12 May 2020

Ofcom awards six new community radio licences (May 2020)

Ofcom has today announced the award of six new community radio licences in England and Scotland.

The new stations will serve communities in Dunfermline in Scotland, and Kent, London and North Somerset in England.

Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis, focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to a particular area or community.

More than 300 community radio stations are currently on air.

The six new community radio licences have been awarded to:

Croydon FM (Croydon FM C.I.C), Croydon and surrounding areas

Contact: Phoebe Hershdorfer (phoebe@croydonfm.com)

Website: www.croydonfm.com

Croydon FM will serve the culturally and ethnically diverse community of Croydon and surrounding areas. It will provide a platform for local music talent as well as taking part in community outreach and fundraising.

DH1 (Digital Hits Network Limited), North Somerset

Contact name: Mark Carney (mark.carney@digitalhits.one)

Website: digitalhits.one

DH1 is a station for residents and visitors to North Somerset and the surrounding areas. It will be run by a large group of volunteers, many with FM and community radio experience.

Dover (Dover Radio CIC), Dover and surrounding areas

Contact: Barry O’Brien (studio@dcrfm.co.uk)

Website: www.dcrfm.co.uk

Dover Community Radio is for people in Dover and the surrounding areas. It will be run predominately by volunteers from the local community and will offer broadcast training opportunities.

Radio West Fife (Radio West Fife SCIO), Dunfermline

Contact: Joe Parker (joe@jmparker.plus.com)

Website: www.radiowestfife.scot

Radio West Fife will serve Dunfermline and the surrounding communities. The station will offer local and specialised programming to underserved audiences including the retired and elderly, young people, students, minority groups, single parents and the unemployed.

Rainbow Radio (Rainbow Broadcasting Limited), Forest Hill and surrounding areas

Contact: Mac Amoah (drmac@rainbowradio.co.uk)

Website: www.rainbowradio.co.uk

Rainbow Radio will offer a range of musical genres, as well as speech programmes in a variety of languages, for the African migrant community living and working in south London. The station will also provide opportunities for local people to get involved.

Select Radio (Select Radio Limited), Dulwich, Lewisham and surrounding areas

Contact: Thomas Marley (info@selectradioapp.com)

Website: www.selectradioapp.com

Select Radio will target younger people who live, work or study in the London Boroughs of Croydon, Southwark, Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. The station will support locally produced music and provide training opportunities for the community.

The licences are awarded for a five-year period. A statement setting out the main determining factors for the award of the licences above can be found on the Ofcom website.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. In addition to the licence awards detailed above, Ofcom considered one further application, but decided not to award a licence to the following:

  • Radio Henna (Henna Media Limited) South London

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