Volunteer Stories: WFM

Irene Lawrance

Irene Lawrance, who nicknames herself "radio granny", became a radio volunteer almost by accident. When she first saw heard about it in the Manchester Evening News, she thought it might interest her daughter. "I never thought of it for myself."

Being unemployed and registered disabled, she found her life transformed after she was persuaded to attend the Radio Regen training course, becoming involved in the first three-day WFM licence. She went on to present at Sunday classical show Last One Out before graduating to her current prime weekday slot The Packed Lunch Show on which local officials find themselves answerable to residents. "We encourage people to ring in and some of the guests leave here squirming," she laughs. "WFM has made people realise that there are things going on in their own community that they never knew about before - it has empowered people by giving them knowledge."

As for being a volunteer, she says it has been very beneficial. "It gives you the confidence to go out into society and talk to people. You're interviewing and meeting people from all walks of life - like going to theatre press nights and meeting the actors, directors, critics from newspapers, networking and getting to know people." As a member of the Willow Park Housing Association board she also attends housing conferences cornering MPs with her microphone.

"Community radio has taken in people like myself - people who would never have thought of doing anything like this because it would just have been a pipe dream - and given us a chance."