Our next entrants into the 2018 Swale Business Awards are a local charity radio station based on the Isle of Sheppey. Originally an Internet radio station, Sheppey FM was awarded a full Community Radio FM licence by Ofcom in recognition of the station’s unique work with disadvantaged and socially isolated local people. Now broadcasting daily on 92.2FM, over the last five years the team have built strong roots, networking with local schools, organisations and event organisers.
Julie Nicholls is proud to be part of the Sheppey FM team. She spoke about the work that the charity does locally: “The priority ethos of Sheppey FM is to support all people from all walks of life and help them to achieve their personal goals. We are the only radio station in Kent to focus on helping those less fortunate or socially excluded. The station successfully delivers Media training courses, focusing on those with special needs but not excluding young people from mainstream schooling and over the last five years we have successfully provided training courses to well over 1,000 young people.”
As Julie mentions, Sheppey FM is unique amongst Kent radio stations, due to the focus placed on the promotion of the beneficial services to the local community, such as health support groups and organisations. Sheppey FM provides vital information on exactly what is locally available, helping to point people in the right direction to access medical treatment, counselling, training opportunities and social enhancement.
Julie discussed what could take place during the average day at Sheppey FM: “We have several guests every day coming in for interviews to promote their charity, event or health organisation. We have local unsigned musicians performing ‘live’ in our studios. We have training booked out until next year and we are flooded for the summer holidays with work experience placements. We have ‘specialist’ schools coming to us from Faversham, Sittingbourne, Chatham, Ashford and Rochester for our help. It’s always hectic at Sheppey FM - our main challenge is keeping up with the increasing demand for our services!”
Finally, Julie spoke about why she felt that Sheppey FM deserved to be recognised at the Swale Business Awards: “To try to describe Sheppey FM in a nutshell is very difficult as we are so different to many stations. Our objectives are to include people of all ages and abilities, from all walks of life within our community and give them the equality to access voluntary involvement, work experience placements and training opportunities. Social gain for our community is our primary objective and is what we feel most passionate about. We fully understand our community’s needs and have identified the areas where they are being failed and underserved. We have been told that we are a ‘sanctuary’ for some, and a ‘salvation’ for others. We are so very proud to be ‘Sheppey FM Community Radio.”
Sheppey Community Media Centre
The Pavilion
Sheerness
Kent
ME12 1AY
01795 664499
www.sheppeyfm.org.uk