Royston Radio 'forced to close' due to lack of funding
Royston Radio, the town's community radio station which has been running for more than two years, has been "forced to close" due to lack of funding.
Initial start-up support for the station was provided by Johnson Matthey and BLRT, but since then the station has struggled to stay afloat with little to no ongoing funding.
A spokesperson for the station said: "We are in high demand, only last week we had to cancel support for 10 events and withdraw from working with six community groups.
"The community is devastated. Over the past few months, we have spent countless hours applying for grants and seeking funding, but unfortunately none were forthcoming."
The station, which was founded and directed by Fonz Chamberlain, has supported charities, volunteer groups and events in the community, as well as providing work experience placements to students across North Herts and South Cambs.
"It’s been a constant struggle to keep the station going, surviving mostly on donations and small-scale advertising," the spokesperson added.
"Despite being in high demand, we simply couldn’t sustain operations without proper financial backing from many sources we approached who offer community funding."
Resident Phil Bryant said: "I’m baffled as to why such an important asset to our town hasn’t received the funding and support it deserves.
"I’ve never known a more hardworking team, all volunteers, who have truly transformed the town. It’s devastating to lose something so valuable."
Royston Radio was community radio at its best. Over the last two years we offered a diverse range of programming that includes music, community content, and local information. But we didn't just broadcast, we actively engage with the community, listening to the people we serve to deliver the content they want to hear.
Beyond what you hear on air, Royston Radio was committed to being involved in the local area. You’ll often see us at events,supporting with live music, lending a hand, or simply being part of the action.
Royston Radio was only broadcasting for two years, but in that time, we have accomplished some truly amazing things.
We've offered airtime to individuals interested in learning new media skills and provided over seven work experience placements. Our shows have received awards for their contributions to supporting people living with dementia, and three of our presenters have gone on to secure paid roles in the media industry.
If you think that's impressive, Royston Radio has also raised thousands of pounds for good causes, donated countless items to local charities, and proudly welcomed new businesses and projects to Royston. We've supported community events with raffle prizes, refreshments, and entertainment,making our motto, "Community is our middle name," a true reflection of everything we do.
Royston Radio can genuinely say it has made a positive impact on the community.
Please take a moment to view the photo slideshow that accompanies this message. We apologise for the number of photos, but we believe they help show just how much this small community radio station has achieved,and even then, they only scratch the surface.
We'd like to thank everyone who listened to or supported Royston Radio. It's been a pleasure working within the community and contributing to making a difference.
Best Wishes
THE ROYSTON RADIO TEAM