The first round of the Community Radio Fund 2022-23 opened for applications from eligible stations on Tuesday 10 May 2022 and will close at 5pm on Friday 10 June 2022. The total amount available over the course of 2022-23 is £393,816, due to a small overallocation of funding in 2021-22 Read more +
Posts Tagged: community radio
Community Radio Fund: Award of Grants 2021-22, Round 2
Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund Panel (‘the Panel’) met on Friday 4 February 2022 to consider applications in the second round of funding for the 2021-22 financial year. The Panel considered each application and awarded funding based on the information provided and with reference to the Community Radio Fund (‘the Fund’) guidance notes. For Read more +
Statement from the CMA on the Audio Content Fund
The Community Media Association (CMA) is obviously disappointed to learn the news that the Audio Content Fund pilot phase is to end. The Audio Content Fund (ACF) has provided great opportunities in linking community radio broadcasters with independent radio producers to make high-quality public service content that would have had Read more +
Points of Light Award for Danny Lawrence BEM
Danny Lawrence BEM is a local councillor and station manager of Basildon community radio station Gateway 97.8 who created a free radio scheme during the pandemic, distributing over 15,000 radios to help older people and those at risk of isolation. Danny has been a champion for community radio for Read more +
2nd Round Community Radio Fund 2021-22
The second round of the Community Radio Fund 2021-22 opened for applications from eligible stations on Wednesday 1 December and will close at 5pm on Friday 7 January 2022. In addition to the £178,533 available after the conclusion of the first round, DCMS has also made an additional £200,000 available for Read more +
Apply for a short-term restricted service licence (SRSL)
Ofcom has opened an application window for SRSL applicants hoping to broadcast on any dates between Wednesday 30 March and Tuesday 3 May 2022 inclusive – of relevance for Ramadan 2022. The application window will remain open until 5pm on Friday 17 September 2021. Applicants should ensure they are familiar with the application Read more +
CMA launches new ‘CRF Assistance’ service
The Community Media Association has launched CRF Assistance, a free service to help up to 15 CMA members apply to Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund (CRF). Drawing on 15 years of experience of being a CRF Panel member, CMA Treasurer Richard Hilton will initially offer at least an hour’s free one-to-one Read more +
Applications open for Community Radio Fund 2021-22 – Round 1
Applications have opened for Ofcom-licensed community radio stations to apply for Government funding to help them meet their core costs. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has provided £400,000 in grants for the 2021-22 financial year, and Ofcom is responsible for administering the Fund. In 2020-21, grants were Read more +
2021 Mental Health Minute campaign
We are delighted to let you know that community, commercial, and BBC radio stations will be uniting once again to broadcast a special and important message in support of mental health awareness – and we would love for your station to support the initiative. Radiocentre has partnered with the Community Read more +
2021 / 2022 Community Radio Fund Survey
The Community Radio Fund, administered by Ofcom, typically offers two rounds of funding. The CMA would like to know if you would prefer the first round to be emergency funding, such as we had last year, or should the Fund return to its usual purpose to help develop and sustain Read more +
Fifty-three community radio stations to receive emergency funding
Ofcom has announced that 53 community radio stations will receive emergency funding through the Community Radio Fund. During the Covid-19 pandemic, community radio stations have provided valuable local news and support to millions of people. However, many have also faced severe financial challenges. In response, the UK Government announced emergency Read more +
DCMS Community Radio Listener Survey
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), is conducting a review of the radio industry. They are very interested in learning more about who tunes in to community radio stations like yours, and about when and why they listen. We want as many of your listeners as possible Read more +
2020/21 Evidencing Community Radio Needs on FM Survey
The Community Media Association is conducting a survey to gauge the potential interest of community media projects that aspire to obtain a full-time 5-year community radio licence on FM. This survey will close in early January 2021. The first round of licensing for small-scale digital audio broadcasting closed in November 2020 and the invitation Read more +
Free passes for the Radio Festival up for grabs for CMA members!
