Failing Forwards is the newest series from Unity Voices: bold, unfiltered conversations that put young people’s real experiences front and centre. No sugarcoating, just honest talk about education, life’s struggles and the fight to be heard.

In this episode, the group takes on one of the biggest issues facing their generation: social media. They cover the pressure to perform online and the blurred line between real life and filtered perfection, and they hold nothing back.

The standout moment? They all agree that access to social media should be capped at 16. They ask whether today’s age limits actually protect anyone, and whether the platforms are doing enough.

It’s real, reflective and at times uncomfortable, but it’s a conversation that needs to happen. Understanding the risks is the first step to changing the game.

📱💬 Too Much, Too Soon? Let’s talk about it.

🎧 Failing Forwards: From Struggles to Success, One Story at a Time.

📻 Catch it on air too! Failing Forwards is broadcast every Tuesday at 3pm on Bedrock Radio, Romford’s local community station for East London and West Essex. Tune in on DAB+, the Bedrock Radio app, online at bedrockradio.org.uk, or on smart speakers.

Sources: Bedrock Radio

We talk about the Black figures who inspire us, from Rosa Parks and Malcolm X to Yaa Asantewaa, the Ashanti queen mother who led the War of the Golden Stool against British colonial rule in 1900. Then we ask the big question: is Black History Month itself a form of racism? Our answers might surprise you.

We also dig into how Black History Month began in the UK in 1987*, whether schools are still living up to its original purpose, and why so many of us keep learning about “the same three people” while struggling to name a single Black British hero. Plus, Ruby Bridges and the New Orleans Four, personal experiences of racism, and an honest conversation about policing, stereotypes and the murder of George Floyd.

Our conclusion? Black excellence shouldn’t be confined to one month. It deserves to be celebrated all year round.

Content note: this episode includes discussion of racism, racial slurs and police violence.

The views expressed are the panel’s own and do not reflect those of Euphony.

*Correction: In the episode, we describe the founder of Black History Month in the UK as a Ghanaian woman. The founder is actually Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian man who organised the first UK celebration in 1987 while working at the Greater London Council. Apologies for the mix-up, and for the pronunciation!

The conversation starts with relationships. Some of the panel feel monogamy is still the right way, while others say that what other people do isn't their business, even if it isn't for them. On traditional gender roles, most of the group agree that what matters is having the choice. Women shouldn't be shamed for wanting to stay at home, and men shouldn't be shamed for wanting to either. It's interesting to hear how differently the girls and the boys see it.

From there, we move on to gay and trans rights, including the history of same-sex marriage in the UK and the 2025 Supreme Court ruling. Views differed here, and things got honest. The discussion turned to stereotypes, why putting people into boxes doesn't work, and why you can respect someone even if you don't share their views.

We also talk about the idea that "boys don't cry," how different people deal with their emotions, and healthier ways to express yourself, like writing or making music. Finally, we discuss people using drugs and alcohol to cope, and why it matters to be educated about the risks.

The panel's final message: you have the free will to live your life, but do everything in moderation and stay in control of yourself.

The views and opinions shared in this episode belong to the individual speakers and do not reflect those of Youth Unity.

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next one!

The facts mentioned in the podcast are not accurate and would like to highlight them here.

The claim that trans people were "only allowed to be trans" last year isn't quite right. The 2025 Supreme Court ruling decided that "sex" in the Equality Act means biological sex. The boxer mentioned in the episode is also often wrongly described as trans. You might want to fix those points in the edit or add a short correction.

Since the episode discusses drugs and your listeners are young, it's worth ending the description with a line pointing to support, like Talk to FRANK (talktofrank.com) or Childline (0800 1111). I'd also cut the "trust your source" part from the final edit if you can.

Shirley explains that it began with a simple idea: bringing London's community organisations together so they could work as a team instead of apart. To get young people involved, she organised a football tournament at Hackney Marshes, and the next one in Barking and Dagenham drew around 65 teams. Part of that event focused on knife crime. After meeting parents who had lost children to violence, Shirley was determined to do more.

