Community Radio in Scotland

Community Radio

Community Radio is a new tier of radio broadcasting licence established in 2004 by the United Kingdom Parliament. These licences come after about two years of trial "Access Radio" stations in various parts of the United Kingdom, including Cross Rhythms Radio in Stoke on Trent and Radio Awaz in Glasgow.

Community Radio licences have some similarity to the 28 day Restricted Service Licences Revival Radio currently broadcasts on although the transmitter power level permitted is slightly higher and the transmitter antenna system can be improved. The major difference is that Community Radio Licences will be issued for a period of five years.

2004 was the first year in which Community Radio Licences could be applied for and the application window closed on Tuesday 23rd November 2004. It has been indicated that perhaps 50 licences will be issued throughout the UK in this first year of Community Radio licencing. The number of applications was larger than expected but whether this will change the number of licences issued remains to be seen!

Revival Radio submitted an application for a Community Radio Licence and on Wednesday 15th June 2005 received the news that the station had been awarded a 5-year Community Radio Licence for broadcasting 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

The focus of a Community Radio Licence is on "Community" first and "Radio" second. There is a substantial emphasis on the "pay-back" a community receives by having a licenced Community Radio Station.

There is no doubt that the Christian Community is presently completely under served by existing radio output and that, despite the increase in the number of radio stations, is becoming more and more excluded from the radio airwaves. A full time Revival Radio will change this situation in many ways.

The lives of Christians, of course, are also lived out in the Community and most aspects of daily life affect Christians and non-Christians alike. Although we live in the "information age", sometimes people have difficulty accessing the information which will impact on their lives positively. Sometimes the organisations who exist to help and advise individuals have difficulty in accessing the media. A full time Revival Radio will change this situation in many ways.

Fortunately the Christian Church has been active in the Community for hundreds of years providing positive benefits to individuals and groups. The Church is still there today - but do people know? A full time Revival Radio, working hand-in-hand with Church and Community, will influence the lives of individuals and communities for the better.

A substantial amount of work and commitment was required in making this licence application and and this commitment will continue and increase as we prepare and train for full-time broadcasting. The work has already started and the station needs the whole Christian Community behind it in continuous prayer.

If you would like further information, click here to contact Revival Radio.