2025 Gold Awards
Station of the Year, sponsored by Aiir
Gold - Radio Skye
Community Impact Project of the Year, sponsored by Be Broadcast
Gold - The 4Ps Radio Training School - Vectis Radio
Voices for All Award, sponsored by Devaweb
Gold - The Ukraine Hour - Somer Valley FM
Somer Valley FM’s Ukrainian Show started out as a quick response, working with the local authority, to the sharp intake of refugees fleeing the national crisis in Ukraine following the 2022 invasion. Since then the weekly show has grown in quality and impact both in serving its target audience but also as a significant contributor to Somer Valley FM’s work as a community broadcaster.
Just as refugees of war have had to confront the long-term situation by settling into, and contributing to, the wider fabric of community life of the region so has the show become a keystone feature in many people’s lives.
The Ukraine Choir has become a central focus for many expats and a significant driver for raising funds to help keep families together in the locality as well as long distance, Ola is one of the organisers,
“We’re truly grateful to the radio and the entire team for your support, attention, and for giving us the chance to be heard. It means so much to know there are people beside us who see our efforts, understand our story, and help us share it with others.”
“Events like Vira show are incredibly important because they give us a space not only to share Ukrainian culture with the wider community, but also to feel seen, heard, and supported. They build bridges between people and help turn pain into something powerful and beautiful.”
Somer Valley FM’s inclusive ethos with an open-door approach to training not only empowers people with a voice it then provides the broadcast platforms to use it. Content is created that informs, educates, entertains and inspires audiences. Broadcasting across Bath & NE Somerset and Bristol the station has a vital role in supporting the integration of Ukrainian refugees into the wider community. Through a warm hearted and welcoming approach we principally achieve this through the weekly Ukrainian Show. Presented and produced by Vira Niskoromnykh the starting point for her inspirational broadcast work is her own story of fleeing her home country and coming to Bath with her daughter. Their situation was compounded by the need to part with her husband who had to stay behind, like so many men, to help with the national crisis.
The show has 4 objectives:
Empower Refugees – Give Ukrainian refugees a voice by training and supporting a refugee presenter to lead the show, while inviting others to participate as guests and co presenters.
Strengthen Community Ties – Connect refugees with local support services (e.g., charities, language classes) through on-air partnerships and promotions.
Promote Cultural Exchange – Share Ukrainian perspectives and challenges to educate local listeners, reducing isolation and fostering empathy.
Develop Skills – Provide the presenter with training in production and presenting.
Following support from B&NES who resourced Somer Valley’s training Vira has proved a prodigious and engaging broadcast talent. Vira defines smiling in the face of adversity and that spirit drives the show with personal stories, vital information that connects listeners with local support networks as well as some glorious insights into the rich wealth of Ukrainian culture.
The magic ingredient here is that in speaking to her fellow Ukrainians she is also engaging and entertaining a wider audience and fostering cross community understanding and respect. Somer Valley FM understands that a key dynamic of community life is the point that brings together the people who are born and bred in a place with those who come to live and work in it from elsewhere. The Ukrainian show is a shining example of the power of local radio to foster inclusion, cultural exchange, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Voices of the Community Award, sponsored by RadioPlayer
Gold - Older Voices - Radio Tyneside
In 2007, the Elders Council of Newcastle (EC) was invited to put on a radio programme; the charity accepted: they already had a regular newsletter but wanted to reach their many members who found print difficult to access.
But it is not only Elders Council members that the programmes are produced for; there are many over-50s in Newcastle and many of them, including those in hospital, rely upon Radio Tyneside for their information and enjoyment.
It was decided that the programme aims should be twofold:
• To be the audio voice of the Elders Council.
• To enable team members to learn new skills in a sociable team environment.
Over the last 18 years, the team believes that they have successfully been fulfilling both those aims. They include mostly local issues in their programmes and usually have local older guests, though they have also had guests from the UK as a whole and from abroad. Members of the team work well together, have formed social bonds and believe that they have shown that you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The team comprises ten older people, all EC members. Their median age is 83. Before joining, only one had had any experience of radio (as a newsreader on Radio Tanzania). Now, the weekly show is produced entirely by members of the team themselves: they do the programme planning and necessary research, choose and edit the music, do the essential preparation with guests, conduct the guest chats, present the show, manage Zoom, record the programme on a home computer, and edit the recording for broadcast. The accompanying showreel includes something from each member of the team and covers a range of the topics the programmes deal with.
When Covid struck, the team began recording their magazine programmes as live on Zoom and now broadcast them weekly. The shows are one hour long and the norm is that, over a fortnight, they include invited guests, A Green View, Gardening Advice, a poem, an a cappella song, a Point of View, and team recommendations on what to watch, see, do or read. Planning is performed consensually and for six programmes in advance.
