Community radio stations are invaluable to community life and have played an important role during the Coronavirus pandemic by sharing information and offers of help and support to local residents. It is for these reasons that I have celebrated the fantastic work of these volunteers by rewarding our local stations Uckfield FM and Hailsham FM with a Wealden Hero Award.
Whilst doing everything within their power to maintain their services, community radio stations have been under huge pressure since the lockdown began. With their usual means of income and fundraising being affected by the pandemic, community radio stations are in urgent need of securing extra funding.
I have made representations to the Government in support of local community radio stations. A consortium of over 100 local radio stations, including Uckfield FM and Hailsham FM, has written to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to press the case for Community Radio stations to receive payment for playing Government advertisements and public service announcements, as Commercial Radio stations currently do - a copy of the letter is attached below.
I celebrated Local Radio Day with Uckfield FM, broadcasting live from Uckfield High Street, celebrating and strengthening the connections that local radio brings to communities, to industry professionals, and to individuals.
I was delighted to welcome a new radio station, Weald Pod Radio to the area. Weald Pod Radio is a new digital radio station, launching to keep residents of Kent and Sussex you up to date with what is happening throughout the area through a combination of live radio shows and podcasts available ‘on demand’.
I appear regularly on Hailsham FM and hold monthly catch ups with Uckfield FM. Check my Media section to listen to my latest interviews.
