New funding opportunities for community radio stations
Posted on: January 21, 2021
As part of a wider package of funding to help charities tackle winter loneliness, the government have announced two new funds to help support community radio stations.
A total of £500,000 will be distributed via two existing radio funds: the Community Radio Fund (CRF) and the Audio Content Fund (ACF). The CRF will provide £200,000 emergency funding to help not-for-profit stations meet the core costs of continuing to provide their services, and the ACF will receive £300,000 to support the creation of content that will make listeners feel less lonely and connect the vulnerable with their communities this winter.
Community Radio Fund
The Community Radio Fund helps to fund the core costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations.
Grants can only be made to community radio licensees in the UK, who are broadcasting under a community radio licence.
The window for applications closes at 5pm on 14 January 2021, with the awarding panel meeting in February 2021 to consider the applications.
For more information and to submit an application, visit: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/radio-broadcasters/community-radio-fund
Audio Content Fund
The Audio Content Fund is a scheme to provide funding for the creation of original radio production in the UK.
The Fund is responsible for distributing a grant of up to £3 million which will be used by independent production companies to produce distinctive, public service radio content for broadcast on commercial and community radio. The fund aims to support programming that is traditionally more difficult to support on a commercial basis (such as documentaries, comedy, drama, events).
There are currently two funding rounds open:
- Winter Loneliness Round – 18 January deadline (content must be broadcast by 31 March 2021)
- Standard Round 6 – 25 January deadline (content must be broadcast within one year)
For more information on the Audio Content Fund and how to bid, visit: https://www.audiocontentfund.org.uk/
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