Community Radio Fund Panel

Functions and Role

Section 359 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it possible for a fund for community radio operators to be set up, and for Ofcom to administer it and “make such grants as they consider appropriate” to community radio licensees. Government (specifically, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport) is providing some financial support to be distributed to community radio stations through such a fund. Only holders of a community radio licence can seek financial support from this Fund.

Ofcom has established the Community Radio Fund Panel to meet as required to examine applications and make awards from the Fund.

The Panel is independent of the Ofcom Broadcasting Licensing Committee (BLC) which awards community radio licences. 

Meeting dates

The Panel is scheduled to meet on the following dates. (Meetings to be held at Ofcom’s offices in London unless otherwise indicated):

2016

19 January

Agendas

Meeting agendas will be published here.

Agenda for the 24th meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 19 January 2016

Agenda for the 23rd meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 23 June 2015

Agenda for the 22nd meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 13 January 2015

Agenda for the 21st meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 17 June 2014

Agenda for the 20th meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 28 January 2014

Agenda for the 19th meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 2 July 2014

Agenda for the 18th meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 12 February 2013

Agenda for the 17th meeting of the Community Radio Fund Panel - 25 June 2012

Notes of Community Radio Fund Panel Meetings

Note of the Twenty second Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Tuesday 13 January 2015

Note of the Twentyfirst Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Tuesday 17 June 2014 

Note of the Twentieth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Tuesday 28 January 2014 

Note of the Nineteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Tuesday 2 July 2013

Note of the Eighteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 25 June 2012

Note of the Seventeenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 25 June 2012

Note of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 30 January 2012

Note of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 13 June 2011

Note of the Fourteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 24 January 2011

Note of the Thirteenth Meeting of the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Panel held at Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London on Monday 28 June 2010

Members

The Community Radio Fund Panel comprises of three Non-Executive Members. Its members are:

Wendy Pilmer

Wendy is a consultant who works with the world’s leading broadcasters in implementing strategy and managing change. She delivers training in leadership skills and journalistic ethics, particularly for public service broadcasters in emerging democracies. She also offers specialist radio consultancy services based on 21 years working at senior levels of the BBC including BBC Radio 4, 5Live and Radio One.

Richard Hilton

Richard Hilton is Head of Management Accounting at Business in the Community, a charity and membership organisation that works with companies to improve the positive impact of business on society.

He is also the former Treasurer of the Community Media Association (CMA) which is a UK membership association that supports organisations that manage local community-based radio, television and internet projects.

Fiona Lennox

Fiona is the Executive Director of the Communications Consumer Panel. Her extensive experience in communications strategy, policy, research and management is reflected by the range of Boards and Committees she has served on including the Consumer Expert Group, Broadband Stakeholder Group Executive Group, International Media Literacy Research Forum, UKCCIS Expert Research Panel/Evidence Group, the Media Smart Expert Group and the Get Safe Online Steering Group. Fiona has also acted as a judge for several national digital inclusion awards.

Fiona’s previous roles include Standards Manager at Ofcom and Head of Standards at the Broadcasting Standards Commission. Responsible for developing Ofcom’s comprehensive programme of media literacy research, Fiona became one of the UK’s internationally recognised experts in this field. She has also studied diversity in Malaysian broadcasting.