Funding Central – new grants

Time sensitive grants

Big Lottery Realising Ambition programme applications now available

Applications for the Big Lottery Realising Ambition programme open from tomorrow, 13 September 2011. The programme, run by a consortium of organisations led by Catch 22, is looking for 20 projects or programmes across the UK that are already effective at diverting children and young people away from crime and could be suitable for replication. Online application materials will be available from 13 September.

Information from the recent webinar on the Realising Ambition programme is now available on the Catch 22 website here:
http://catch-22.org.uk/News/Detail/Realising-Ambition-webinar

PRS (Sound) & Commonwealth Foundation to give funding to wide range of organizations and groups – 6th February 2012

PRS Funding for Organisations & Groups (UK)The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation, the UK’s leading funder of new music across all genres, has announced that its funding programme for organisations and groups is currently open for
applications. Through this programme a wide range of organisations and groups such as bands; ensembles; collectives; charities; local authority and schools; etc working in any genre of new music can apply for grants of up to 25,000 (£5,000 for first time applicants).

The types of works supported include:

Commissions of new music by UK-based creators
Community projects that reach new audiences
Touring of new work
Music that uses new developments in technology
Music creator residencies; etc.

The closing date for applications is the 6th February 2012. For more information visit: http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Organisations

*NEW* Youtube Digital Innovation Award giving young people opportunity to improve filmmaking skills - 24th February 2012

First Light works with young people from all over the UK to develop filmmaking skills has teamed up with YouTube to give young people aged 18-25 the opportunity to win £1,000 towards future filmmaking projects. First Light are asking for submissions of short films, 3 minutes or under, that could be described as ‘digitally innovative’. Films submitted will be judged by YouTube and the 3 shortlisted filmmakers will be invited to attend the First Light Awards where the winner will be announced.

The closing date for receiving both copies of the film and completed application form is by 1pm on Friday 24th February 2012. For more information, please visit:
http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/news/youtube-digital-innovation-award/

 
The Clore Duffield Foundation to give funding to support Poetry and Literature (UK) – 30th March 2012

The Clore Duffield Foundation has announced that the second funding round under its new £1 million programme to fund poetry and literature initiatives for children and young people across the UK is now open for applications. Through the programme, schools, FE colleges, community groups, libraries and other arts/cultural organisations can apply for
grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to support participatory learning projects and programmes focused on literature, poetry and creative writing for under 19s.

Projects that received funding under round 1 of the programme include:

‘E13LC Word Olympics Festival 2012′, a partnership between the E13 Learning Community (a cluster of eight schools in Newham) and Theatre Royal Stratford East, led by Lister Community School which received a grant of £5,000 to inspire young people to have fun with words through a celebration of creative writing in an Olympic-style competition and Wisbech and Fenland Museum which received a grant of £6,000 to work with local arts organisation, Atelier East, to run a Young Poet Laureate contest to enliven, empower and engage young writers in the Fenland area

The programme is due to run from 2011 to 2015 with two funding rounds a year. The deadline for applications is the 30th March 2012. For more information visit:

http://www.cloreduffield.org.uk/page_sub.php?id=331&parent=35

Rolling grants

*NEW* Funding for Coalfields Communities (England, Scotland & Wales)

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has announced that its level two grants programme is now closed to further applications. However, grants of up to £5,000 are still available through the Trust’s Level grants programme. Level 1 funding is available to community and voluntary organisations who can demonstrate that a grant will impact positively on people living in coalfield communities.

The type of activities that can be funded include:

Improvements to a community facility
A training project that teaches people a new skill or enables them to
get a qualification
Setting up a new or supporting an existing social enterprise
An activity that gets people involved in physical activity or addresses
a local health issue
The establishment of a much needed new service or activity in a community
The provision of childcare places for nursery, pre-school, after school
activities and holiday schemes
Activities that promote volunteering and get new people involved as
volunteers.

Applications can be submitted at any time. For more information, please visit: http://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/englandgrantinformation/default.asp

 The Digital Research and Development Fund for Arts and Culture to support arts and cultural organisations across Scotland

The Digital Research and Development Fund for Arts and Culture, Scotland is a partnership between Creative Scotland, Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and NESTA to support arts and cultural organisations across Scotland who want to work with digital technologies to expand their audience reach and engagement and/or explore new business models.

