Health podcasts created by young people in Herefordshire for young people have been nominated for a national award.

A series of free podcasts aimed at helping young people to get more in tune with their health and wellbeing, including one featuring four young people from Herefordshire, will be competing with the likes of celebrity Radio Presenter, Fearne Cotton, at a national awards ceremony on Thursday, October 18th in Leeds.

The podcasts have been shortlisted in the Best Podcasts category with five others from across the UK in the ARIAS awards.

The ARIAS are the principal awards of the UK’s audio and radio industry.

The ‘Health Uncovered’ podcasts, hosted by TV and radio personality Cel Spellman, feature young people talking about a range of different topics from sexual health, bullying and grooming to substance misuse, mental health and the pressure of social media.

Since their release in November, 2017, they have proved to be a huge hit with the public, resulting in over 17,000 downloads. The successful pilot project is a collaboration between Herefordshire and Shropshire Councils.

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “This award nomination is down to the fantastic work of the young people who helped to make this exciting project happen.

“By talking openly and honestly about their own lives, these young people have shared their experiences in a form that can easily be accessed by others and hopefully these podcasts will have provided reassurance to others who may be facing similar issues and signposted people to professional organisations where they can find advice and support.”

To download one of the ten available podcasts, visit the Apple iTunes or Stitcher Android app stores and search ‘Health Uncovered’. The series is also available on Twitter @HealthUncovNHS and Instagram @healthuncovered.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.