[cma-l] Preston FM Awarded Community Licence
CMA-L
cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Fri Jan 25 12:31:01 GMT 2008
PRESS RELEASE
24th January 2008
Preston is to have its very own full-time community radio station, after
government regulator Ofcom today announced the award of a broadcasting
licence to Preston FM.
The project, which is run by community arts charity Prescap, has been
running for nearly three years, and has so far seen over 300 volunteers
from Preston and the surrounding areas take part in five month-long
broadcasts. But things will step up a gear when the station launches
full time later in 2008, under a full-time community radio licence that
will run for five years. This will allow Preston FM to serve and involve
the community to a far greater extent.
Project Manager Richard Lace expressed his delight at the news, “We’re
delighted, this is a fantastic result for the community as a whole. We
would like to say a huge thank you to all of Preston FM’s volunteers
along with everyone who has supported the project.”
Over the course of the project Preston FM has worked with 400
organisations and received overwhelming support in its bid for the
community licence. It is now looking forward to expanding this work and
working with more voluntary and community based organisations.
The station will offer something for everyone, with volunteers from all
backgrounds, walks of life, cultures, faiths and age groups encouraged
to take part – no previous radio experience is required. Preston FM
welcomes enquires from anyone interested in getting involved with
community radio.
The project is led by Prescap (Preston Community Arts Project) and is
funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the AvenCentral
Partnership. The project was also recently awarded £180,000 of V funding
to extend its work with young people in the area.
-End-
Notes:
INTERVIEWS & PHOTOS
Photos of volunteers in action in the Preston FM studios are available
on request. Photographs and interviews with staff and volunteers can
also be arranged – contact Richard Lace, project manager, on 01772 880791
PRESCAP
Preston FM is run and managed by Preston Community Arts Project
(Prescap). Prescap provides a platform and catalyst enabling people to
explore, realise and value their full potential through creativity. It
is a registered charity established in 1985 managed by a voluntary board
of trustees and employing permanent staff as well as freelance arts
workers. These work in a variety of arts and creative media, delivering
arts-based community development projects.
AVENCENTRAL REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP
The AvenCentral Regeneration Partnership is an SRB (Single Regeneration
Budget) Partnership working in the areas of Avenham, Central, Broadgate,
Frenchwood, Moor Lane, Maudland Bank, Plungington and Riversway. The
area was awarded £20 million by Central Government in 2000 for the
economic, environmental and social regeneration of the area. The funding
has drawn in a further £30 million from private, public and voluntary
organisations making the total inward investment to over £50 million.
Further details about the Partnership can be found on the web site
www.avencentral.org.uk.
EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
The European Regional Development Fund supports the economic and social
conversion of industrial, rural, urban and fisheries areas facing
restructural issues. The £4million Programme in Preston has been running
since 2000 and supports eight wards within the City - Avenham, St
Matthew’s, Brookfield, Fishwick, Ribbleton and Deepdale, Central and
Riversway
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