Porlock Community Radio
Donation protected
Porlock does not currently benefit from a truly local radio station. It also has one of the most elderly populations in the UK. Whilst we have some avid 'silver-surfers', there are a great many, and some of our younger members too, who are not connected to the modern digital world, meaning they are not able to receive the myriad of information which is sent that way nowadays.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that gap, and many in the community, living alone, not online, without support networks, were left to their own devices and feeling forgotten and lonely. A local leafleting campaign revealed the extent of the issue resulting in Porlock Town Crier , Grant Dennis, looking to find a way to connect with the whole community in other ways. It was brought home when delivering leaflets when one resident stated that his voice was the first local voice she had heard in nearly three weeks. This was a familiar theme with many others too.
Almost everyone has a transistor radio, hi-fi system, car radio etc, so Grant considered setting up a Community Radio Station. The cost was found to be prohibitive, but linking up with an existing Community Radio Station (West Somerset Radio ), was possible at a much reduced cost. The only reason that Porlock doesn't get that community radio is due to the geography. To enable reception of this local community radio station this area would bring the benefit of an uplift in community wellbeing, and an easy way to connect with our more lonely and isolated members of the community. Grant (The Town Crier), will host a regular Porlock centric radio show that will highlight Porlock themed news and information. There will be any number of other opportunities to raise the profile of the Porlock community, resident and business, to a much wider audience than exists today. The benefits to the whole community are many and wide-ranging.
As mentioned, Porlock has the problem that it is located in a geographically difficult place for the reception of radio (and TV for that matter!). The main reason why Porlock can't receive local community radio is because of the hills that block the signal.
A repeater transmitter is required to fill the gap - one which is ideally located to reach areas currently missed. To achieve that will cost around £6000.00. It would be a one-off capital cost as once the equipment is in place, we will have our own local community radio station. We hope that you might like to help to achieve that aim with a donation towards the target. If you do... we thank you!!!
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that gap, and many in the community, living alone, not online, without support networks, were left to their own devices and feeling forgotten and lonely. A local leafleting campaign revealed the extent of the issue resulting in Porlock Town Crier , Grant Dennis, looking to find a way to connect with the whole community in other ways. It was brought home when delivering leaflets when one resident stated that his voice was the first local voice she had heard in nearly three weeks. This was a familiar theme with many others too.
Almost everyone has a transistor radio, hi-fi system, car radio etc, so Grant considered setting up a Community Radio Station. The cost was found to be prohibitive, but linking up with an existing Community Radio Station (West Somerset Radio ), was possible at a much reduced cost. The only reason that Porlock doesn't get that community radio is due to the geography. To enable reception of this local community radio station this area would bring the benefit of an uplift in community wellbeing, and an easy way to connect with our more lonely and isolated members of the community. Grant (The Town Crier), will host a regular Porlock centric radio show that will highlight Porlock themed news and information. There will be any number of other opportunities to raise the profile of the Porlock community, resident and business, to a much wider audience than exists today. The benefits to the whole community are many and wide-ranging.
As mentioned, Porlock has the problem that it is located in a geographically difficult place for the reception of radio (and TV for that matter!). The main reason why Porlock can't receive local community radio is because of the hills that block the signal.
A repeater transmitter is required to fill the gap - one which is ideally located to reach areas currently missed. To achieve that will cost around £6000.00. It would be a one-off capital cost as once the equipment is in place, we will have our own local community radio station. We hope that you might like to help to achieve that aim with a donation towards the target. If you do... we thank you!!!
Organizer
Grant Dennis
Organizer