The idea
Ambur Radio is a non profit community station in Walsall serving a diverse community of Punjabi, Hindu, Muslim, Bengali and Western backgrounds. Ambur is run by a team of volunteers and has a strong record of delivering programmes and volunteer training.
Since COVID, Ambur lost many volunteers due to isolation measures but our demand in services increased. For example: Ambur worked with partners to bring translated programming in community issues as Crime, NHS, Education.
Ambur is now is relocating to the Saddlers Centre, to create accessible studios and to encourage more volunteer take up. We are requesting for a new broadcast mixer. This modern equipment will allow Ambur to host more on-air guests and facilitate remote participation. Deliver enhanced training for our volunteers and allow us to offer valuable skills to our participants and work experience. This will help restore our volunteer numbers and deliver training on modern in date equipment. As our current one is very dated.
What we'll deliver
- Deliver 6 workshops - up to 2 people per session.
Why it's a great idea
The project will help increase the station's community engagement in Walsall and surrounding areas. By having the updated equipment we can deliver workshops in media and radio training. This will help increase our new engagements with the opportunity for individuals to stay on as regular volunteers and support with local programming.
Our primary beneficiaries are currently the BAME communities, the workshops will help attract a broader audience and reach other communities in Walsall too, such as the English - speaking and Eastern European communities.
By providing a creative space and an inclusive environment, the project will help greater community engagement, cultural awareness and digital inclusion, promoting communal harmony and pride in our diverse heritage.
The new accessible location, will also help benefit individuals with mobility needs as we will also be moving to electronic adjustable desks.
This will enhance our broadcasting in programmes and training capabilities.
Steps to get it done
- Deliver 2 workshops by end December 2024
The project aims to deliver 6 workshops over a 6 month period. One workshop will have capacity to host 2 individuals per session. These are smaller groups due to the studio size but we also hope by delivering training in smaller groups - this will help build an individuals self - esteem and confidence rather then being in a bigger group setting which can sometimes be overwhelming.
We aim to deliver one workshop per month - with the capacity to retain all 12 participants as volunteers.
