Radio Volunteers: Support & Development

It's not just about creating quality radio station for a community - but about the community that makes it. Radio Regen believes that when launching a community radio station, setting up policies to ensure the well-being and development of volunteers is vital. The organisation employs Volunteer Support Workers at WFM and ALL FM whose role is to back up volunteers in the day-to-day production of their shows as well as offering broader support.

"If you have a great radio station that everyone listens to giving out quality community information that's going to be brilliant isn't it? But then how does this relate to the volunteers? Are they developing themselves?" asks Darren Jenkinson, WFM Volunteer Support Worker.

WFM Programme Organiser Jason Kenyon agrees that this is a key consideration. Although a community radio station may begin by concentrating on producing good quality output, building a listenership and "getting a buzz going", he says that the welfare of the volunteers mustn't be neglected.

New Radio Regen volunteers receive training at the station leading to their Skills for Community Radio certificate, after which they can go on to do a 10-week short course in Radio. However, the process begins before that with a one-to-one registration session where new volunteers are encouraged to bring up any health, personal or family issues they may need help with. Darren says that supporting the volunteers in programme-making is just a small part of the job. Volunteer Support Workers often find themselves assisting with application forms and CVs; seeking out childcare schemes; or supporting in court cases relating to housing benefit or evictions. Where a Support Worker can't help personally, he says they can at least signpost the volunteer to someone who can.

Beyond the technical know-how of radio production, the volunteers benefit from improved self-esteem and social skills. "If someone comes to the station low in confidence, then six months later they're fantastic on air, and a month after that they get a job, then that's my job done. I've put that person on the right track," he says. "It's about giving people the opportunity to change their own lives by giving them a new perspective."

Radio Regen's Volunteer Support Workers assist with exit strategies to get the volunteers into employment, further training or education after they leave the stations. One option is one of Radio Regen's courses.