A key element of the £500,000 Fund is supporting collaborative partnerships between arts and cultural organisations and technology providers; and to provide a body of rich research evidence, data and case studies that inspires and supports the capacity of the wider arts and cultural sector to innovate.

We are now inviting arts and cultural organisations in Scotland to submit projects which test digital propositions around audience reach and engagement and new business models. http://www.nesta.org.uk/digital_rnd_scotland

 Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Arts Programme

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) Arts Programme supports the development and dissemination of new ideas to increase people’s experience, enjoyment and involvement in the arts in the UK. The Programme is open to formally constituted charitable organisations in the UK. Other organisations are eligible to apply providing they operate on a not-for-profit basis.

The PHF operates a two-stage application process. Firstly, applicants must submit an outline application. If the proposal is deemed suitable, a full application will be invited. For more information visit: www.phf.org.uk

Community First Neighbourhood Matched Fund

£30 Million is now available to fund community projects in some of the most deprived areas of the country. Community First is managed by the community Development Foundation (CDF) and is part of the new programme of community funding brought in to replace Grassroots Grants. The Neighbourhood Matched Fund aims to provide local communities with the means to address their own priorities. The key apsects of the fund are: 

• Communities will set up local panels in each eligible ward, and will decide upon projects for funding in their area;
• It is a matched fund programme, which means that every £1 provided in funding must be matched by a similar amount of in-kind donations (this means donations of cash, services, free products or volunteer time);
• Funding has been allocated at ward level across every local authority in England. Eligible wards were selected on the basis of high levels of deprivation and significant increases in benefits claimants. The amount of funding for each area is based on the concentration of these characteristics within a ward;
• Because funding is targeted to reach the most deprived areas, only certain electoral wards are eligible in each Local Authority.

For a full list of eligible wards and allocations, download the List of eligible Community First areas and allocations and check the governmentfunding page for your Local Authority.

For full details see the CDF website, the link is http://www.cdf.org.uk/web/guest/neighbourhood-matched-fund

*UPDATED* Awards for All (England)

Awards for All, England has announced some important changes to its funding programme.  Awards for All England is a simple small grants scheme making awards of between £300 and £10,000 to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need.  To achieve this, Awards for All will fund activities that:

• Provides people with better access to training and development toimprove their life skills
• Build stronger communities with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
• Improve rural and urban environments which communities are better able to access and enjoy
• Provides for healthier and more active people and communities.

The changes announced means that organisations can now apply for £10,000 every year rather than every two years, and Awards for All will now fund repeat events and activities more than three years apart.   Applications to the programme can be made at any time. For more information click:  http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/england/summary.html

O2 launches Think Big fund for young people to improve local communities

O2, the mobile phone and broadband provider, runs a Think Big fund for young people wanting to make a difference. People aged from 13 – 25, can apply to the fund for support with a project to improve their local community. Successful applicants will get:

- £300 cash for the project
- Training and support
- £30 mobile credit to share around the project group
- A Think Big merchandise pack
- Communications tools
- Support from the team of O2 helpers.

Examples of projects to date include anti-knife campaigns, youth music mixing and production, youth clubs and kayaking with disabled youngsters. Some groups will be invited to take their projects further, and could go on to get:

- Up to £2500 cash for their project (given in stages)
- Free O2 broadband for a year
- £50 phone credit
- Support from O2 helpers
- The chance to win gig tickets and merchandise for the project group
- The opportunity to apply for an O2 apprenticeship.

For more information, see the O2 Think Big website, http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/How-it-works

Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund Grant

The Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund Grant is provided and administered by The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust and is available to TSOs in the UK.

The scheme is intended to support projects with the following themes:

• Support for ethnic minority and refugee groups.
• Community-based health and social welfare initiatives (including projects in Israel).
• Projects encouraging participation in the arts, particularly by young people, with a preference for traditional art forms.
• Small grants for community-based performing arts venues to improve facilities.

