±«Óãtv

±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live's presenters and reporters will hand over the airwaves to a cross-section of young people aged from three to 19, for a one-hour special on Saturday 11 June, entirely voiced by youngsters.

The Kids On Hope Street features children and young people all connected to Hope Streets across the length and breadth of the country, and offers an insightful peek into the hopes, fears, aspirations and dreams of the next generation.

Radio 5 Live visited some of the hundred or so Hope Streets scattered around the UK during the run-up to last month's elections, to listen to the opinions of those who were too young to vote this time round, and to find out what really matters to them.

Young people aged between three and 19 years old discuss subjects including career aspirations, hopes and wishes for the future, their thoughts on technology, healthcare, faith and religion, the environment, the economy and children's position in society today.

The Kids On Hope Street allows the youngsters to share their personal thoughts about their own futures, and also that of the wider community, revealing which of the prominent issues covered by today's media are making an impression on the next generation.

The participants provide a diverse cross-section of views from 13-year-old Oliver, a member of the youth parliament who hopes for a career in politics, to three-year-old Hannah who wants to be a pirate and to 17-year-old Katie, a model who is aiming for a business career.

One, 17-year-old Evie from Maidstone, explains that she is taking driving lessons as she believes her generation must be more independent, while others raise concerns over a lack of facilities available to young people which leads to anti-social behaviour. Concerns about the environment, the economy and creating a more accepting and forgiving society are reoccurring themes across all ages and locations.

Commenting on the idea behind The Kids On Hope Street, 5 Live's Deputy Controller, Jonathan Wall, said: "The Kids On Hope Street provides an interesting snapshot of what our young people think about the world today, and what the future looks like through their eyes."

The Kids On Hope Street is produced by Soundscape Productions and is one of several new programmes created for Radio 5 Live by independent producers from across the ±«Óãtv North region as part of the ±«Óãtv North Creative Kicker Fund. Soundscape Productions is based in York and has a reputation for producing creative radio projects.

The Kids On Hope Street is broadcast on Saturday 11 June from 7.05pm on ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live.

Listeners can hear ±«Óãtv Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra via DAB radio, online at bbc.co.uk/5live, Digital Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and 909 & 693 AM.

Notes to Editors

The programme is produced for Soundscape Productions by Andy Cartwright.

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