio show" on Radio Woking as a way to keep the people I was working with connected.

Another gentleman, also called Mark, got involved recording these shows.

As we emerged from lockdown he got together with his friend James and built a community of people, all whom have learning disabilities, to create It's That Friday Feeling.

The show still broadcasts on Surrey Hills Community Radio, the team now making the show and travelling to Leatherhead to present it independently.

At the end of 2020 I began working for a charity and spent the next five years making an inclusive radio programme which led to us taking over the BBC Radio Surrey Breakfast show in 2025.

Now I work for Edge Ahead UK creating a monthly show called Life on the Edge, and my Sunday show on Radio Woking is what I call a community within a community, providing a platform for voices that often go unheard.

Although we didn't win an award on the night, being shortlisted is a huge honour for me as well as the radio stations and Edge Ahead UK and the work they do supporting young people with education, employment and community confidence. Find out more at www.edgeahead.uk

Listen to my radio shows on Radio Woking: Sunday 9am – noon, Wednesday 7-9am. Life on The Edge every second Sunday at noon with Edge Ahead UK.

You can hear Emma and I on Surrey Hills Community Radio every second Monday at 9pm and Life on the Edge airs every first Monday at 10am.

Send me a voice note – www.speakpipe.com/jonandrews or email [email protected]