Applications should be made in writing, must be no longer than two A4 sides and should include:

• An explanation of the organisation’s aims and objectives and its most recent annual income and expenditure.
• Details of the project requiring funding – why it’s needed, who will benefit and in what way.
• A breakdown of costs, any money raised so far, and how the balance will be raised.

Contact The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust for further information.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation Education and Learning Programme (UK)

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is currently accepting applications under its Education and Learning Open Grants Programme. In particular, the Foundation is looking to fund projects that address the themes of; supplementary education; developing speaking and listening skills for 11-19 year olds; and adding to the learning – preventing school truancy and exclusion. Eligible organisations that can apply for funding include charities, local authorities individual pre-schools, schools,  out-of-school clubs, supplementary schools, colleges and youth clubs if they demonstrate benefits to the wider community and include partnership  working that will result in increasing access to education and learning  to all communities and age groups. The costs that can be covered by the  Foundation’s grants include running costs such as staff salaries and overheads such as stationery, rent, rates and utilities.

Recent grants awarded include: Northamptonshire Association of Supplementary Schools received £24,103 over one year for establishing  creative, mutually beneficial and developmental partnerships between  supplementary and mainstream schools, incorporating joint study support  accreditation and training.

There is a two stage application process. First stage applications can  be made at any time. Those that are successful will be invited to make a  second stage application. For more information visit: www.phf.org.uk/landing.asp?id=3

Reaching Communities – Big Lottery

The Reaching Communities programme has two strands:

1. Reaching Communities – funding from £10,000 to £500,000 for revenue projects and/or smaller capital projects up to £50,000
2. Reaching Communities buildings – funding of between £100,000 and £500,000 for large capital projects

Reaching Communities funds projects that help people and communities most in need. Projects can be new or existing, or be the core work of your organisation.

Every project we fund must:

• Respond to need – Need is the term we use to describe a problem or issue, or situation where something needs to change to make things better for a person, or group of people or environment.
• Involve the people who will benefit from the project in planning and running the project
• Achieve one or more of the following four outcomes:
  1. People having better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills
  2. Stronger communities, with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
  3. Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy
  4. Healthier and more active people and communities.

More information about applying to the fund can be found on the lottery website.

ASDA Foundation

The ASDA Foundation supports a range of good causes around the UK. It exists primarily to give support to existing projects being run by ASDA colleagues, although applications are open to all registered charities, community groups and individuals in the UK, as long as they have the support and involvement of local ASDA colleagues.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and applications will be assessed at the quarterly trustee meeting. Eligible individuals/organisations must:

• operate in the UK;
• be providing a clear benefit to their local community;
• be non-profit making;
• have direct support and involvement from one of the ASDA colleagues.

To apply visit your local ASDA branch and speak with a member of staff.  For further information visit http://your.asda.com/asda-foundation.

Think Big – rolling programme

O2 is offering grants of up to £300 through its Think Big programme. Individual or groups of young people aged 13-25 can apply for funding and other support to run projects in their local communities or tackle a problem in society.

Successful applicants for the £300 grant may then go on to be invited to apply for a further £2,500 plus additional support. See the O2 website for further information: http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/How-it-works/

The Co-operative Membership Community Fund

The Community Fund is the Co-operative Charitable Foundation grant scheme that helps local communities throughout the UK. Since it was started in 1997, thousands of clubs, community groups and self-help organisations have benefited.

Committed members of The Co-operative Group who want to help improve the lives of others, donate part or all of their share of the profits to enable the scheme to work. These members have already raised millions of pounds each year for all kinds of community projects and last year alone gave away £1.2 million in donations.

To be successful, a group must:

• Carry out positive work in the community

and a project must:

• address a community issue
• provide a good long-term benefit to the community
• support co-operative values and principles
• ideally be innovative in its approach.

