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INTERVIEW: Beyond Radio's youngest presenter chats to new interim CEO of Lancaster youth charity

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 13:34

Kyle McKenzie, interim CEO of Escape2Make, with Lucy C, host of a Saturday morning show on Beyond Radio

Our youngest presenter Lucy C has been interviewing - or interrogating (!) - the new interim head of a Lancaster youth charity who helped her get started in radio!

Lucy C, 14, welcomed Kyle McKenzie as her studio guest for her Saturday morning show on July 12.

Kyle is the new interim CEO (chief executive officer) of the Lancaster-based Escape2Make (E2M).

E2M aims to help all 11-18 year-olds in the Lancaster and Morecambe area to escape from boredom, social media, loneliness and any pressure at school or home by providing workshops and short courses hosted by local businesses, national businesses, local artists and university students.

It has also run successful youth-led events in the local area including a Green Festival and Heritage Marketplace Festival.

Lucy started presenting for Beyond Radio after taking part in a workshop for the E2M Heritage Marketplace Festival, held in Market Square, Lancaster in 2023.

She produced a podcast about Lancaster Castle with help from our very own Greg Lambert and Chris Brookbanks.

And Lucy loved it so much, she ended up with her own show on Beyond Radio!

Here's Lucy's interview with Kyle, which she described jokingly as "an interrogation!"

LISTEN to Lucy C's interview with Kyle McKenzie

Kyle originally joined E2M in 2019.

An E2M spokesperson said Kyle "has been able to completely transform it and turn all of our dreams into reality!

"Since joining, Kyle has put an endless amount of hard work, dedication, and passion into creating a safe, welcoming, and kind creative space for all 11-18-year-olds in Lancaster!

"Kyle has been E2M’s leading voice in production and delivery for six years. He has been instrumental in the success of Escape2Make’s incredible events, including the Cabaret, Heritage Market Festival, Green Festivals and the E2M Fair.

"He has produced hundreds of workshops where young people have worked alongside incredible artists, gained unforgettable experiences, made like-minded friends, and escaped from the pressures of being a teenager.

"More recently Kyle has been central to the team who have worked very hard to secure a premises and open the E2M space on Church Street, new programmes are being developed in partnership with other local organisations including Connect workshops with the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal and a programme in partnership with Lancashire Youth Challenge for young people who experience emotionally based school avoidance.

"Kyle will lead further projects that are currently under development at E2M. With his dedication to high-quality youth work and love of the arts Kyle will lead E2M into an exciting future."

Siobhan Collingwood, the previous CEO of Escape2Make, stepped down from the role in June.

LISTEN HERE to all the podcasts made by Lucy and the other young people who took part in our 'Podcast our Past' workshops with Escape2Make in 2023.

Read more: Former head teacher to leave role as CEO of Lancaster youth charity - Beyond Radio

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