Guests are invited to talk with their host about (mainly local) issues thought to be of interest to local older listeners. They are told that they are not going to be “interviewed” but that they will have a 12-minute chat with their host and will choose a piece of music to be played halfway through. In the past year, the team has held conversations with, for example, Chris Mullin, ex-minister of Birmingham Six fame; Kim McGuinness, Regional Mayor; Rob Higgins, Lord Mayor of Newcastle; representatives from the local universities, hospitals, councils and charities; and many members of the Elders Council itself.
Here is some of the feedback that the show has received from listeners:
• "I listened. It was great."
• "It’s a great radio-show. Congratulations!"
• “Many, many thanks ...great show!”
• "We have listened to your excellent broadcast on winter fuel payment. Do hope it encourages people to apply. Also your interview with Chris Mullin. Quite a feather in the Elders Council's cap."
And from guests:
• “Thank you very much indeed for inviting me on to the show. I enjoyed it enormously.”
• “It was a great programme. Well done [presenter] and [the] team.”
• “Thanks a lot and for the honour of appearing. It is an excellent programme I thought and very well put together, congrats all round!”
The team think that they are fulfilling their stated aims and are proud of what they do.
Presenter of the Year: Woman, sponsored by DTS AutoStage
Gold - Priya Matharu - Switch Radio
Hello! My name is Priya Matharu and I present and produce two shows on Switch Radio in Birmingham: Desi Beats (specialist music show), and Monday mornings (playlist show). On Desi Beats, I play a range of South Asian music, for instance Bhangra, Bollywood, and Urban Asian. I also interview local South Asian artists and talk about new releases from musicians in the industry. There have been many crossovers between East and West in the South Asian music scene.
Recently, artists like Anne-Marie, Sia and Jason Derulo have made music with Desi artists. A major singer to show love to the South Asian music scene is Ed Sheeran, who made a surprise appearance at Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in Birmingham! Diljit Dosanjh is one of the biggest artists in the world and for both of these global icons to share a stage is such a milestone for Desi music.
For this to happen in Birmingham made it locally relevant and more special!
Desi Beats is all about good vibes and light hearted content, however it is also necessary to discuss serious topics when needed. Earlier this year, the conflict between India and Pakistan was all over the news and was extremely worrying for our community. Many people have family and friends there and it is deeply upsetting to see both countries against each other. India and Pakistan have a history of conflict, and to see this reaching communities in the UK was concerning. I wanted to use this platform to promote unity and remind us that music has the power to heal and connect, especially during tough times.
I regularly interview a wide variety of guests on both shows. My demo includes a chat with local author Serena Patel about her brand new children’s book ‘Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem’. We chatted about the creation of the book, her journey to becoming an author and the importance of representation. Not only does the front cover feature a South Asian main character, which isn’t seen a lot, but the character also has divorced parents. I felt that this was an important form of representation, especially for young children. During the interview, I discovered that the author has divorced parents herself, which is why she included it in the book. This wasn’t known information before the interview, so it was nice that we could talk in depth about her storytelling and life experiences.
The thing I love most about radio is that it is a platform to tell stories and be that friendly voice to those who need it. I like to include relatable and funny links, that will bring a warm start to someone’s week. On my demo, I tell a story about when I lost my brand new touchscreen gloves! I was being quite clumsy at the time, and had regular stories about me misplacing things! Sharing these moments can build trust and familiarity with listeners, which is something I value deeply.
I was a producer for the Hits Radio local breakfast show in the West Midlands. Hits Radio have recently changed to national breakfast programming, which resulted in many losses of jobs and local shows that people love! This makes Community Radio important now more than ever, because it is one of the few local platforms left. I am so grateful that I can still present and produce radio for my local community. It’s something that will always hold a special place in my heart and I am excited to continue championing local radio!
Presenter of the Year: Man, sponsored by All In Media
Gold - Chris Kaye - BFBS Catterick
Chris Kaye’s Breakfast Show on BFBS Catterick is everything a great entertainment programme should be: warm, witty, and wonderfully in tune with its audience. Designed with serving personnel, veterans, and military families in mind, the show strikes a brilliant balance between light-hearted fun and heartfelt connection.
Chris is a seasoned broadcaster. Every part of his programme is crafted with the audience at its core — you hear it in the way he handles interviews, chats with troops at local events, or comments on current events. There’s a natural pace and polish to the show, but it never feels forced. He’s not trying too hard – he’s just trying to get it right for the people who tune in every morning.
The submitted audio features some of the show’s signature moments. There’s a breezy but insightful chat with actor Robson Green about portraying soldiers on screen; a quick contribution from an Army officer who dispenses some fatherly advice; and light hearted banter with golfers at a local forces event. Even when discussing topics like the cost of living, Chris brings a quirky take – turning supermarket pricing into an amusing talking point. His personality shines through, never overpowering, but always present and relatable.
Audience interaction is woven throughout. Listeners contribute to Misheard Lyrics, a feature that consistently delivers laughs and surprises. And BFBS Rewind, the throwback music feature, which encourages listeners to submit guesses, like Vinny’s voice note.
