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Nico first got involved with National Prison Radio whilst he was serving a sentence inside HMP Brixton. Now, he’s out, living his best life and is an Assistant Producer for Station Sound at the BBC. Nico is the perfect example of what we do, why we do it, the power of radio and the type of talent that lives behind bars.
“Prison Radio gave me hope. It shone a light on me when I was in a dark place.”
Nico has just recently finished his Internship at BBC 1Xtra as a Content Assistant on their Where It Begins Scheme – a role that he beat 399 people to. In his time there, he worked alongside a range of independent production companies, BBC Audio, attended a range of events, travelled up and down the country and even met the likes of Denzel Washington, Pharrell Williams, and Krept and Konan. But most importantly, he showed them the Nico that we grew to love – someone with such charisma, drive and a love for radio and media.
Nico has always had a passion for music. When he was 14 he started recording music and writing lyrics. Unfortunately, along the way he lost himself and ended up serving a prison sentence. However, this prison sentence introduced him to National Prison Radio.
“When I was sentenced to prison, my peers thought it was the end of the road for me. But little did they know, it was only the beginning of something much bigger.”
Whilst inside HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Nico stumbled across National Prison Radio on his in-cell television and it became an outlet for him when he listened. A month later, he got shipped to HMPYOI Isis where he joined a radio course to learn the tricks of the trade. He completed that course and not long after got shipped to HMP Brixton.
Nico first joined National Prison Radio in 2023 and we knew how special he was from the get go. When he worked for us inside he produced and hosted multiple different shows and showcased his incredible talent to us and our listeners.
Already well versed in sound engineering, the team at National Prison Radio taught Nico about script writing and how to produce and present a show…and the rest is history.
“Looking back, the highlight of my time in prison was working for Prison Radio. I craved creativity, spending hours in my cell brainstorming ideas and listening to National Prison Radio. I’ll never forget stepping into that studio and locking in, producing shows exactly the way I envisioned them. At one point, I had four shows on the air every week!
I remember people approaching me on the wing, saying, “You’re Nico! I heard your voice on NPR when I was locked up in another prison!”. That moment was a wake-up call. If I could reach potentially 80,000 listeners in prisons, what could I achieve once I was free?“
After Nico left prison, he took part in our Talent Development Programme which gave him the opportunity to apply and secure a job at the BBC. A central part of our Talent Development Programme is the production of our podcast, Outside In:
Outside In is a taste of National Prison Radio on the outside. It’s produced and presented by people who have previously worked at National Prison Radio whilst serving prison sentences. It shines a spotlight on opportunities that exist beyond the prison gates and provides inspiration, information and entertainment. It offers guidance and practical tips to help ease the transition back into a life outside of prison, and highlights organisations that help people get back on track. Nico produced and presented Outside In whilst on our Talent Development Programme.
This gave him the confidence and tools to go further with his radio career. His time with National Prison Radio and Outside In gave him the foundations to complete his Where It Begins Scheme and highlighted his talent, skills and enthusiasm that’s needed in the audio industry.
“A little over a year has passed since my release, and I’ve accomplished so much. I’ve worked on podcasts, secured a spot on the Where It Begins Scheme at 1Xtra—competing against 399 others—and I now work across multiple departments at the BBC. I started as a Content Assistant at 1Xtra, writing scripts, creating montages, and managing data. Today, I’m an Assistant Producer for Station Sound, crafting audio for networks like Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, Radio 6, and the Asian Network. It’s ironic to think that if I hadn’t gone to prison, I wouldn’t be in this position now. Music has always been my passion, but for most of my life, I listened to everyone else’s expectations instead of following my own heart.
I just want to remind everyone, no matter what you’re going through, it’s never too late for a fresh start. It won’t always be easy, but there’s plenty of beauty in the struggle—so embrace it!
When I got out of prison, I made a promise to listen to myself. And look where it’s gotten me—this is only the beginning!
A huge thanks to the team at Prison Radio Association for laying the foundation for where I am today. I’d also like to thank the BBC for recognising my hard work and talent, despite my past not being something I can always be proud of. And of course, thanks to all my peers who have supported me along the way!“
Nico’s ultimate goal is to one day be a presenter at the BBC and we can’t wait to be there cheering him on and listening in when that day arrives.
You can listen to Nico’s story on our Secret Life of Prisons podcast here.
Today more than 20% of the Prison Radio Association’s staff team have spent time in prison and we plan to continue building on this figure. We know that radio programmes about prison life are better when they’re made by people who have lived it.
Outside In is available on Spotify, iTunes and wherever you get your podcasts. Follow and subscribe.
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National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on in-cell TV.
National Prison Radio was founded by the Prison Radio Association – a registered charity. Our shows help people to cope with life inside prison and thrive on release. If you would like to support our work, and enhance the futures of people in prison across the UK you can make a donation at prison.radio/donate.