Nus Ghani, MP for Wealden, has made representations to the Government in support of local community radio stations. Community radio is invaluable to community life and has played an important role during the Coronavirus pandemic by sharing information and offers of help and support to local residents.
Whilst doing everything within their power to maintain their services, community radio stations have been under huge pressure since the lockdown began. With their usual means of income and fundraising being affected by the pandemic, community radio stations are in urgent need of securing extra funding.
A consortium of over 100 local radio stations, including Uckfield FM and Hailsham FM, have written to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to press the case for Community Radio stations to receive payment for playing Government advertisements and public service announcements, as Commercial Radio stations currently do.
Nus Ghani said "Community radio stations such as Uckfield FM and Hailsham FM are real lifelines to many constituents and I thank them for all they have been doing during the Coronavirus pandemic. I have written to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Ofcom to try and secure increased funding for community radio stations, and I hope to receive positive news regarding this important issue in the near future."