Chris’s enthusiasm is clear – not in an over-the-top way, but in his consistency, preparation and good-humoured delivery. What sets this show apart is the complete package. Chris’s easy charm and solid radio instincts are backed by thoughtful production, topical content that feels fresh, and a strong social presence that brings the on-air moments to life online.
Catterick isn’t just the backdrop – it’s the co-star, rooting the programme in real people, real humour, and real relevance.
The BFBS Catterick Breakfast Show isn’t just entertaining – it’s dependable, distinctive and delivered with genuine care. Chris doesn’t chase laughs or gimmicks. He earns them by knowing his audience and respecting their time, every single morning.
Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year, sponsored by Hippynet Broadcast Technologies
Gold - Live from Gŵyl Cefni 2025 - MônFM
Entertainment Show of the Year, sponsored by CopMedia
Gold - House of Fun - PCRFM
House of Fun – PCRFM (Saturdays 7-10am)
House of Fun is the passion project of Matt Rowbottom and Pete Hawkins. We began broadcasting together in 2013, with a simple remit from the station.
“Don’t swear and don’t play three Deep Purple songs in a row”.
From that blank canvas, we built the kind of show we would love to hear, mixing hand picked tunes with features that often inverted established radio norms. Behind an on-air facade of self-deprecation, the show is meticulously planned and filled with original material. Each 3 hour show, is built on the back of at least 10 hours preparation.
Matt worked for years as a freelance sound engineer, is highly skilled at audio editing and knows the operation of a radio studio inside out. Pete has been involved in comedy writing and performing for a couple of decades and creates much of the material.
The show is fast paced and engaging, making it ideal for an “off the wall” start to the weekend. It follows a regular skeleton, to aid familiarity, with content plugged in. Regular features include:-
Things I Can’t Understand:
We shine a light on the absurdities of modern day life, and try to make sense of it. We rarely succeed.
American Idiom:
There are numerous well known sayings, where the words used bear little relevance to the attributed meaning. We dissect them to see if we can decipher the origin story.
Questions Impossible:
Many questions look unanswerable. For example, would Lightning McQueen have Life or Car Insurance? That doesn’t stop us having a go.
This Day in History:
It’s important to learn from the past, just maybe not with us as the historical guides. We take a genuine event from this date in years gone by, then go a little off piste with the details.
Previously:
A quick recap, just after 8am, of what people may have missed in the first hour. None of the pre-recorded clips are genuine, and the last one always features the demise of the studio’s resident chicken.
Fictoids:
Parodying the long running Steve Wright feature of a similar name.
All the nuggets of information are entirely made up, with one always referencing the actor, Benedict Cumberbatch. This feature has spawned a book, published in 2020.
Keep On Running:
A high energy track in honour of everyone heading out to the local Parkrun.
Covers:
The final hour starts with an unknown version of a well known song. Having run covers specials for years, we have a large catalogue of songs to draw from.
Local Guests:
We are joined regularly by a host of people from the wider Peterborough community, publicising their events and sharing what is happening across the city.
Truth or Tosh:
A rebrand on a simple true or false quiz. Matt has no clue of the subject coming his way. Can the listeners beat his score?
Rearranged News:
Normal news broadcasts, cut up and spliced in a different order, ensuring the presenters say ridiculous things. Often dropped in over song intros to make listeners go, “What did they just say”?
Robo-Jock:
We chat weekly to the stations automated play-out system. He really doesn't like us, trying to undermine and ridicule at every turn.
Our aim is to make every song and link, as engaging and high quality as possible. The listeners are gifting us their time and attention, so deserve the very best we can give them.
House of Fun. It’s joyous, enthusiastic nonsense, with hard work disguised under a veneer of silliness. The perfect recipe for your weekend wake-up.
Specialist Music Show of the Year, sponsored by Promo Only
Gold - The Midweek Mosh - Switch Radio
The Midweek Mosh: Specialist Music Show of the Year
Hello! I’m Terri, presenter and producer of The Midweek Mosh.
The Midweek Mosh is my weekly deep dive into the heavier end of the musical spectrum. I play everything from modern metal and hardcore to punk, doom and goth. It goes out every Wednesday night on Switch Radio, and it’s all about giving a proper platform to the bands and scenes that don’t get a look in on mainstream radio in Birmingham.
I started the show because I grew up with alternative music. It got me through my worst days and helped me figure out who I was. Heavy music is a huge part of my life, and it’s only this year after 10 years in community radio that I've felt confident enough to share that love on air.
The Midweek Mosh aims to showcase just how diverse, creative, and community-driven the “Home of Metal” is.
A big part of the show is championing Birmingham’s local heavy music scene. We’ve got a rich history, heavy metal was founded by Black Sabbath just 15 minutes from where I live, and Rob Halford went to school five minutes away! Despite this legacy, many don’t know about our talent filled underground scene of local rock and metal bands. I regularly play these artists and give them space to talk about their music in a feature on the show called the Midlands Mosh Guarantee.
