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Hospital radio gets funding to train volunteers

Radio BGM has received funding from Communities @One to equip a new training studio at the Prince Philip Hospital and train local volunteers in new technology and radio programming. Participants will follow a 10 week course in technologies, communications and radio broadcasting to raise their confidence and make them into volunteer programmers and presenters.

Funding comes from Communities @One, a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to improve access to new technology for people in Communities First areas. The initiative aims to make sure people do not miss out on the benefits of new technology. It is funded jointly through the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme and the Welsh Assembly Government and is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre.

Radio BGM’s project will train and mentor 18 people from Communities First areas in Carmarthenshire (Felinfoel, Glanymor, Tyisha and Llwynhendy) over the next year and is supported by 7 current volunteers. It will start with an introduction to new technologies, move on to familiarisation with the equipment and progress to programme development. Modules will include training in using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for gathering stories, interviewing and outside broadcast techniques, understanding audiences and communication techniques.

Media specialists have designed the training programme and will help deliver it alongside Radio BGM volunteers to keep skills within the group. The grant has also funded new hardware for the studio so that volunteer training can be sustained.

Kyrone Killick is Chairman of Radio BGM. He explains: “The project aims to build up people’s confidence and give them improved communication skills. We want to help people contribute to our programming and their community, and ultimately help their employability. We hope it will be a small step towards our community’s regeneration. Radio BGM also hopes to increase our valuable hospital radio volunteer base.”

The project addresses many points in the Llanelli APPLE report (Area plan for the people and the local environment), where a need for training in ICT and transferable skills, at local level and for socially excluded groups, was identified.

Kyrone worked with the Communities @One Broker, Marc Davies, on making the application to the Communities @One grant fund. Marc says: “Radio BGM have planned a great model that will help people get involved with technology in a really motivating way and increase their skills and confidence with ICT. Sustainability has been built into this plan so the hospital radio and community will benefit long term.”

Many radio professionals start off their careers in hospital radio, including Leighton Jones of Swansea Sound and Richard Evans of BBC Radio Wales.

Richard launches the project at the Prince Philip Hospital on Wednesday 7 March.

If you are interested in joining the Radio BGM project contact the studio on 01554 756567 ext 3139 or email info@radiobgm.org.uk

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Elizabeth Hudson, Communications Officer, Communities @One
Wales Co-operative Centre www.walescoop.com
Email elizabeth.hudson@walescoop.com Mobile 07795 418106
Continues (Notes to Editor)

Notes to Editor

1. The launch of Radio BGM’s new project ‘Aim to improve – improve your aims’ takes place on Wednesday March 7 at 7pm. For more information about Radio BGM contact Kyrone Killick, Chairman, via info@radiobgm.org.uk
Press photographers are invited to attend.

2. More information about Communities @One

• Demand for support through the Communities @One grant fund is high, however projects can register an interest with their broker. To find your local broker call 029 2055 4955 or visit www.walescoop.com/communities@one
• Since its launch in January 2006 Communities @One has committed £4.1 million to 103 community ICT projects in Communities First areas across Wales.
• Across Wales, 11 Community Brokers work with local community and voluntary groups to create project plans that will use ICT to build peoples’ skills and help them apply to the Communities @One grant fund.
• The programme was developed by the Communities Directorate of the Welsh Assembly Government to help people in Communities First areas engage with new technologies. It is funded jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme. It is managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre. 
• Commenting on the first anniversary of Communities @One, Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration Edwina Hart said: “Communities @One is making a real difference by helping our most disadvantaged communities engage with technology. Many community groups are embracing it with enthusiasm and using it to change their communities for the better while building up their skills in a way that they could not have done previously.”
  

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