Dear Members, Friends, and Supporters We are coming to the end of a year we may want to forget but will remember forever. 2020: the game changer. The year when the global pandemic hit, disrupting everything causing pain, loss, hardship, and uncertainty. Yet in all the grimness we find that Read more +
Posts Categorized: Community News
Community Radio Fund – second round
Ofcom has invited applications to a second round of the Community Radio Fund which is now open until 5pm 3rd August with a view to awarding the outstanding funds available. The total amount available in 2020-21 is £406,810. In the first funding round, the Panel awarded grants totalling £333,152. The second 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 +
Community Media Association confirms Chairman, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer
Following the Annual General Meeting of the Community Media Association (CMA) last November and the first meeting of its newly elected Council on Saturday 11th January, the CMA has confirmed the re-appointment of Danny Lawrence of Gateway 97.8 as the Chairman. Janey Gordon of the University of Bedfordshire and Richard 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 +
The Young ARIAS – deadline 18th March
The Young ARIAS are the new UK awards for 8 to 18-year-olds and schools who love making audio. If you’re involved in radio, podcasts or audio projects, then we want to shine a spotlight on your talent. Entering is simple and best of all free. They need a 10-minute audio Read more +
World Radio Day 2019

On 13 February 2019, UNESCO will celebrate the 8th edition of World Radio Day. This day marks a time where people around the world celebrate radio and how it shapes our lives. Radio informs, transforms and unites us. It brings together people and communities from all backgrounds to foster positive Read more +
Community Radio promos

Together with Danny Lawrence, Chair of the CMA, Devaweb has produced these four promos to help encourage advertising on community radio. There are two different scripts, each with a calmer female version and a more upbeat male read. These promos are licensed to be used free of charge by any Read more +
Radio Academy Trustee Elections 2019 – Voting now open
The Radio Academy is seeking three members to join its Board of Trustees. Following a month’s application process, the Radio Academy is happy to showcase everyone who has provided their details to fill one of these roles. All Radio Academy members have three unique votes that they may use to Read more +
Community Media Association elects new Chair and Vice Chair
Following the December Annual General Meeting of the Community Media Association (CMA) and the first meeting of its newly elected Council on Saturday, the CMA has elected Danny Lawrence of Gateway 97.8 as the new Chair and Janey Gordon of the University of Bedfordshire as Vice Chair. Danny Lawrence said Read more +
Community Media News Issue #21 Dec 2018
In this edition, we have an update from the recent Community Media Association’s AGM in London. We share information on applying to Ofcom for a new community radio licence and also congratulate Unity 101 as they celebrate 13 years on air. There’s good news on a couple of projects at Read more +
Community Media News – November 2018, Issue #20
In this edition, we bring you details of the Community Media Association’s AGM on Saturday 8th December, share the CMA’s response to the Radiocentre’s report: on small-scale radio, ask for your views to progress the development of small-scale DAB Licensing. We have news of this year’s Charles Parker Prize, we Read more +
Community Media News Issue #19
It’s been a very busy month, and in this edition of Community Media News we report on the DCMS response to the industry consultation on the development of Small Scale Digital Audio Broadcasting. We also share news of events across the UK, Mapping Community Media, Rethinking Digital Inclusion and discounted tickets for RadioTechCon. There is news from Awaz Read more +
World Mental Health Day 10th October
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. The day provides an opportunity “for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide”. This year’s theme set by Read more +
DEC Indonesia Tsunami Appeal
On Friday 28th September an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, triggering a terrifying tsunami that reached 18 feet in height and left a trail of destruction in its wake. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and entire communities have been Read more +
Community Media Connects launches across England
Community Media Connects, a new initiative from the Community Media Association (CMA), will launch this Autumn to develop the sustainability of community media organisations in England. The project will encourage community media leaders to form valuable professional connections and offer each other ongoing mutual advice and support. Organisations based in Read more +
Shortlist announced for 2018 Community Radio Awards
The shortlist for the 2018 Community Radio Awards has been announced with the final recipients to be announced next month at the Awards event in Sheffield on Saturday 15th September. The Awards event follows the 2018 Community Media Conference. Tickets for both events are still available to buy here: https://communitymediaassociation.nutickets.com/51222 Read more +
Ofcom awards eight new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of eight new community radio licences in England and Scotland. The new stations will serve communities in Coventry, Leeds, Reading and Waterlooville in England; and Glasgow and Peterhead in Scotland. Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of specific Read more +
Transmit, Transform Business Challenge Grant Launches
The CMA is delighted to announce a new pilot scheme that offers funding opportunities to CMA members to support grassroots community media. More details are here and the deadline to receive your applications is 5pm BST Friday 1st June 2018. Read on for background information about Transmit, Transform and application Read more +
Transmit, Transform Business Challenge Grant
The CMA is delighted to announce a new pilot scheme that offers funding opportunities to CMA members to support grassroots community media. Details are below and the deadline to receive your applications is 5pm BST Friday 8th June 2018. Read on for how you can get involved in Transmit, Transform. Internews, Read more +
Ofcom awards eight new community radio licences
Ofcom has announced the award of eight new community radio licences in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The new stations will serve communities in Bristol, Maldon, and Newcastle and Gateshead, in England; Belfast in Northern Ireland; as well as Cumbernauld, and Musselburgh, Tranent and Wallyford in Scotland. Community radio services Read more +
Civil society strategy consultation: have your say
Have your say on how Government can work with and for civil society to tackle challenges and unlock opportunities to build a stronger society now and in the future. This consultation closes at 9am on 22 May 2018. From supporting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society to the Read more +
“Spaces of Inclusion”
The Council of Europe publication entitled “Spaces of Inclusion – An explorative study on needs of refugees and migrants in the domain of media communication and on responses by community media” has been prepared by experts of the COMMIT Community Media Institute in Austria. It will be presented by COMMIT Read more +
Kennet Radio Goes Live On 106.7 FM
The wait is finally over. Kennet Community Radio launches on 106.7 MHz across Newbury and Thatcham on 10th March 2018. The Mayors of both Newbury and Thatcham have been invited to jointly launch the station on 10th March. Kennet Radio’s chairman, Julian Swift-Hook said, “It’s fantastic news. After more than five Read more +
New podcast explores UNESCO’s World Radio Day themes
Dom Chambers, Station Manager at Somer Valley FM and CMA Council member, has posted a new edition of his Third Sector Show podcast ahead of UNESCO’s World Radio Day. The 7th annual World Radio Day this year highlights the links between sports and radio and asks how sports journalism might better Read more +
Benefits of community media recognised in the New Year Honours