In the past five months, I’ve had over 50 guests, from DIY promoters and independent label owners to up and coming metal bands and even an alternative wedding planner! We don’t just play the music; we dive deep into the subcultures rooted in Birmingham’s heavy music scene.
I also strive to reflect the full range of people making heavy music today, platforming bands that defy and challenge stereotypes, from queer and trans fronted acts to women in extreme metal. There’s so much important work happening in the metal scene in Birmingham, and I want The Midweek Mosh to be a space where people feel seen and welcome, not gatekept or excluded.
I believe everyone is just one step away from enjoying heavy & alternative music, and I’m passionate about helping new listeners find their next favourite band. A listener once told me: “I refused to listen to any metal released after 1990. Your show encouraged me to explore modern metal.”
When Black Sabbath announced their return to Birmingham for their farewell show at Villa Park, I produced several specials: one celebrating the future of local metal in Birmingham, one on our rich metal heritage in partnership with the Birmingham Music Archive, and another live from my favourite local venue The Flapper on the day of their last show.
Each week, I still get a buzz when I hit record and will always love discovering new bands from my city. This music and culture mean everything to me, it’s raw and full of heart. This show is my way of giving some of that back.
The Midweek Mosh isn’t polished, and it’s not trying to be. It’s loud, DIY, and full of love for alternative culture. I’m at the gigs, I’m listening to the music and I’m building a space for alternative people in Birmingham. Whether you’re a goth, greebo, or if your totally new to the scene.
This show is for the weirdos, moshers and misfits, and it’ll keep going as long as there is heavy music to play and people who need to hear it.
Thanks for your consideration,
Terri
Specialist Content Show of the Year, sponsored by Fix Radio
Gold - Month of the Military Child - BFBS Aldershot
BFBS is a pioneering charity which has been serving the military community for over 80 years at home and overseas, with a mission to entertain, inform, connect and champion the UK armed forces, their families and veterans.
Natasha presents the BFBS Aldershot breakfast show and often gives military children a voice during the program and to mark The Month of the Military Child (which is in April), Natasha dedicated a show to them on Wednesday 30th April 2025 between 6.30am-10am.
Military children face obstacles and life events that even adults rarely face. They are often more mature than other children their age, as they have to deal with parents being deployed to active warzones and not knowing if and when they will return. They are constantly moving and don’t get to settle down unless they have the stability of boarding school. Military children try to fit in and often make communities within their schools, with others in a similar situation. They are resilient and carry a quiet strength, as they face unique life challenges that civilians and perhaps their parents, friends, schools don’t fully appreciate.
The aim of this specialist show was to let them talk about their experiences, the highs, the lows, and to inform other military children they are not alone and to create an awareness of their unique situation.
In this entry you will hear a variety of children of different ages, talking about their experience, all with the same underlying message, it’s hard being a military child but there are ways to cope.
We hear from those who are at boarding school and have stability, like Abby, to those who have moved to a number of countries and choose to join local Army Welfare Service groups, in order to make new friends, like Donovan.
Some military children accept their situation and try to help others. You will hear the inspirational stories of Alfie-Jon and Jacob both of whom Natasha spoke to at the Celebrating Forces Families Awards earlier this year. Jacob wrote a powerful poem about the unique experiences and challenges faced by military children called “This Is Normal For Me” which inspired the creation of ‘Jacob’s Medal’. He teamed up with the Royal Navy Royal Marines charity, to celebrate the achievements of other young people, who have experienced forces separation. This was presented to all the young people nominated at this year’s Celebrating Forces Families Awards. One of the children to receive that medal, was 10-year-old Alfie Jon Purchase, who you will hear in this entry. He also won the Young People’s Award at the celebration. Alfie-Jon is the son of an RAF Survival Equipment Technician, and since 2021, he has handwritten and delivered over 3,000 Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s cards to military families, veterans and care home residents.
The Month of the Military Child show, highlighted how inspirational, brave and resilient forces children are, it also gave an opportunity to talk about how we can support them. During the show we spoke to a child psychologist, who explained how to help young people cope with the difficulties of parents being deployed, house and school moves. Natasha also spoke to charities, who can support military families such as the tri-service charity Reading Force, as it’s not only difficult when parents are away, it’s challenging to reconnect when they return.
This is something Natasha aims to do every year on the BFBS Aldershot breakfast show, as a way of connecting and championing Forces children.
News, Journalism & Factual Storytelling of the Year, sponsored by RadioToday
Gold - The Saxonvale Saga - Frome FM
On the 31st of July 2024, Somerset Council’s Executive held a public meeting at Frome Town Hall. At that meeting they publicly announced who was to be chosen to develop Saxonvale, a 12-acre Brownfield mixed-used site in the heart of Frome. The choice was between Acorn Property Group, a residential developer, and Mayday Saxonvale a community-led not-for-profit social enterprise, with a model of community ownership and value retention.
