Partner Article

Durham community is all ears thanks to grant

A new community radio station is celebrating the success of its first month on air, broadcasting local news and views to listeners across South West Durham.

Community radio station Bishop FM, broadcasting on 105.9FM, is a not-for-profit venture run by more than 60 volunteers. It has been granted a five year licence to broadcast from Bishop Auckland.

One of the first visitors to the station was Sue Ellwood, Project Manager of North Pennine Dales LEADER, the organisation supported the venture with a grant of £11,500.

“We are delighted that our grant has helped Bishop FM get up-and-running,” she said. “LEADER is here to support projects that improve the basic quality of life in rural areas and the station will help to foster community spirit and keep people in touch with what is going in their local areas. It is also providing volunteers with the chance to learn a whole range of new skills.”

Programmes on Bishop FM feature local news, views, sport and music from folk and blues to indie and rock and roll with outside broadcasts, covering village events, local businesses and so on, are an important part in the station’s coverage.

The LEADER funding is made available through the Rural Development Programme for England which is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is managed by One North East in the region. North Pennine Dales LEADER supports innovative and sustainable rural development projects in Teesdale, Weardale, West Derwentside and South Tynedale.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .