Podcast Artist – Call Out

August 2026

Calling all creative podcasters!

Image by Tynesight Photography

A young girl wearing glasses and a white polo shirt sits on the classroom floor while someone holds a microphone toward her. She appears to be speaking or responding during an activity. Grey chairs and colourful classroom materials are visible in the background.

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Calling all creative podcasters!

We’re looking for an experienced practitioner who loves working with children and young people to join us from October 2026 to July 2027.

You’ll co‑produce a series of short, child‑led podcasts with Christ Church Primary School, North Shields – capturing the excitement, challenges and big feelings of the transition from primary to secondary school.

If you’re passionate about youth voice, storytelling and playful audio production, we want to hear from you.

Brief

Transition Chronicles is an innovative creative health project using cross artform approaches. Helix Arts are working in partnership between Christ Church C of E Primary School. This project is designed to support Year 5 and 6 pupils as they prepare for the transition to secondary school through outdoor and digital engagement.

The podcast recordings will be installed via bluetooth speakers in a unique outdoor listening environment that will provide a lasting space for reflection and connection year on year into the future and be made available online via QR code.

This project is a strategic project under the umbrella of our Better Connect programme funded as part of the Chris Drinkwater award.

We are looking for an experienced podcaster/digital artist who can work with Year 6 pupils from Christ Church Primary school to produce their own series of podcasts.

The artist will work with the pupils over a school year to create 4 – 6 short podcasts, which reflect key points of their journey; capturing different feelings and responses to different stages of the year 6 school year as they transition from primary into secondary school. (See timetable for further details) The podcasts should be suitable for sharing on multiple platforms to be accessed by wider audiences.

To support the sustainability of the project and enable future podcasting ability within the school, the specialist will lead basic podcasting CPD workshops for the teaching/support staff at the school too.

This will be to advise the teachers on how to set up and use equipment, how to complete basic editing and top tips on the process.

You will:

Facilitate engagement with pupils to capture content
Record and produce short 4 – 6 podcasts
Support distribution of content
Work closely with partners, including to review and reflection points
Advise on the purchase of podcasting equipment for use in the project and afterwards in the school
Plan and lead up to 2 days CPD(3 – 4 half days) with teachers and support staff
Advise on appropriate platforms for podcast release to widen reach
Complete any post-production required on each of the podcasts to ensure they are of a high-quality for releasing
Support the collection of evaluation and monitoring data from the young people
Provide high quality evidence of the process and outcomes
Will instigate interim reflection and review work.

About the project

Transition Chronicles is an innovative creative health approach through a partnership between Christ Church C of E Primary School and Helix Arts, designed to support Year 5 and 6 pupils as they prepare for the transition to secondary school.

Through a series of artist-led podcasting and vlogging workshops, young people will explore their hopes, worries and experiences of change, using storytelling, digital creativity and outdoor reflection to build confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

The project responds to the recognised impact that transition can have on children’s mental health, particularly for those experiencing disadvantage or additional needs, with 50% of participating pupils identified as having SEND. By listening to and creating podcasts that capture peer, parent and family perspectives, participants will develop self-awareness, empathy, communication skills and positive coping strategies, while reducing feelings of isolation and anxiety.

The programme will also strengthen oracy, creativity and engagement in learning, supporting educational outcomes alongside wellbeing. Families will play an active role throughout, contributing their own experiences and helping to create a supportive community around transition.

A unique outdoor listening environment will provide a lasting space for reflection and connection year on year into the future and be made available online via QR code.

This project aims to increase confidence and resilience for at least 75% of participants, create a sustainable legacy resource for future pupils and families, and demonstrate how creative health approaches can improve wellbeing, readiness for learning and successful transitions into secondary education.

This project has been funded by Chris Drinkwater Creative Health in Primary Schools Award.