This narrative, interview-led audio documentary was produced in the six months leading up to this pivotal meeting. The producer, Samuel Saunders, spent this time researching the complex and largely unknown story of Saxonvale, conducting many interviews of local politicians, stakeholders and members of the public, including travelling to Cornwall to interview an important contributor who had since retired and moved from the town.
The documentary was broadcast on Frome FM on Wednesday 31st July, the day of the meeting. The outcome of that meeting made the national news, including the front page of The Guardian online, confirming its significance not to just Frome but also the country in the context of community development and local government transparency.
Mayday’s scheme was and continues to be well supported in the town, and its model could be an archetype for a new, perhaps better way of doing development. But, with a local authority on its knees financially, and rumours of secret contracts and close door deals, the documentary explores if that that enough for them to succeed. The story involves secretive groups at the Council, court battles and Freedom of Information fights, community empowerment and ultimately, competing visions for the future of a market town.
The target audience for this documentary was broad, in that I felt the history and future of the Saxonvale site and the decision to be made by Somerset Council was so important that I wanted as many people as possible in the town to be properly informed. One of the biggest issues facing Frome is the lack of affordable housing. This has created a tension in the town between those born and bred in the town and those who have moved to the town as it gentrifies. Therefore, there is a lot of attention on any new developments. Therefore, to be specific, the target audience was anyone interested in development, the built environment, housing, but also sustainability and community-based solutions to local problems. As Frome has a lively, independent community spirit, I knew this documentary could be popular.
The audio file included in the entry includes the introduction to the documentary, and then short clips taken from throughout, faded in and out to mark a change. As the story told in the documentary is complex, I did not try and tell it in five minutes but rather tried to find a selection of clips which tries to demonstrate some key elements of the story. The clips favour contributors rather than my narration, as I wanted to emphasise its journalistic qualities.
Arts & Creative Radio of the Year, sponsored by RadioPlayer
Gold - Radio LaB's Halloween Murder Mystery - Radio LaB 97.1FM
On Halloween 2024, Radio LaB transformed an ordinary broadcast day into an extraordinary immersive experience with Radio LaB’s Murder Mystery — a full-day, station-wide event that combined drama, live improvisation, comedy, suspense, and creative audio production. The result was a piece of community-driven radio that blurred the lines between fiction and reality and captivated audiences across Luton and the University of Bedfordshire.
The event began as a typical Breakfast show, but things quickly took a mysterious turn. One by one, presenters were lured into the studio under false pretences and ‘picked off’ throughout the day by a sinister, disembodied voice. The entire experience unfolded live on air, with no presenter aware of the full plot, forcing them to ad-lib and react in real time. This led to spontaneous, hilarious, and occasionally chaotic moments of radio gold that brought the Halloween narrative to life in an incredibly authentic way.
The quality of production was central to the success of the day. The broadcast featured custom-made idents, eerie soundscapes, atmospheric music beds, and sound effects accompanying each ‘murder.’ A recurring character - “the voice” - provided cryptic instructions and unsettling updates, which became a key element of the unfolding story. Carefully designed audio cues heightened the suspense, while transitions between live studio drama and remote reporting kept the pace dynamic and unpredictable.
The target audience was the University’s student community, and the event was built to engage them directly - not just as listeners, but as participants. Students tuned in throughout the day, discussing theories and suspects both on air and online. Live content was regularly shared via TikTok, featuring real-time reactions, behind-the-scenes footage, and highlights from the broadcast. The campaign drew attention across social media, helping drive listenership and on-campus excitement.
Passion and energy for the subject matter were evident in every element of the broadcast. The team - including student presenters, producers, voice actors, and engineers - committed fully to the concept. From early morning to late evening, they created an evolving narrative that was funny, frightening, and fantastically engaging. Despite the unscripted nature of the broadcast, the presenters embraced the chaos with humour, heart, and creativity.
The programme was packed with personality and character. Each presenter brought their unique style to the story, reacting in real-time to shocking developments. The broadcast included classic Halloween tropes with a student twist: gym equipment “murder,” cryptic envelopes, suspicious disappearances, and even a fatal incident involving a toilet. As tensions rose and alliances shifted, listeners were drawn deeper into the game, hooked by the personalities involved and the unpredictable plot twists.
From a presentation skills perspective, Murder Mystery demonstrated creative radio at its finest. It used the medium not just to tell a story, but to immerse its audience in one. The interactivity - through live calls, listener speculation, and even plot decisions shaped by the audience - pushed the boundaries of what student based community radio can achieve. The performers’ ability to stay in character, handle surprises, and deliver consistent content quality under pressure was a testament to their skill and passion.
Ultimately, Radio LaB’s Murder Mystery wasn’t just a broadcast - it was a one-of-a-kind radio event. It united the campus in a shared experience of fun and fear, showcased the creativity and technical talent of Radio LaB’s team, and proved how inventive, ambitious, and community-powered student radio can be. In creating a full day of unpredictable, high-stakes Halloween drama, Radio LaB delivered a production that was bold, immersive, and unforgettable.
