Stockport Independent Issue 208

5 OCTOBER 2026 Visit our website: www.independentnewspapers.co.uk A YOUNG radio presenter with aspirations to work on television is already make strides in her career after getting a BAFTA nod. Michalina Palenik has been working at Radio Northwich since December and now hosts her own weekly pop culture show. And after being encour- aged to apply for the BAFTA Young Presenters competition, the 17-year-old was named as a finalist and travelled to London with mum Daria for the awards ceremony in July. Although she didn’t win the award, Michalina is unde- terred from her goals and begins a TV and film produc- tion course in Manchester. “I really want to be in front of the camera on TV,” she said. “That’s like the main goal, to be a TV host. “I want to have my own TV show, like a talk show, where I interview people. I have always been a bit more of a listener, not a talker, although I do love talking.” Michalina, fromCrewe, has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Radio Northwich, with her colleagues one of her favour- ite things. “I really love them all,” she added. “Everyone’s really supportive. They’re all really nice.” At the age of 16, Michalina found that she was struggling to find local opportunities in the broadcast media industry. She added: “I was just scrolling on TikTok and I was thinking, what’s the next move that I can do, because there’s nothing here. “And then I came across the post. About the BAFTA Young Presenter.” Michalina first applied in 2025 and was long-listed, before going a step further this year after applying again. Her final audition for this year’s award required her to interview film critic Ali Plumb. She said: “Everyone was really, really lovely at the BAFTA HQ.” Young radio presenter gets BAFTA nomination Michalina has worked at Radio Northwich since December. (Image: Supplied) Youth worker takes on cycling challenge Jez Matthews, youth services project co- ordinator at DSN, set o! from the charity’s Maccles"eld o#ce. (Image: Supplied) A YOUTH worker took on a 50-mile cycling challenge to cel- ebrate 50 years of the Deaf & Sensory Network. Jez Matthews, youth ser- vices project co-ordinator at DSN, set off from the charity’s Macclesfield office. She rode to DSN’s London Road office in Northwich before con- tinuing to the finish line at DSN’s Chester office, at the Chester Deaf Centre on SouthViewRoad. The 50-mile route was chosen to mark DSN’s 50th anniversary, with every mile representing a year of the charity supporting deaf, deafblind and sensory-impaired people, families and communities across Cheshire and the surround- ing areas. Jez said: “I wanted to do some- thing that really reflected the 50th anniversary, and cycling 50 miles between our three Cheshire offices felt like the perfect challenge. “Through Youth Vibe I get to work with some brilliant young people and see the difference that having somewhere accessible, wel- coming and inclusive canmake. “DSN has been supporting peo- ple and families across Cheshire for 50 years, so this is my way of cele- brating that history while helping to raise money so that work can continue into the future.” The challenge is part of a year of activity marking DSN’s half century of supporting people with sen- sory loss. Jez works within DSN’s Youth Vibe service, which provides activ- ities and youth sessions for young people aged eight to 18 who have a hearing loss, are a CODA (child of a deaf adult) or are friends with a deaf young person. Money raised through Jez’s challenge will help DSN continue its work with communities across the region.