If your community, voluntary or self-help group needs a grant of up between £100 and £2,000, you can apply by visiting www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund

Lloyds TSB Foundation Announces an Increase in Available Funding (England and Wales)

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales has announced that due to a higher level of income they have  increased the level of funding for 2010 and will sustain it for 2011, 2012 and 2013. The aim of the Lloyds  TSB Foundation?s Community programme is to provide financial support for work that helps disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in the community. The Foundation is particularly interested in work that achieves this through; improved social and community involvement; improved life chances; helping people to be heard. The Foundation are particularly keen to support small and medium sized community-based charities where small amounts of money can make a significant difference to local people’s lives. The types of work funded include; running costs, including salaries to ensure that charities can maintain and develop their core work/services; and funding for projects that build on charities’ core work.

Funding is available for one to three years. For more information, visit: http://www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk

BNNRC is a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a national networking body working for building a democratic society based on the principles of free flow of information, equitable & affordable access to Information & Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) of remote & marginalized population.

It gives our great pleasure to inform you that, we are planning to hold Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012 on 25, 26 & 27 February, 2012, Conference Room, IDB Bhaban, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka 1207.

The Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012 is going to organize by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) in collaboration with Ministry of Information, National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC), Bangladesh Betar (Radio), Bangladesh Press Institute, Information Commission, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) & Agriculture Information Service of Ministry of Agriculture & more government and Non Govt. organization.

Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Hon’ble Minister of the Ministry of Information will present as Chief Guest, Dr. A F M Ruhul Haque, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will present as Special Guest, Ambassador (Rtd) Mohammad Zamir, Hon’ble Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commission & Mr. Hedaetullah Al Mamoon, ndc, Secretary, Ministry of Information will present as Guest of Honor of inaugural ceremony of the three days Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community radio with other organizations since its emergence from 2000. BNNRC has been addressing the radio access issue for over a decade, helping to bridge the information gap.

At the moment, positive and supportive condition is prevailing in our country. Because; Bangladesh Government has already acknowledged the importance of community radio and announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast & Operation Policy. Bangladesh is the 2nd country in South Asia in formulating policy for Community Radio.

Meanwhile, for the first time, govt. has approved and provided license to 14 initiators to install Community Radio throughout the country. Till today 12 Community Radio stations has already started community broadcasting.

The objectives of the Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012 are: To take stock of the Community Radio Movement in Bangladesh, To review the functioning of the Community Radio stations with regard to their operational structure and their engagement with the communities, To understand the difficulties and issues regarding setting up of and running of Community Radio station in Bangladesh, Documenting best practices and success stories for sharing and learning; To provide an opportunity to all Community Radio stations to interact with each other and exchange knowledge with India and Nepal experiences; To provide an opportunity to interact with various Ministries of the Government, development partners and UN bodies.

Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012 will bring a broad range of stakeholders including distinguished Member of Parliament (MP), Policy–Makers and Representatives from Government, Media, Community Radio Initiators, Staff members of Community Radio Stations, academicians, NGOs, Private sector and experts from home and abroad.

We are inviting organizations like you to co-organize the Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012. Hope that you will be one of the co-organizers in the Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012.

We strongly believe, your participation in this forum 2012 will add a new and positive dimension for strengthening and building capacity of the community radio in Bangladesh

In this context, we humbly request for your kind assent to join as co-organizer and encourage the spirits of the Bangladesh Community Radio Forum 2012.

Wishing your good health
Sincerely Yours

Bazlu
_______________________
AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council]
&
Head, Community Radio Academy

House: 13/1, Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207 Bangladesh
Phone: +88-02-9130750, +88-02-9138501, Cell: +88 01711881647
Fax: 88-02-9138501-105,
E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net, bnnrcbd@gmail.com www.bnnrc.net

This post was submitted by bnnrc.

“It has been a great success and completely exceeded all of our expectations! The quality of programming from the presenters was extremely high and the amount of local involvement was nothing short of fantastic. We aired a ‘Local Focal’ programme each weekday night and some at weekends between 7pm and 8pm and each of these had a key theme involving local MP’s, local dignitaries, local organisations, youth groups , Parish Councils, sports groups and many many more. The feedback that we’ve had from guests and presenters is that the build quality of the studios is extremely high with most being surprised when they visited that we were not ‘operating from a shed with a CD player and a microphone’ and that it sounded like a proper radio station!”

