Officially formed on April 14 th 1974, at the advent of BBC local radio and commercial radio, Radio Link became a registered charity in January 1975. Since then, its unpaid volunteers have broadcast programmes to comfort, entertain and inform patients in the four major Derby hospitals: Derby City General Hospital, the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derbyshire Children's Hospital and the Nightingale Macmillan Continuing Care Unit.
The group is chiefly self-supporting, fundraising to finance its work, securing a number of grants and donations each year, and raising funds in the local community. The group provide Sound Systems for local Fetes and Carnivals, and perform Concert Recordings, in return for a donation to Radio Link.
The station broadcasts a wide range of programmes including Requests, News, Sport, Comedy, Bingo, Magazine and Interviews. With help from a Lotto grant of £5000, which provided computer automation technology, programmes can be presented 24 hours a day.
The Radio Link Music Library contains over 42,000 tracks, providing a broad range of musical styles. Volunteer Request Collectors visit patients on the wards, collecting requests for the various music programmes, and ensuring that virtually all the requests receive air time.
Presenters also promote issues such as the Foundation status of the Trust, facilities within the hospitals, and also provide a public information service including Health Information and local events.
The Management Committee comprises:
- Chair/Chief Executive
- Secretary/Press Officer
- Treasurer
- Head of Broadcasting
- Head of Ward Relations (Request Collecting)
- Head of Engineering
There are no paid staff whatsoever, but there are approximately 50 volunteers at Radio Link; working in a variety of roles. Radio Link does not have a dedicated fundraiser, as this work is shared between the members.
Most of the members are multi-skilled, adopting responsibilities in a number of areas. The group aims to provide equal opportunities for all volunteers, and often has a number of disabled volunteers. Fundamental training is given in each of the essential areas of the station, as the majority of people who volunteer for the radio station have not had any previous experience. New volunteers shadow experienced volunteers, until they are able to continue in a chosen role, un-aided.
Some volunteers have chosen to work on Hospital Radio as a route into paid radio employment, but with the establishment of media courses at colleges and universities, this is less the case. Such opportunities are quite scarce, but over the years, more than 20 volunteers have progressed from Radio Link to paid employment within the media industry. The majority of volunteers state that the reasons they want to work in hospital radio are because they want to give something back to the hospital or community, or because they are interested in Music/Media, and it is entirely different from their day job.
Radio Link is a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association. Over the years, Radio Link has received national recognition, winning trophies and certificates in the Hospital Radio Awards.
For further information, please contact:
The Secretary
Radio Link (Derby Hospital Broadcasting)
Tel: 01332 203412
Fax: 01332 203415
Email : info@radiolink.org.uk
Website: www.radiolink.org.uk
