Lymm Radio, a community radio station broadcasting to South Cheshire and beyond, has been awarded £9,950 from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The fund, which provides money for community-focused projects, allows volunteer-run companies to expand without the need for commercial intervention. The National Lottery Community Fund supported Lymm Radio by awarding money to hire its first radio manager to improve shows and listenership, and thus gain new advertising and sponsorship to support its service.
The grant will also allow the station to purchase outside broadcasting equipment to allow Lymm Radio to take the digital station out into the community and broadcast from events, functions and public gatherings with improved technology. The grant will also replace some much used, pre-owned and donated equipment..
Lymm Radio not only broadcasts community content, but also allows volunteers to be trained in audio production as well as gain industry experience in social media, personal skills and public speaking.
Station MD Paul Smith said: “Lymm Radio’s goal of delivering high quality output has been given a big boost by this grant from the National Lottery. The station is going from strength to strength and with our move to DAB at the end of the year, this funding will be vital to help us develop both on and off the air.”
Founding director Ian James added: “In the two-year journey from a small online station broadcasting from our spare room, to being on the verge of DAB, Lymm Radio is bringing back local radio to Cheshire. The large radio groups have long cut local services to the bone, which I believe is why Lymm Radio is going from strength-to-strength broadcasting to our local community.”