Severn FM also broadcast a number of live football matches linking up with Tigers Radio from Gloucester City AFC and a number of sports programmes as well. Andy added:

“The Schools engagement was superb and a number of the Local Focal Programmes involved Severn Vale and Hardwicke Junior School amongst others, whose pupils were really excited to be involved. We’ve also been running a real variety of music programmes as well from the Breakfast Severn Bore Show with myself and the other Directors, Caro Kingsnorth and Barry Kirby along with our very own Company Secretary, Father Andrew of Hardwicke, Longney and Elmore Parishes who has been running a number of Christian Themed and Local Focal Programmes and also his flagship Dance & Trance Show on a Tuesday evening. Jazz, Rock, Country, Drive Time and many other themed shows have been produced and broadcast successfully over the Christmas FM Broadcast with our team of presenters.”

So where does this leave Severn FM now? They are now continuing to broadcast on the internet at severnfm.com before they operate their next FM Broadcast later in the year. Andy said:

“We are already getting a large following on the internet with not just local listeners but people in Australia, India and Sweden as well. Internet Radio is set to expand massively this year due to its flexibility and ease of use and we have some great shows coming up this month and going forward to exploit this.”

“We are now recruiting a volunteer Sales Manager to manage the advertisers as we are a commercial radio station albeit run 100% by unpaid volunteers.”

The information sourced from the Community Radio Toolkit website was essential to the success of the Project along with many other organisations who also supported us from a financial perspective and with donations of hardware. Severn FM and the logo have been successfully registered as a Trademark in Great Britain & Northern Ireland and you contact them at radio@severnfm.com or on 01452 348551 if you wish to get involved with this exciting project.

This post was submitted by clark_an.

Plugging The Gap – a funding ideas exchange

Did you know that there’s a community radio station that earns thousands a year from its local Pupil Referral Unit, another that gets money from its volunteers and another that got new advertisers in by running a ’99 for £99’ campaign?

On the morning of the Manchester DCMS consultation event (Feb 13^th) we’re borrowing the same room for a free 90 minute get together to just throw ‘money ideas’ around.  If you are involved in running a community radio station you’re welcome to join us.  You’ll hear from people with bright ideas like those above and have a chance to throw in your own.  The event will run 10.30 to noon, leaving you time to grab lunch in the adjoining café before the DCMS event.

If you cant join us, it wont be quite the same but, we’ll be recording the event to get it published on the Community Radio Toolkit.

Please email me phil[at]radioregen.org to get a place and joining instructions.

Source FM from Matthew Rogers on Vimeo.

For the duration of the Celtic Connections festival, we’ll be on the DAB “Pop Up Radio” channel, as well as our usual frequency.

Our DAB transmission went “live” at 00:00 on Monday, and we’ll be on DAB for the next 3 weeks. The festival kicks off on Thursday, and we’ll be broadcasting from our temporary studio in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall every day from 11.00 until 19.00, with live music, impromptu sessions, interviews, and all the action from the Danny Kyle Open Stage. After that, it’s back to our usual studio, and maybe out and about to other festival venues.

The “Pop Up” DAB channel can be heard in areas where the mux is provided by Arqiva – about a third of the UK. This includes Ayrshire, Berkshire & North Hants, Bristol, Cambridge, Cornwall, Coventry and Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Essex, Herts., Bedfordshire & Buckinghamshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Norwich, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Peterborough, Plymouth, South East Devon, Cardiff & South East Wales, South Hampshire, Sussex Coast, Swindon, West Wiltshire and Wolverhampton & Shropshire.

It’s been quite an eventful day for us at Celtic Music Radio – as well as the DAB service, we got notification that our license has been extended until 2018.

It’s also our birthday! We’ve been on the air “full time” for exactly 4 years, launching at 15.30 on 16 Jan 2008, following several RSLs. If any of our community radio colleagues are in the Glasgow area over the next few weeks, you’re very welcome to drop by our temporary base in the concert hall.

The station has already forged links with a number of schools and community organisations in South East Northumberland as well as securing,

“‘As it happens’ local news reporting for the hourly news”, he said. “There has been a tremendous amount of work undertaken in the background by our volunteers and I am delighted to at last be able to tell everyone about our plans.”