The importance of community media has been recognised in the New Year Honours. Mary Dowson, of Bradford Community Broadcasting, and Martin Parry, of Swindon Viewpoint were both awarded The British Empire Medal, a division of the MBE, which is granted in recognition of meritorious civil or military service worthy of Read more +
Community Media Association Annual General Meeting & Networking event, Saturday 2nd December, De Montfort University, Leicester
The Community Media Association Annual General Meeting and Networking event will be held on Saturday 2nd December at Mill Studios, Mill Lane, Leicester LE2 7HU. Mill Studios is Number 24 on the PDF map here. Car parking is available at the Newarke Street Car Park, Newarke Street, Leicester LE1 5SN. A map from the car park to Read more +
Wycombe Sound named 2017 Station of the Year

Wycombe Sound named 2017 Station of the Year Awards recognise invention on a shoestring from Facebook Live to Her Majesty’s Prison The successes of the UK’s growing not-for-profit radio sector were celebrated on the evening of Saturday 23rd September at the second annual Community Radio Awards as Wycombe Sound was named Read more +
Radio Today to broadcast live from the Community Radio Awards

The second annual Community Radio Awards takes place this Saturday 23 September in Bristol. The 2016 Station of the Year, Ujima Radio is hosting the Awards evening. The Awards celebrate, champion and promote the amazing work of community radio throughout the UK. This year over 70 stations have entered in Read more +
Grass roots media galvanise to tackle hate speech
While debate rages about how to stop hate speech on social media, a movement of volunteers across the UK is tackling the so-called ‘alt media of hate’, in their own backyards – and on a shoestring. Community radio stations and local media projects, run by and for the communities that Read more +