We are slowly extending the community media coverage across the Suffolk Coastal District Council area of Suffolk. Our first station is Felixstowe Radio: listen live
Chairman’s Report July 2009- June 2010
It has been a successful year. Shop premises at 3 Great Eastern Square came available, and a Green Shoots grant obtained through Suffolk Foundation ensured we could pay the rent for a few months. Volunteers stripped out the remains of the florist shop and with advice from David Bell began to build a broadcast studio, an edit suite, the office and reception area and outfit a music shop, together with a remodelled toilet and sink, and a new kitchen. There are many people to thank, including many local businesses who provided materials at no cost and our many volunteers and supporters. It was heartening to see advice, help and materials arrive just as they were needed.
The music shop was initially stocked by a donation made by an anonymous donor. As work progressed people arrived with all sorts of items, chairs, tables, desks, lighting, a microwave, a refrigerator, kettle, cups, glasses and much more. A National Lottery Awards for All grant ensured we could buy basic sound broadcasting equipment.
The technical team, initially led by Phil Ashby and Stuart Brindle, began sourcing the many items of equipment needed, and negotiating, even cajoling suppliers. During this time we broadcast on the Internet, just as we had for over two years, from the front room of the Chairman’s house.
In June 2009, after nearly four years, we were awarded an FM licence to broadcast on 107.5 FM in the local area, covering about 50,000 potential listeners, and so planned to start broadcasting as soon as practicable. Having jumped through the administrative hurdles the team was ecstatic, and eager to get started for the planned date in September. OfCom then decided that France, Holland and Belgium had to be consulted as our signal may interfere with their transmissions. We waited impatiently. Clearance was obtained and we began broadcasting on 16th November 2009.
Party time! Well sort of, as we soon realised that this was just the start. OfCom released a small sum of money, enough to appoint Tony Horton as Studio Manager, charged with training presenters and organising the broadcast schedule and running the studio.
During 2010 we have not stopped making improvements and changes. Our signal strength has been improved, gizmos installed that now mean that we have the best radio signal to be found in our broadcast area. Our technical team have worked ceaselessly, with Baz, Craig, Alan and Clive added to the expertise we have available.
Now we have about 60 presenters, with live broadcasting starting at 7am and rarely finishing before 11pm. Most musical genres are covered, usually by experts. Magazine programmes during the week provide information, interviews, comment and music. Our overnight schedule is now being steadily improved, regular traffic updates are about to be added, and RDS (used in cars) is now available. Presenters are really dedicated volunteers as preparing a programme can take time, often much longer that the broadcast. New volunteers are now needed to support our team, and that will be an invaluable way to learn the complex range of skills required.
Presenting a radio programme is only part of the story. Behind the scenes there is a small army of volunteers, helping to man the office, and the shop, dealing with visitors, editing and producing programmes, building and maintaining the web site, and now just checking our emails is a full-time job. Most importantly everyone is conscious of the need to raise money if we are to survive. Radio advertising is extremely effective, and linked to our web displays is the best way for a local business to promote their goods and services.
Training: we’d hoped for funding to allow us to provide Open College Network accredited courses for our presenters and anyone else. A Diploma in Radio was the target we wanted to hit. That is still awaited, but we are developing our own in-house systems, usually one-to-one instruction. Our workforce is varied, we’ve had unemployed people through SEETEC, prisoners awaiting final release from Hollesley Bay and a learning difficulties team from Suffolk County Council, as well as pupils gaining work experience from local schools. Their input is gratefully received but each require care and attention from our own volunteers if their time with us is to be worthwhile.
Education: We are slowly developing links with local schools. Deben High School, with its concentration upon creative arts is especially important, and we have been able to help in several ways. A team of specialists: Stuart Brindle (theatre technician), Eileen Aldous (TV and film production designer), Barry Burns (IT and music) helped during their Arts Week. Some school staff have been trained in creative media software and the station regularly reports on the schools events. Several students have been trained to present radio programmes and usually there are programmes in our schedule presented by students. We want to strengthen our links, and to encourage Primary and Junior schools in the future.
Working with the Education Business Partnership we created both radio and TV facilities that were used by students attending Operation Surge at Kesgrave Community centre. Teams from thirteen schools provided emergency scenarios to cope with Felixstowe flooding. Our media team of twelve students reported on the actions of the other teams, adding realistic flavour to the event.
Creative media studies can motivate many students and we are very keen to increase our involvement with all education sectors: primary, secondary and tertiary. We also intend to provide accredited training for our presenters, and others, and a trial programme is being developed, despite a sorry lack of funding.
Community radio is much more than broadcasting. Our studios at Great Eastern Square are becoming a social hub that brings together every part of the community. Volunteers are always needed, not just to broadcast, but as administrators, to help in the music shop, to attend the increasing number of events in which we are involved. We provide a platform for the community to use as they wish, and want to encourage everyone to use our facilities. It is Your Radio Station!
Our outside broadcasts are very popular, and only lack of funds prevent greater involvement. We are grateful to volunteers, such as Barry Garnham, Phil Ashby, Alan Jones, Andy Rayner and others for providing equipment and expertise to enable Felixstowe Radio to report on live events. Christmas at The Triangle was followed by the Great Easter Egg Hunt as we gained confidence and were inspired by Sarah Jones, as Events Officer, but still using borrowed equipment and expert cajoling. By the year end we had been invited to provide the public address for a variety of events, including the Suffolk Constabulary Family Day on the Promenade and the Crowfield TruckFest at Orwell Crossing. In August we will provide the musical entertainment in Langer Park for the Carnival.
Organising our own events will become increasingly important. Our Soul Night at the Trades & Labour Club (thanks to Barry again) was a great success. Next year will see more events. A Rock Show is planned, with the presenters of our jazz, folk, and other genres all wanting to show off the talent we have in Suffolk.
Radio broadcasting is changing rapidly and audiences are growing. We serve our local community on 107.5 FM but via the Internet and mobile phone networks we are building an international audience, particularly for our specialist music programmes whose presenters are highly respected. There’s also a surprisingly large world-wide audience of people who want to know what’s happening in Suffolk. As the Olympics come closer we expect that sector to grow.
Our studios were built by volunteers, using donated materials. Since those early days there have been many adaptations, all designed to improve our service. We now broadcast live for about sixteen hours every day, and increasingly repeat programmes overnight as we recognise that Felixstowe never sleeps. An improved broadcast desk is now in place, allowing our original equipment to be used as a second studio and training unit. Editing facilities are now available in the office and many presenters now have the facilities and expertise to prepare playlists and programmes at home.
The Future: Tomorrow the World! Working with volunteers is challenging but as our confidence grows we realise that anything can be achieved. There are many plans, principally to provide the best community broadcast station we can, one that serves our community. The skills, equipment and enthusiasm at the station mean that we will always want to push at the boundaries. From behind a microphone we can amuse, entertain and inform, perhaps even persuade. Amongst our volunteers are many gifted and experienced people, all willing to share their knowledge and form part of a wonderful team of friends who are having a great time. In a few short months we have shown that Felixstowe Radio has made an impact upon the community.
Trevor Lockwood
Chairman
July 2010