Gaydio Academy

Welcome to the Gaydio Academy

A not-for-profit LGBTQ+ organisation,
supporting the community through the provision of confidence-building, skills-based education and training.

About The Gaydio Academy

Free projects and courses each year

300+ learners

Across the UK

70 combined years' industry experience

Award winning programmes and courses

Take Part

The Gaydio Academy helps Gaydio reflect the diversity of the audience we represent. It's a core building block in our mission to be the UK's LGBTQ+ station.

All activities at The Gaydio Academy are free. No experience is necessary. We're LGBTQ+ focussed, not LGBTQ+ exclusive.

As a learner, you'll get experience in media and content creation while you learn new transferrable skills.
After training, you can expect to collaborate with others, creating professional-quality audio packages with support from our team.
You'll build your confidence and become more employable in the process - all in a fun environment where you'll make friends.
After you finish, there are opportunities to progress to further work experience and volunteering.

Interested? Get In Touch

Current Courses

Intro To Radio & Podcasting (Trafford) The Gaydio Academy, in partnership with WEA, is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to give participants their first steps in radio, a look at the industry as a whole and then creating content for participants to take away with them to help them into future volunteering roles & work experience.

Intro To Radio & Podcasting (Tameside) The Gaydio Academy, in partnership with WEA, is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to give participants their first steps in radio, a look at the industry as a whole and then creating content for participants to take away with them to help them into future volunteering roles & work experience.

Intro To Radio & Podcasting (Stockport) The Gaydio Academy, in partnership with WEA, is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to give participants their first steps in radio, a look at the industry as a whole and then creating content for participants to take away with them to help them into future volunteering roles & work experience.

Intro to Radio & Podcasting 2024-2025 (Birmingham / Sheffield / Leeds) The Gaydio Academy, in partnership with National Lottery 'Awards For All', is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to give participants their first steps in radio, a look at the industry as a whole and then creating content for participants to take away with them to help them into future volunteering roles & work experience.

Intro to Radio & Podcasting 2024-2026 (Brighton) The Gaydio Academy, in partnership with National Lottery 'Awards For All', is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to give participants their first steps in radio, a look at the industry as a whole and then creating content for participants to take away with them to help them into future volunteering roles & work experience.

Work Club 2024-2026 (Manchester) Work Club 2024-2025, with the Academy, is delivering radio and work skills training, peer support and mentoring to help jobless people from Greater Manchester and the surroundings to find secure employment and/or training.

Unlock Your Voice (Manchester) Unlock Your Voice, funded by Children in Need, is delivering radio skills training, peer support and mentoring to help 14-18-year-olds from Greater Manchester and the surroundings to gain new skills in the industry and set them up for future volunteering and work experience.

Previous Courses

Intro to Music Playlisting & Radio Show Creation (Universal Music Group x Gaydio)

Intro to Radio & Podcasting (Wipro x The Princes Trust, London)

Intro to Radio & Podcasting 2024 - Awards For All (Birmingham)

Intro to Radio & Podcasting 2024 (Edinburgh, Dundee & Fife)

Work Club 2023-2024 (Manchester)

Projects

Alongside short taught courses that run over a week-or-so, The Gaydio Academy facilitates longer-term projects, with opportunities for involvement throughout the year. You could find yourself interviewing local politicians, putting together a series of podcasts to help tackle loneliness and isolation in our community or creating digital content to make a splash across social media.

Projects

Applicants Testimonials

We love what we do, but it's what our learners, schools and partner organisations say that really matters. Whether you're a keen radio geek or a first-timer, you'll find the experience of someone just like you below...

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Lee for everything this week. I've learnt a whole new skill set and a lot about the radio industry and that's with huge huge thanks to you. I honestly can not thank you enough for your time and dedication put into all of us during this course.

Participant from course

Manchester

Lee and the Gaydio staff are a force to be reckoned with. They know their stuff and you truly believe you are in good hands with the knowledge you receive valuable and very informative delivered in a fun way that makes you take every bit in. If I could I would go on every course Gaydio holds. Definitely made me want to join and work in radio more. Enjoyable from start to finish and hopefully I have made friends for life with the staff and other students. You feel when you attend you are joining the Gaydio family. I look forward to coming back in for a catch-up.

Participant from course

Manchester

The atmosphere at the Gaydio Academy is absolutely positive and vibrant compared to anywhere I have been. It helps when everyone at Gaydio is friendly and evoking positive vibes, including the employees working at Gaydio. The course tutor, Lee, is friendly, patient and helpful. I learned more about creating C.V.s, which the job centre failed and didn't bother to teach me about over the years. Lee is gracious enough to give me feedback and tips on how to improve my C.V.

Participant from course

Manchester

I really enjoyed the day and had so much fun working and learning the different things that go into radio production.

Participant from course

Manchester

Testimonials

The Princes Trust - Manchester
"Each course we have run with them has been very fun, educational, and inspiring as well as helping people find their voice and confidence. This course has been a fantastic avenue for our young people who are trying to get their start in media which is desperately needed. On the back of these courses we have had people successfully apply for and start new jobs, one person started their own podcast and many more start back up their various stages of education."
The Princes Trust - Manchester
"The Gaydio Academy has been a great partner to work with, they offer fantastic courses to young people that really help them realise their potential and how crucial teamwork is in the world of work, not just radio. They are very accommodating to the wide range of support needs that the young people we work with may bring and are great advocates for getting them involved with other communities and volunteer opportunities."
Out Together
"The project that Out Together was asked to take part in was great and we have had people come to us for support which is fab!"
The Proud Trust
"We have worked with Gaydio several times in the past and the quality of the workshops and safe spaces they create for young people to thrive is some of the best I've come across!"
The Princes Trust - Manchester
"Gaydio are a fantastic group and Lee is a great educator who balances fun learning, a packed timetable and thoughtful support to everyone on the course!"

The Gaydio Academy Newsletter

If you would like to keep up to date with future Academy courses and projects which you can get involved with then subscribe to our newsletter by clicking the button below.

The Gaydio Academy Newsletter