Here’s what community radio stations in Sussex are doing to keep spirits high

Volunteers at the stations have been going the extra mile to make sure they stay on air, and people who may feel lonely or isolated can tune in to hear a friendly local voice. Uckfield Community Radio is on air between 7am and 7pm, while keeping all their presenters separate. Gary King, director of programming and music, said: “We’ve stopped evening specialist programmes and live studio-based interviews, and run interviews over the phone instead, using all the presenters we can. “The essential thing is to stay on air and provide key information when it’s needed.” Public broadcasters, including community radio stations, have been confirmed as key workers by the Community Media Association. Gary said: “We also have some pre-recorded specialist music shows to use at weekend to give some alternative to the mainstream music we usually play. “We’ve had a lot of emails, comments and good wishes from listeners. Our key commitment to OFCOM is to broadcast for a minimum of ten hours a day, which we are doing and will continue to do.” Mid Downs Hospital Radio, which has a studio at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, has It is running a mixture of pre-recorded shows and music with links from presenters, with many of the regular DJs continuing their shows. The radio station is making sure their musical output is ‘as cheerful and entertaining as possible to keep up morale’, and is currently seeing how feasible it is for presenters to record shows from home. Cathy Barnett, chair of Mid Downs Hospital Radio, said: “Our team of volunteers have always put the health and needs of our patients, staff and visitors at the front of our interests. “We are very aware that the Princess Royal Hospital users include in-patients, out-patients and staff from all over Mid-Sussex and the Brighton area, and we are still broadcasting 24/7 across Mid Sussex. “We have a bank of thousands of musical tracks to suit all ages and taste, plus our ‘Spotlight’ series of interviews and programmes of interest to our public. “This week, we are trialing making programmes from home and the production team is slotting them into our timetable. “This will keep up some of the ‘live’ feeling of talking straight to our listeners to stop them feeling so alone.” At Seaside Hospital Radio in Worthing, they are continuing their 24/7 converage from Southlands Hospital, with as many presenters as possible recording shows from their homes, and several using new studio quality microphones which have been bought to help protect presenters. Colin Santer, vice-chairman of Seaside Hospital Radio, said: “Apart from the hourly news bulletins and the Public Health England updates, we have asked our radio presenters not mention COVID-19, and we intend as far as possible to keep our programme schedule the same as always. “We are providing a mix of music from across the decades interspersed with light-hearted chat and of course requests, dedications, and shout-outs.” Most of their shows are being recorded a week in advance, and although the telephone request line is out of action due to nobody being in the studio, listeners can still make requests and shout outs by emailing requests@seasidehr.com. Colin says all of the radio presenters have ‘risen to the challenge’ of learning a new way to make their shows, and have worked ‘incredibly hard to adapt. Do you work for a community radio station? Let us know what you’re doing - email middy.news@jpimedia.co.uk. 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