In its 50th anniversary year, Bath Hospital Radio, based at the RUH, has been awarded funding by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund.
The station was launched in 1964
The money will enable the city’s longest running radio service to update the equipment in its studio.
Broadcasting 24 hours a day to patients at the Royal United and Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases as well as online, Bath Hospital Radio is run entirely by volunteers.
“The awarding of this National Lottery funding through the Big Lottery Fund will contribute to our plans to update the radio station’s studio and develop our service for patients at both hospitals in the city,” said Ian Martin, chair of Bath Hospital Broadcasts Society, the charity responsible for running the station.
As well as supporting the charity’s plans to replace the station’s outdated equipment, the grant will also support its ambitions to recruit new volunteers and to develop a new range of programmes in addition to the live popular patient request shows and the broadcasts of live coverage of Bath Rugby home matches at the Rec.
“We are looking for new volunteers to join us – people who are interested in broadcasting, visiting patients in wards to collect requests, supporting the development of the charity as a trustee or maintaining our technical equipment,” added Ian.
In its Golden Jubilee year, Bath Hospital Radio is working more closely with other organisations based at the RUH including Art at the Heart, the hospital’s arts programme, which organises a varied programme of live music and creative activities to the wards and public spaces through its Soundbite strand.
The radio station also has plans to relaunch its schedule including new specialist music shows, the introduction of spoken word programmes and extending its coverage of news from both hospitals.
In May the station kicked off its Golden Jubilee celebrations with a special weekend of live programmes, the launch of a new logo and a new website where people can listen to the station 24 hours a day.
As well as securing funding from the Big Lottery Fund, Bath Hospital Radio has received funding from Bath & North East Somerset Council as well as continuing support from the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust.
!The radio station, which is run by the charity Bath Hospital Broadcasts Society and is the longest running radio service broadcasting in the city, has had numerous highlights over its 50 years including:
- The introduction of live programmes following its 10th anniversary in 1974 the move to new premises at the Royal United Hospital in 1989;
- The launch of 24 hour broadcasting in 2000;
- Being named Hospital Radio Station of the Year at the Hospital Broadcasting Association annual awards in 2002.
For more information about Bath Hospital Radio and to listen online, visit the station’s new look website at www.bathhospitalradio.org.uk.
If you are interested in volunteering at Bath Hospital Radio, email [email protected].