The station will broadcast a variety of music styles and genres with shows by experienced presenters and interviewers as well as running shows presented by schools, scout groups and other community organisations. Northumberland’s best kept secret can be heard online at http://www.radionorthumberland.com/. For media information contact Keith Newman at Highlights PR 07814 397951

Radio has to be recognized as a low cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level.

Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today.

On November 3, 2011, the 36th General Conference of UNESCO approved the creation of the World Day of Radio. The initial idea came from the Spanish Academy of Radio four years ago, therefore, the Permanent Delegation of Spain to UNESCO formally present the proposal at the session 187 of UNESCO’s Executive Board in September 2011.

In Bangladesh, we would like to celebrate the first World Radio Day 13 February, 2012 in collaboration with the Public Service Broadcasting, Commercial Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting.

We invite you to join World Radio Day Observation Initiative 2012 in Bangladesh.
Please support us to celebrate the first World Radio Day.
Help us ! Help you !! For more information, Pls visit: www.worldradioday.org

Wishing your good health
Sincerely Yours-

The Spanish Academy of Radio

AHM Bazlur Rahman- S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
Founding Member
World Radio Day Observation International Committee
House: 13/1 Road:2 Shamoli, Dhaka 1207 Bangladesh
E-Mail: ceo@bnnrc.net www.bnnrc.net

This post was submitted by bnnrc.

In the heat of a live debate, what sounds like a throw-away comment by a guest has landed an Essex community station in trouble with Ofcom.  Their latest Broadcast Bulletin, although allegations of unfair treatment were dismissed, states that the Chief Fire Officer of Essex had his right to privacy infringed when a guest mentioned his matrimonial circumstances.  The station, Phoenix FM, wanted to use a ‘public interest’ defence for the comment but Ofcom said that the complainant’s personal circumstances did not come under that umbrella.

Points of interest:

• the guest made the statement in a live show
• the station attempted a defence rather than an apology
• the absence of the complainant from the debate was not seen as an issue by Ofcom as the presenter made it clear that he would attempt to provide balance
• ‘controversial’ statements by the presenter were allowed in the context of the whole programme as being clearly his opinion and did not detract from the ‘fair treatment’ that was acknowledged by Ofcom.
• there is also an amusing (IMHO) reference to a Jilted John song

Please don’t relay on my commentary, read the full judgement here –

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb197/obb197.pdf

It’s on page 16.  All comment welcome.

“This is a great news for all of us that Community Radio is now in existence in Bangladesh!”-said Mr. Aminul Islam, Secretary of National Regulatory Committee on Community Radio and Joint Secretary (Broadcasting) of Ministry of Information while speaking as Chief Guest of the inaugural session in 5th Knowledge Sharing Workshop at JATRI Auditorium, Dhaka on 22nd December .

The event was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) in collaboration with UNICEF-Bangladesh under its partnership project on “Empowering Communities: Strengthening and Building Capacity of the Community Radio in Bangladesh”. Among others, Ms.Reba Rani Saha, Deputy Secretary (Radio), Ministry of Information and Sayeeedul Haque Milki, Communication Specialist and the focal person for Community Radio at UNICEF-Bangladesh attended as special guests of the session.Mr.Rafiqul Alam, Chairperson of BNNRC Board of Trustees and Executive Director, Dwip Unnayan Sangstha presided over the session.

Mr.Aminul Islam mentioned that through Community Radio broadcasting in the coming years the commitment of present govt.will be fulfilled. Ministry of Information approved the 10-year Community radio Strategy which will accelerate the process of implementing the long-term vision of the govt.He thanked UNICEF-Bangladesh for their support throughout the formulation and approval process of the strategy. He expected that Community Radio would create a sensation for development in rural areas of Bangladesh. Facilitated by Mr.A.H.M Bazlur Rahman, CEO of BNNRC, he informed:”upto this date 05 Radio Stations are now running on regular broadcasting, 06 stations are on test transmission and 03 stations (Radio Naf, Radio Bikrampur and Radio Sundarban) are still in preparatory stage.”

