An online disability community radio station is extending coverage to the radio waves with a new DAB+ licence.
Access All Aerials (AAA), provides opportunities for disabled people to present and produce radio programmes from their accessible studio at Marsh Barton, Exeter.
With funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, two disabled people have been given the opportunity for paid employment at the radio station and are mentoring other presenters and producers.
AAA is run by CEDA (Community Equality Disability Action) – a charity with a mission to help disabled people be visible and valued.
CEDA received £115,025 from The National Lottery Community Fund for a three year project to work with physically disabled people, neurodiverse people and people with learning disabilities. Over 50 people are involved in producing and presenting for Access All Aerials, and there are 6,000 to 10,000 listeners each week – a figure which is expected to increase with the new DAB+ licence.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.
The programmes include a wide range of music genres, a regular team quiz, and baking on the radio. Issues that affect disabled people are often covered; one of the presenters talked on air about her recent experiences as a wheelchair user on a cruise.
Project Manager Craig Bowden said:
“Access All Aerials is a community radio station run by disabled people with an audience locally, across the country and further afield. This lottery-funded project has enabled us to develop people’s skills and provide some paid work, which has helped build confidence. I hope that this will open up further opportunities for our presenters and producers.
Greg Hill presents AAA’s Tuesday Drivetime programme. He said:
“Before AAA I wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning. This project has honestly changed my life because without this, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I do the Drive Time radio show on a Tuesday afternoon and spend a lot of the week preparing for my show – I’ve got some quite big names in the world of sport on the show. Sport is my passion.
“The impact isn’t just on me, but all the other DJ’s too. I’ve learnt communication, interview and work skills. My confidence has grown so much.
“My hope for the future is to build our listenership and get our voices heard; mainstream radio doesn’t give the same opportunities to disabled people. We had 1600 people listening to the CEDA awards last Friday night.”
Georgy Tubb is one of AAA’s media mentors. She helps others to learn the skills they need to work at the radio station.
Georgy said:
“My involvement in Access All Aerials means a great deal to me. I’ve seen the radio station develop and grow from the very beginning. To know that my ideas have been used makes me feel appreciated.
“I get a load of buzz and enjoyment out of being able to listen to a diverse range of music, and to talk about topics such as true crime, and generally to help people to express themselves.
“I’ve gained skills in setting up and running a radio station. I’ve also learnt all sorts of things. I work with DJs with learning disabilities, and we want to get across on the radio what it’s like to live with different disabilities. We want to make people aware how it affects you from day to day. It’s also cool to know that Access All Aerials can be listened to by anybody.”
Catherine Stevens, South West Funding Manager at The National Lottery Community Fund, said:“We’re delighted to support the amazing work of Access All Aerials, which supports disabled people to learn new skills and come together. Our funding decisions in the South West are driven by what communities say is important to them. Working within and alongside communities, we respond to their unique needs, strengths and opportunities, keeping our decision-making local.”
Access All Aerials is available online and on smart speakers, and from 1 November will be available on DAB+ radio.
Gillian Taylor PR 