<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:'Gotham Book';font-size:11pt">A brand new awards ceremony for community radio
stations is to recognise the hard work of thousands of dedicated volunteers across
the UK.</span><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Award submissions will open in May, with a ceremony
to be held in the Autumn, of which more details will be announced soon.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Martin Steers, awards chair, said: </span><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">We are launching the awards to really showcase the
fantastic work that community radio volunteers do with their stations and with
their communities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">We are working on a
comprehensive, robust, judge led awards process that will demonstrate the true
level and value of the submissions.</span><span style="font-size:11pt">”</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Lucinda Guy, chair of the Community Media Association,
added her support for the independent awards. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">She said: </span><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">In
community media, many people are working so hard to support the most vulnerable
people in their communities to have a voice. It can be hard to find time to
take a step back, reflect on what we do and celebrate the successes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">The Community Radio Awards
are an excellent way in which we can celebrate the benefits of everyone having
access to broadcasting. We are delighted to support this initiative, and know
that Martin has a really good understanding of the complexities of community
radio, and its very unique criteria for success. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">A fantastic community
radio show is so different to a fantastic radio show elsewhere - we are at
times raw, chaotic, exciting, innovative, messy, weird and real! Community
radio is where you will hear a wide range of voices, languages and experiences,
as people come together to make radio that changes the world.</span><span style="font-size:11pt">”</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Bill Best, Community Media Association operations
manager, added: </span><span style="font-size:11pt">“</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">In the community media
sector we can have a tendency to hide our collective light under a bushel. The
Community Radio Awards is a chance for us all to champion a selection of social
gain outcomes that have recently been accomplished.</span><span style="font-size:11pt">”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Sponsorship opportunities are available, with a
number businesses in the radio industry already interested in helping to
recognise the successes of the sector.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Gotham">For more information contact:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'">Martin Steers, Community Radio Awards</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:'Gotham Book'"><a href="mailto:martin@communityradioawards.co.uk">martin@communityradioawards.co.uk</a></span></p></div>