Community FM Workshops

After the success of Community FM 2004, we recognise that delegates are coming to Manchester with varying levels of experience. We have therefore designed four workshop programmes for delegates with different experience and needs. Pick the group you think applies to you, and follow that workshop strand. Workshops are repeated, and some are run simultaneously, so everyone gets a chance to go. If you know which group you'd like to join you can make your booking now.

Alternatively you may pick any individual workshop from the schedule rather than follow one of the groups.

Workshop booking: If you have already registered you will be emailed a workshop schedule and booking form to make your choices. Otherwise you will be sent a workshop booking form when you register. As well as the main schedule of workshops, there are also ‘Fringe’ events for those who want more, see below.

You can also download a copy of the Workshop Booking Form here.

You can also download a copy of the full Conference Schedule and Workshop Details in PDF Format.

Either Group A or Group C will be revised to a single strand of workshops – same subjects but not repeated – depending on demand. It is unlikely that we will know which strand will be so affected much before the event. We will do our best to fulfill your workshop requirements but exact timings cannot be guaranteed.

Group A - Absolute Beginners – for people only just starting out in community radio.

• Getting Going – starting your group, defining the benefits, key partners, RSL no.1.
  Jason Kenyon (Wythenshawe FM Programme Manager) and
  Darren Jenkinson (PRESCAP community development, ex Wythenshawe FM)
  
  
• Funding – for beginners, grant spotting, fitting your project to the grant, filling in forms.
  Hosted by the Community Media Association
  
  
• Technical – studio, transmitters, pre production, automation and more.
  Phil Edmonds (Radio Regen Technician)
  
  
• Rules – Law, Ofcom, Advertising Standards Authority & your own.
  Alex Green (Station Manager ALLFM)
  
  
• Training – for beginners, principles of good training, training in the community, vital learning outcomes.
  Anne Harbin (Radio Regen Lead Trainer) and
  Sylvia Hills (Radio Regen Community Learning Manager)
  
  
• Programming – narrow or broad-casting, programme formats, music, promotional content.
  Jason Kenyon (Wythenshawe FM Programme Manager) and
  Chris Sumner (ALLFM Volunteer Support)

Group B - Licence Applicants for groups intending to bid for five year licences

• Ofcom – Lawrie Hallett, Senior Associate, Radio Planning & Licensing Team will give a introduction to the licensing process. He will also preview what is known of next year's procedures and some of the difficulties that applicants might face. Please note that this
  session is intended as general briefing and not as a forum for providing specific advice to individual groups a briefing for applicants by the Ofcom community radio team.
  Lawrie Hallett (Ofcom)
  
  
• The Application Form parts 1–3 – the forms will change next year but they will still be testing the same criteria so a detailed look at the process with experienced form fillers will be very useful to any would-be applicant.
  Mary Dowson (Bradford Community Broadcasting – a ‘strong application’ according to Ofcom),
  Matthew MacDonald (Diversity FM, Lancaster) and
  David McGealy (Oldham Community Radio)
  
  
• Training - principles of good training, training in the community, making it work for your station, accreditation, progression, evaluation, partnering up with a college.
  Anne Harbin (Radio Regen Lead Trainer) and
  Sylvia Hills (Radio Regen Community Learning Manager)
  
  
  
• Funding & social enterprise - grants, loans, advertising and other forms of revenue generation.
  Hosted by the Community Media Association.

Group C - Licence Holders for groups that have been awarded licences or who hope to gain one this year

• From RSL to Full Time – the big changes, planning for the long run, ‘90% community’, delivering social gain, managing on low resources -
  Alex Green (Station Manager ALLFM) and
  Christine Brennan (Wythenshawe FM Station Manager)
  
  
• Systems – monitoring, financial, and resources. Yes we know it’s dull but you know it’s necessary.
  Dr.Cathy Brooks (Radio Regen Project Manager) and
  Kirsty Walker (Halton FM)
  
  
• Funding & social enterprise – grants, loans, advertising and other forms of revenue generation.
  Hosted by the Community Media Association
  
  
• Training – making it work for your station, accreditation, progression, evaluation, partnering up with a college.
  Anne Harbin & Sylvia Hills (Radio Regen Training Managers)
  
  
• Volunteer Support – so much more than radio, volunteer inductions & agreements, discipline and increased responsibilities.
  Danielle Porter (ALLFM Volunteer Support Worker) and
  Haydn Insley (Wythenshawe FM Volunteer Support Worker)
  
  
• Community Outreach – finding out who’s out there, getting them through the door, appropriate levels of involvement (it’s more than just giving out info), representation.
  David Armes (ALLFM Community Development Officer) and
  Darren Jenkinson (PRESCAP community development, ex Wythenshawe FM)

Group D - Community Radio Partners for officers of groups that work or intend to work with community radio stations

In these workshops, officers from agencies that work with Radio Regen will outline the nature of the work they do with community radio what benefits it brings to them and what opportunities might be available for other practitioners in that field.

• Social Housing with Irene Southern ( Willow Park Housing Trust Wythenshawe)
  
  
• Crime & Disorder with Mark Flanagan ( Manchester Crime & Disorder Partnership) TBC
  
  
• Regeneration with Michael Farrelly (Wythenshawe Regeneration Team) & Sam McCormack (Arts & Regeneration Officer Manchester Inner South, & ex PCT)
  
  
• Schools (TBC)
  
  
• Local Authority Services with Gina Hine ( Manchester City Council Social Care Team) Saturday a.m.
  
  
• Community Engagement with Patrick Hanfling ( Manchester City Council/LSP Community Engagement Team) – Friday p.m.

‘The Fringe’

There is so much to talk about in community radio that not all of it could ever be squeezed into even a two day schedule. We have therefore created a ‘fringe’ session of optional workshops after Friday’s closing session (about 5.30) tackling issues that might not be of interest to everyone. These sessions will be less ‘skills’ based and more discursive than those in the main schedule so, more than ever, be prepared to share your views and experiences.

• Rural – With a frequency squeeze expected in the big cities, rural radio will come more and more to the fore. If you are based in a rural area, then join others with the same background to discuss what makes you different from your city cousins and what potential there might be in sharing your experiences in a network. Host TBC
  
  
• Radical Radio? – Ally Fogg (Author of the Community Radio Toolkit) will facilitate a discussion on whether community radio – with its unparalleled editorial freedoms, should take on the challenge of promoting alternative world-views. If so, how far can you go without Ofcom being called in to check your balance and impartiality.
  
  
• Technical – Radio Regen’s Phil Edmonds – who’s had more experience than anyone of keeping full time UK FM community radio stations going, will host a session for all of you of a technical bent. The mission? To swap tips.
  
  
• Advertising – Simon Walker from Tameside Community Radio – will lead a session based on his substantial experience on the other side of the fence in commercial radio.
  
  
• Research – There is no substantial body of academic research on UK community radio. Researchers Salvatore Scifio (Westminster Uni), & Helen Manchester (Manchester Uni) want to meet other researchers and community radio practitioners to discuss the benefits of research for the stations and the sector as a whole.
  

If you have any questions please call Helen on 01706 824 229 or email info@communityfm.net