Sports Show of the Year
Gold - Women's Sports Mix Show - Cambridge Radio
Women’s Sports Mix is a show dedicated to local and grassroots sports and activities for women and girls, in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. It is broadcast on Cambridge Radio and available on the station’s podcast platforms.
Having grown up in a time where certain sports were considered “boys sports”, and with a lack of opportunities and pathways for girls, we (Alex Elbro and Amy Gray) wanted to showcase all of our brilliant sportswomen, athletes and volunteers, as women’s sport continues to grow. We felt we weren’t hearing enough, if anything, from other local media sources or podcasts.
Our core audience is women and girls, and we seek to include as many sports as possible, looking at activities for all ages and abilities.
We have welcomed a diverse range of guests talking about topics including disability football, martial arts, running, Under 14s football, exercise in menopause and perimenopause, grass hockey and ice-hockey, roller derby, netball, tennis and padel, cricket, rugby and skateboarding.
The programme also includes results and analysis, local event information, and fun chat. We (Alex and Amy) share our own experiences with sport, attend local games, and update listeners on our own activities and exercise.
We tackle head-on the challenges that are faced; there are still regressive attitudes towards females in sport, alongside a lack of infrastructure, and women have unique issues such as activity during menopause and after childbirth. Many players in our national league teams are having to do so on a voluntary basis around commitments such as caring for children and relatives, and full time jobs.
In addition, we have taken on challenges. We were invited to a rugby training session with the Shelford Women’s Rugby team (in the pouring rain), and to scale an indoor climbing wall for the first time.
Our regular results content focuses on our main local sports teams. Cambridge United Women are the biggest women’s football team in the region and have a growing fanbase. As well as talking to us about results, U’s senior staff member Liz Pamplin is an incredible advocate for women’s football and her knowledge and passion has been an asset to the programme. Cambridge Kodiaks are a relatively new but ambitious ice hockey team who went on to be promoted to the Women's National Ice Hockey League Division 1 for next season. This was an inspiring and joyful journey to share.
When the station was visited by Stephanie Peacock MP, Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, she was interested to hear about the show as she was unaware of any other grassroots, local sports programmes specifically for women and girls, and asked for more information on how she could listen on demand. She plays football for the Women's Parliamentary football team.
We have built up great ongoing relationships with many local teams, clubs and activity centres. They have all welcomed our platform to share news about the opportunities available, and the successes their women and girls are having in sport.
Our listener numbers across all platforms have exceeded our expectations for our first year of broadcasting.
Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by UK Community Radio Network
Gold - Nick Mundy - Radio Winchcombe
Nick has been involved in the station for the majority of its operating years. Community Radio for Winchcombe was originally his idea when discussing what the Town might do with ‘The Old Boys School’, an underused community facility.
He wrote the proposal and business case for RW that was then submitted to OFCOM in 2011, from which we were awarded a full-time licence (after six years of restricted licence broadcasts twice a year).
For many years thereafter, he was responsible for the technical operation of the station, including IT management, specialist support, presenter support, outside broadcast planning, and general management duties. Then, in 2015, he took on the station managers’ role as the primary role holder responsible for the day-to-day running of the station. He did this whilst producing, presenting, and managing shows on the station and acting as a board member.
Then when the station Chair stepped down from the fuller management role, Nick took on additional duties including the majority of the oversight activities on the station, alongside day-to-day management, scheduling, outside broadcast planning, continued IT support and backup, queries and responses, and innumerable other tasks needed to keep the station operational.
His manner is calm and collected and always responsive to the technical challenges that a 24-hour-a-day station has, providing back-up, betterment initiatives, and being the last line of defence to keep the station on air and operational and within the guidelines we need to adhere to.
His show - ‘Views from the Saddle‘ - is a weekly two-hour magazine of music, knowledge, and entertainment, all broadcast alongside his other volunteer roles on behalf of the station.
Key events to note:
Station move: when notice was given by the landlord for the station location and radio Winchcombe had to move within a short period of time, Nick was instrumental in the technical aspects of the move. And the smoothness with which it was undertaken was identified as a huge success and widely applauded.
Technical Support: Quite simply, the station would not run without Nick's technical support. He manages the hardware and software, the applications and the programs that keep a running track list. He communicates with the wider team and enables initiatives of improvement to be undertaken by those that are willing and keen to do so whilst giving an overview and management support of the tasks.
Outside Broadcasts: In the last three months alone, Nick has organised, led, presented, and managed weekend outside broadcasts to a professional quality around the town of Winchcombe. This is included pre-planning, logistics, volunteer coordination, technical arrangements, presentation and broadcast activities, station end activities, and post-production into Listen Again services. The personal investment of time into these activities is no less than eight hours per outside broadcast and sometimes more than this.
