One of the biggest challenges with our hobby today is encouraging young people to put down their smartphones and engage with amateur radio. To that end, in 2014, the RSGB formed its youth committee, charged with raising awareness of the hobby to inspire those aged 25 and under to take part.
Since then, members of the RSGB Youth Committee have been busy promoting the hobby and engaging with groups of young people. Successes for the group so far include the first YOTA (“Youngsters On The Air”) event, a trip for 4 young people to Italy, plus the first youth DXpedition in the Brecon Beacons. Very soon, there will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for schools to make contact with the first British astronaut, Commander Tim Peake.
At the 2015 National Hamfest, we caught up with the Chairman of the RSGB Youth Committee, Mike Jones 2E0MLJ, to find out how the group’s first year has gone – Here’s a link to our interview:
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Interview with RSGB Youth Committee Chairman Mike Jones 2E0MLJ (6 mins, mp3 format)
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In the interview, Mike’s clear that RSGB needs the help of clubs in order to get young people into the hobby, and the RSGB is working on providing the affiliated clubs with what they need to help spread the word and inspire tomorrow’s amateurs. One of the RSGB’s newest tools is the new “Hobby for the 21st Century” video, which is being very well received and has already proved itself at JOTA events as being a great tool for attracting the interests of the target market:
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RSGB Amateur Radio : Hobby for the 21st Century |
Action for clubs
It would be great to see the video shared far and wide, so if you or your club use Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms, please share the following link:
Also, as Mike says in the interview, make contact with the RSGB Youth team. Each region has a local rep, so make contact and find out how you can help promote the hobby to tomorrow’s amateurs