What started as a passion project with no funding grew when she teamed up with filmmaker Paul McKenzie and her business partner James Hensman. Today Youth Unity works in around nine boroughs and supports more than 300 young people a week, through everything from one-to-one mentoring to mental health support.

We also talk about the closure of more than 1,200 youth centres and why young people just want somewhere to go. The conversation turns to growing up online too, including how desensitised young people have become, the under-16 social media ban, and how AI makes it harder to know what's real.

We finish with what Youth Unity means to us: a safe space, new friendships and opportunities like podcasting and photography. Coming up next are a film project funded by Stronger Futures, Thursday sessions, and plans for a Youth Unity youth panel.

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next one!

The format is simple. Someone reads out a story, a real situation, the kind that gets posted online or passed between friends. Everyone decides who was in the wrong. Then they argue about it.

What makes it worth listening to isn't the verdicts. It's a group of fifteen-year-old girls thinking out loud about how people treat each other, and being far more precise about it than adults usually give them credit for. They notice the detail that changes everything. They spot when someone's being unfair and when someone's just being human. They don't let each other off with a lazy answer.

Over 26 minutes they work through a run of scenarios, including a woman in her forties who asks a young person to buy her food, then orders again, and again, until saying yes starts to feel like being used.

Somewhere in the arguing, a bigger question keeps surfacing: what do we actually owe each other? When does looking out for someone become letting them take advantage? Who gets the benefit of the doubt, and who never does?

No script, no adults steering it. They bring the stories, they lead it, and they push back on each other hard.

Recorded live at our Friday night session at The Battis.

This podcast features guests sharing their own views and experiences. The opinions expressed are those of the individuals speaking and do not necessarily reflect the views of Youth Unity CIC, its partners or funders. Some topics may be sensitive; listener discretion is advised. If you're affected by anything discussed, please seek support from appropriate local services or trusted professionals.

This week they wanted to record it.

The question on the table, one they've been circling for weeks: has music normalised drugs, alcohol and violence, or is it just describing a world that was already like that?

It's a conversation young people have been having among themselves for a long time, usually without adults in the room. This time they led it, chose the direction, and pushed back on each other. No script, no adults steering it, just the conversation as it happened. What comes out is more honest and more complicated than the headlines usually allow.

In this episode they get into:

• whether artists have a responsibility for what they put out
• the difference between describing a life and glamorising it
• what happens when the same lyrics are used as evidence in court
• what their parents / teachers get wrong about drill and rap
• what they'd actually change, if anything

This conversation was recorded at a youth session and led by the young people taking part, all of whom are under 18. Each contributor gave their own informed consent to being recorded and to this episode being published publicly, and parental or carer consent was obtained in every case. First names only are used throughout.

The discussion covers drugs, alcohol and violence in music. Nothing here is an endorsement of any of it, the views expressed belong to the individual speakers and don't necessarily reflect those of Youth Unity or our partners.

We talk about their personal journeys into the film and television industry: growing up, the challenges they faced, and the trials and tribulations that have shaped their careers. Koby, who grew up in Thamesmead, speaks about his connection to the area and why it matters to see local stories and communities represented on screen.

Both share honest, practical advice for young people hoping to build careers in film, TV and the wider creative industries — shining a light on the many pathways that are often overlooked, from production and directing to writing, technical and behind‑the‑scenes roles.

It's an inspiring conversation about ambition, identity and resilience — and proof of how far your story can take you.

About the show: Supacell is a Netflix series created by Rapman, following five ordinary South Londoners who suddenly develop extraordinary powers.

This interview forms part of Youth Unity CIC's ongoing commitment to creating opportunities for young people through media, arts, education and community engagement.

Real Voices. Real Stories. Real Change. → www.youthunity.org

Featuring Koby Adom and Akwasi Poku (Supacell production team). Filmed in and around Thamesmead.