New Transmitter activities: When the station successfully acquired the right to be able to broadcast from a second transmitter, much of the technical support for the task fell to Nick to undertake. This work was concluded over a period of many weeks and culminated in the successful deployment of an extension to the broadcast area from a potential 5,000 homes to a potential 30,000 homes. Without Nick’s assistance. This simply wouldn't have been possible.
In addition, Nick regularly becomes involved in the following additional activities:
- Training and general presenter support
- Board-level strategy input
- Station comms
- Procurement (of new equipment)
- Maintenance of facilities and equipment
He remains approachable, accessible, plans for coverage, succession and additional resilience and coordinates with other volunteers, and is regularly the first to the scene of a difficulty, correcting before others are even aware of an issue, and does all of this without complaint or concern, and for the passion of the work the station does.
Nick has demonstrated true community sprit throughout his time at Radio Winchcombe, and brought to all of the roles he has carried out over more than a decade, a love for radio and broadcasting, and the board would be unable to operate the station should he not be here carrying out the work that he does.
Young Person or people of the Year (under 25), sponsored by Aiir
Gold - Harrison RB - Express FM
At just 17 years old, Harrison RB was instrumental in the launch of Petersfield’s Shine Radio in 2020. As a founding volunteer, in a team where most had no prior experience in broadcasting or media, he stepped up to become a technical and creative mentor from the beginning.
Harrison dedicated himself daily, helping others to record, edit, and present local content with confidence and clarity. His early leadership and training shaped the sound and direction of the station and laid the groundwork for its remarkable success. Shine Radio went on to win three Community Radio Awards and, in 2023, was among six nominees for Community Station of the Year at the Radio Academy ARIAS.
Aged 20, Harrison was headhunted by Portsmouth’s Express FM (one of the UK’s longest-established community radio stations) to take over as its Content Manager - an ambitious move from a rural market town to a big city station. He brought a fresh sense of purpose to Express FM, repositioning with a new brand strategy, strengthening volunteer support and talent development, and curating more unique and diverse programming catering to Portsmouth communities.
Harrison's vision included a strong focus on regular outside broadcasts which now sets the station apart from its main local competitors.
Harrison’s impact at Express FM has been transformative. In 2024, under his leadership, the station was nominated for Station of the Year at the Community Radio Awards. In 2025, Express FM became the only community radio station shortlisted for Local Radio Station of the Year at the Radio Academy ARIAS - an achievement that reflects Harrison’s professionalism, vision, and his unwavering belief in the value of accessible, hyperlocal radio.
Behind every nomination or award for both Shine Radio and Express FM, Harrison hand-crafted the entry himself hand-picking content from right across station output.
Alongside his behind-the-scenes role, Harrison has anchored key local moments on air, including an eight-hour general election results show in 2024 and a powerful World Autism Awareness Day programme in April 2025. These showcased his maturity, empathy, and editorial judgment, reaching and resonating with listeners across the community.
What sets Harrison apart is not just his skill, but his generosity. Whether supporting a new volunteer behind the mic or lifting a whole station to national attention, Harrison consistently leads by example. He makes radio better - not just for listeners, but for those who create it. His colleagues describe him as “calm,” “inspiring,” and “the reason I stayed involved.”
Now aged 22, Harrison’s talent has been recognised beyond community radio. He was recently approached by BBC Radio Solent, where he now freelances alongside his ongoing work at Express FM. Yet despite this step up, he remains committed to grassroots broadcasting and continues to create opportunities for others.
In his personal life, being autistic and a carer for his chronically ill mother, Harrison is dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This is reflected in his creation of opportunities for neurodivergent and working class communities. Since Harrison became Content Manager, there is now more female, disabled, ethnic minority and C2DE representation among the Express FM team than ever before.
Harrison recently negotiated a new partnership between Express FM and the University of Portsmouth’s student station, Pure FM, as part of his ongoing commitment to supporting young people in the community and championing new talent.
Harrison RB is a rare and remarkable example of someone who combines deep technical expertise, creative flair, and a selfless dedication to others. His impact on the stations he’s worked with is profound and lasting, and his potential is still unfolding.
Sage Person of the Year (Over 60)
Gold - Pat Reading - Marlow FM
The managing director of Marlow FM, Graham Duthie, says of Pat Reading: “I really don’t know where she gets all her energy from. She hates to say ‘no’, and always tries to find a way to make things happen, however challenging they are. The whole town of Marlow owes her a lot.”
Pat, 65, has been a central figure at Marlow FM for nearly its entire 14-year history. A director of the station, and a member of the management team, she holds the title of Head of Fundraising - but that only scratches the surface of what she does.
Pat is the driving force behind our outside broadcasts and other appearances. We usually do around a dozen events every year, and Pat oversees all of them. She deals directly with the organiser of each event, gees up our volunteers, and does all she can to make our coverage the best it can be. Each year people expect to see Marlow FM at the big events, like the Marlow Town Regatta and Pub in the Park, and hear our coverage of them on the radio - and it’s all down to Pat.