We are delighted to announce that the Community Media Association has a number of free passes for the 2020 Radio Festival to give away to our members! The Radio Academy Festival 2020 will explore ‘The New Normal’ for radio and audio in the UK. It will celebrate the extraordinary way Read more +
Short-term restricted service licences – application window opens for 2021 period of high demand
Ofcom has opened an application window for short-term restricted service licence applicants hoping to broadcast between 9 April and 14 May 2021 inclusive – an anticipated period of high-demand that also includes Ramadan. Short-term radio licences are granted for analogue services broadcasting to defined locations, or for coverage of events such as music Read more +
Thirty-one community radio stations to receive emergency funding
Ofcom has announced that 31 community radio stations will receive emergency funding through the Community Radio Fund. During the Covid-19 pandemic, community radio stations have provided valuable local news and support to millions of people. However, many have also faced severe financial challenges. In response, the UK government announced emergency Read more +
Temporary RSLs can continue beyond 5th September
Temporary radio stations providing news and information about the coronavirus pandemic have the option to continue to broadcast beyond 5 September, in areas which are subject to additional lockdown restrictions. Ofcom introduced the new temporary Covid-19 “short-term restricted service licence” (SRSL) at the start of lockdown in March. Licences were Read more +
Community Radio Fund Survey
The Community Media Association is surveying community radio stations that have previously received a grant from the Community Radio Fund with a view to providing positive evidence to support an increase in funding for the sector. Survey data may be shared with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Read more +
Key Commitments Survey
The Community Media Association is surveying the sector on the delivery of stations’ key commitments during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. We are collating responses to be presented to Ofcom in August and all replies will be anonymised for confidentiality. https://chat.commedia.org.uk/t/key-commitments-survey/1788
Ofcom awards three new community radio licences in Northampton
Ofcom has announced the award of three new community radio licences in Northampton. The three new community radio licences have been awarded to: Inspiration FM (Inspiration Radio Ltd), Northampton Website: www.inspirationfm.co.uk Inspiration FM will serve underrepresented ethnic minority communities in Northampton with the specific aim of promoting social inclusion. The service Read more +
DEC Coronavirus Appeal
As lockdown measures gradually lift here in the UK, elsewhere families who have fled violence, conflict, and hunger in the world’s most fragile places need our help. Many are now living in crowded refugee and displacement camps with little access to medical care, clean water or enough food, making them Read more +
Award of grants 2020-21 Round 1
During the current public health crisis, community radio can provide a reassuring local voice to millions of people. However, many community stations are facing significant financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, the government announced £400,000 of emergency funding to help stations meet the core costs Read more +
Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (May 2020)
Ofcom has announced the award of six new community radio licences in England and Scotland. The new stations will serve communities in Dunfermline in Scotland, and Kent, London and North Somerset in England. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits Read more +
Ofcom Develops Temporary COVID-19 Short-term Restricted Service Licence
Ofcom has developed a new temporary licence product in light of the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic for those wanting to provide a radio service designed specifically to share information, news and updates about the Covid-19 pandemic with their community. Ofcom, like all of us, must act responsibly at Read more +
BBC Local Radio Content available for community radio stations
Community Media Association member stations may now rebroadcast selected BBC Local Radio content during the current coronavirus epidemic. Danny Lawrence, Gateway 97.8, and Chairman of the Community Media Association said: “We’re delighted to be working with BBC Local Radio in this initiative to share their content with community radio stations Read more +
Ofcom: a Coronavirus update
Dear Broadcaster Ofcom is understandably receiving a number of queries from broadcast licensees about the Coronavirus situation and how we will view any impact the current situation has on compliance with regulatory obligations. We recognise that the current situation is fast-moving and unpredictable. We appreciate that all organisations will need to follow Government Read more +
Key Commitments and coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Community Media Association recently raised the issue with Ofcom of the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) possibly impacting on the ability of community radio stations to meet their Key Commitments. Ofcom advises that in any situation where they are assessing whether or not a station is complying with its Key Commitments (or Format for Read more +
Ofcom awards four new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of three new community radio licences in England, and one in Scotland. The new stations will serve communities in Edinburgh, Melksham in Wiltshire, Thornbury in Gloucestershire and Wimborne Minster, East Dorset. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of Read more +
Ofcom awards four new community radio licences
Ofcom announces the award of four new community radio licences in England, Scotland, and Wales. The new stations will serve communities in Shaftesbury, Dorset in England; Shotts in Lanarkshire, Scotland; Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales; and Towyn, Conwy, in North Wales. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, Read more +
Venue and date confirmed for 2019 Community Radio Awards
The 2019 Community Radio Awards will be coming to Barry, South Wales, in October. The awards will run at the Memo Arts Centre, on Saturday 26 October – after the ‘Community Radio Now & Next’ event. Martin Steers, Awards chair, said: “We are ecstatic that the awards have seen even Read more +