The session entered into a lively and attractive phase during short presentations of participants from Radio Padma, Radio Nalta, Radio Jhinuk, Radio Pallykantha, Krishi Radio, Radio Mahananda and Radio Sagargiri. All audio clippings (of different Programs, music and signature tones) reflected the diversity, uniqueness and future prospects of Community Radio.

By expressing greetings and solidarity in her speech as special guest Reva Rani Saha thanked the initiators and expected that community radio would be able to furnish the need of the disadvantaged rural community. She also thanked the sincere efforts of the organizers to take special initiatives to involve the women and children listeners around the CR Stations. She reminded the deadline for those initiators (who lagged behind) on 31st December 2011 and that there would be no further extension for them. Responding on the presentations, in his brief comment as special guest, Mr.Sayeedul Haque Milky of UNICEF Bangladesh made a quick flashback on the beginning of capacity building efforts of CR initiators, which has now become a reality through their existence and vibrant presentations. He also suggested to give more attention to involve disadvantaged children and the community in their programs. He reiterated UNICEF future plan to work for the growth and capacity development in this sector.

The second session of the event was graced by the presence of Syed Margub Morshed, Retd.Secretary and former Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission(BTRC) as Chief Guest. On his presence, representatives of Radio Barendra and Radio Naf presented their progress and performance. By taking part in discussion Mr.Shameem Reza, Associate Professor, Mass Communication and Journalism Dept.,Dhaka University and Mr.Salim Samad, Eminant journalist and Representative, Reporters without Border(RSF) emphasized on sustainability, community ownership and undue influence of the rulers in power . Mr. S M Shameem Reza advised to think of the ownership transfer plan of the stations (to community) from the beginning. He mentioned thinking of the technology aspect of the radio operators as well.

In his inspiring speech as Chief Guest of the 2nd session Mr.Syed Margub Morshed told:”CR movement is a journey, not a destination. We have to be prepared for future road blocks and to grow in number. “Responding on Community ownership discussion he added: Community will be our strength. Their ownership would be taken place through a gradual process, gradually community people will come forward and the initiating organization will go behind, the rear part. In this journey and process, we need forum like BNNRC.” He assured his future cooperation and solidarity in this movement.

In his brief speech as Chairperson of the session/s Mr.Rafiqul Alam reminded of his war days as freedom fighter when how a small radio station like Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra-was a source of inspiration for them. He pointed that CR initiators should give more attention to livelihood and poverty reduction aspects. Since Disaster, land rights and free flow of information all are interlinked factors; the radio program design should incorporate these with high priority.

After the lunch break, there was a brief presentation on “Ist AMARC Asia Pacific Community Radio Training Forum” jointly by CEO of BNNRC and Mr. Milky (of UNICEF-Bangladesh), who joined the program at Thailand few days back. Discussion continued upto 5 p.m. among the CR initiators on evolving issues like formation of CR Club, Development Advertisement, IPR, Broadcasting of National News, Training Needs Assessment for 2012,Short Code for each Station(from BTRC) etc..

Mr. AH.M Bazlur Rahman, facilitator of the day-long event instantly responded to different queries from the initiators. He announced to organize a regional summit of Community Radio in February and requested cooperation from all. He also requested all to plan from now on to observe World Radio Day on the 13th February 2012 in a festive manner.

Representatives of CDMP project of UNDP, BBC World Service trust, Katalyst, Information Officer of US Embassy at Dhaka Mr.Mobassher Hasan, Radio Engineer Mr.Sohel Aurangzeb-all joined in the workshop and expressed their solidarity in the future growth and exploration of Community Radio sector in the country.

———————————————————————-

_______________________
AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
[MSS in Government & Politics, Legislative Development Fellow- USA]

Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council]

Lifetime Member : Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
Member : American Radio Relay League (ARRL)
Member : Bangladesh Amateur Radio League (BRAL)
Member : World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
Member : Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP)
Member : Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education

House : 13/1, Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207 Bangladesh
Phone : 88-02-9130750, +88-02-9138501, Cell: +88 01711881647
Fax : 88-02-9138501-105
E-mail : ceo@bnnrc.net, bnnrcbd@gmail.com
Web : www.bnnrc.net

This post was submitted by bnnrc.