She’s always on hand to help other volunteers turn their ideas into reality. It’s one thing to think up some new fundraising event or initiative; it’s another to get it off the ground and make it a success. Pat revels in this. She’s probably done it before, and she knows the potential pitfalls.
Having been brought up in Marlow, she has ties across every corner of the community. She talks to the Town Council, the Round Table, the Chamber of Commerce, the clubs and societies, and the churches. If you need a way in, Pat’s usually already holding the door open for you. And given this network of contacts, Pat also spearheads our coverage of local news. She’s the first to pass on news and details of local events, and get the word out there.
Pat is also comfortable in front of the microphone. She presents ‘Breakfast’ every Monday morning, and co-ordinates the show’s presenters for the other days of the week. She also co-presents our Remembrance Sunday coverage live from the Marlow War Memorial each year, showcasing her commitment to local traditions.
Championing the best of our community is dear to Pat’s heart. Several years ago she devised our Hidden Gems Awards (this became Hidden Heroes during covid), where we ask listeners to nominate and vote for individuals, organisations, and businesses in different categories. Pat looks after the entire process, and organises the black tie event where the winners are revealed.
In short, Pat’s the perfect role model for volunteers at a community radio station. Her passion for radio and commitment to the community make her an outstanding candidate for this award.
Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by Be Broadcast
Gold - Amy Boyd - Chelmsford Community Radio
Over the past eight months, Amy Boyd has spent her time volunteering in community radio, and she has had a truly amazing experience. Amy, 23 years old, began presenting on Chelmsford Community Radio (CCR) in November 2024. Growing up, she has always been drawn to creative projects- making YouTube videos, recording and mixing covers in GarageBand, writing and directing plays, (and starring in them of course).
She graduated from university in August 2024 with a degree in International Media and Communications with Spanish, uncertain of what direction to take next. This uncertainty led her to try her hand at radio. After reaching out to Michelle Durant, the inclusion manager at CCR, Amy was given the opportunity to present almost immediately, and she took to it very quickly.
She is now a confident and capable member of the team. Over the past eight months, she has solo-presented two weekly two-hour shows: "Monday Lunchtime with Amy" and "Tuesday Drive at 5." In addition to hosting her own shows, she frequently steps in to cover others, often at short notice, and has been paired with newer presenters to help support their development and boost their confidence. She also trains new presenters on Myriad 6 as needed. Amy is now considered a very valued part of the CCR team.
Creative and full of ideas, Amy enjoys developing new features such as her segment “Love Through the Ages,” where she explores crazy romantic conventions from history. She has great storytelling skills, and her shows are fun and engaging. Dedicated to continuous improvement, she reviews her past shows regularly and is committed to honing a unique presenting style. Her goal is to become a versatile presenter, capable of adapting to a wide range of tones, from lighthearted storytelling to serious interviews.
Interviewing is a particular passion for Amy. Whether collecting vox pops at Essex Pride or interviewing local groups like the Chelmsford Theatre Workshop, she brings a warm and open personality that puts interviewees at ease and brings out their best.
At CCR, presenters curate and schedule their own playlists- an aspect of radio production that Amy especially enjoys. With her broad musical knowledge, she has a strong talent for creating playlists that appeal to CCR’s diverse listener base, selecting tracks from various eras and genres, and complimenting them with her presenting.
Since joining CCR, Amy has also contributed significantly to the station’s social media presence. She has grown her personal following to over 10,000 users and uses these platforms to drive engagement with her shows and the station itself. Listeners from countries like Canada, the United States, and Germany have reached out to request streaming links. Ambitious and proactive, she regularly seeks feedback from her peers at CCR as well as from professionals at national and regional stations.
Amy is deeply involved in the Chelmsford community. She works in marketing for the local council, promoting health and fitness centres; she plays volleyball for a local team; and she actively supports local events and productions, such as the recent Foodie’s Fest and Chelmsford Theatre Workshop’s staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream- both attending in person and promoting them on-air. Amy believes radio is a powerful medium for uniting communities. She has the confidence and potential to build a successful career in the industry. Given her enthusiasm and pace at which she has managed to master shows, she is certainly a prime example of someone who has taken to broadcasting like a duck to water. This young lady will go far.
Digital Content of the Year, sponsored by Viamux / Optimux
Gold - Accessibility and Community are at the Heart of What We Do - RNIB Connect Radio
3 Examples of content
1. Paralympic Swimmer Stephen Clegg talks mental health during 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris https://x.com/RNIBRadio/status/1832738948595982423
2. Meet one of our presenters (Narrator trend) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1368111337631537
3. Grimm Russell haunts the RNIB Connect Radio offices during Halloween https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1591694808117200
Celebrating & Championing Community Radio of the Year, sponsored by PPL
Gold - Championing The 4Ps Radio Training School - Vectis Radio
Elections & Political Coverage of the Year
Gold - Vote WNC - NLive Radio
