It`s time to face the music!

Inspired by TV’s hit show ‘X Factor’, Cumbria County Council and its Resource Cumbria partners this year launched ‘The R Factor’, a fantastic new Cumbrian talent quest open to every primary school in the county aimed at spreading the message of the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Working in partnership with Musiclinks, a local charity tasked with developing and supporting musical talent at every level, nearly 170 primary schools across the county have participated in ‘Boot Camp’ - musical workshops to produce a song for Cumbria that will get us all Reducing, Reusing and Recycling. Designed to work in tandem with school curriculums, the R Factor has delivered a fantastic hands on experience for our young people through a fun and engaging learning process. But now its time for our budding stars to face the music! 

Our panel of judges has selected six finalists to go forward to the ‘Live shows’, 3 finalists in South Cumbria and 3 for the North of the County ... and what a show! The winning finalists will be broadcast across Lakeland Radio, The Bay and CFM and put to the public vote ‘X Factor’ style as we ask local residents to text for their favorite. The finalists go to air on Monday 20 April and the text lines go live for people to vote. You can hear the finalists montage on your local radio station or by visiting recycleforcumbria.org 

The two winners will have their song professionally produced and recorded as it becomes our Song for Cumbria and is broadcast countywide over the airwaves of our regional Radio Stations. So get involved and vote for your winner. Who has the R factor? You decide!