Improvements for the Erewash Sound 103.5 FM transmitter after grant funding success

The broadcast footprint of the 103.5FM transmitter for Erewash Sound has been improved after radio station officials secured crucial grant funding.

In the final quarter of 2024, an application was made with the help of Erewash Voluntary Action, for a 'mental health' small grant which is designed to enable local voluntary and community groups and organisations to improve or extend their work supporting Derby and Derbyshire residents aged 18 plus to maintain good mental health.

Applicants for the funding are required to show a clear link between the activity they are applying for and the impact this has on the participants' mental health.  Grants are available for use for a defined 'one off' project which was exactly what Erewash Sound needed the funding for.

A non-profit making organisation, Erewash Sound CIC is run almost entirely by volunteers with the aim to maximise social gain, relaying key items, many of them focusing on health and well-being. It provides programmes of entertainment, plus news and information and gives a voice to community groups, charities and individuals, with programming broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on FM and online.

Supporting mental health can be demonstrated through both the radio audience and volunteer participants.  Since March 2010, Erewash Sound has consistently demonstrated the ability to build a bond of friendship between listeners and presenters, which, in turn, has helped reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness for many, particularly during the pandemic.  

In research for Pure, 40% of Brits said that listening to their preferred presenters makes them feel relaxed.  Erewash Sound reaches an estimated 11,566 listeners every week, representing 9.5% of all adults in Erewash. Radio station research recently revealed that 70% of the audience are aged 35-64, 12% are over 65 and with 61% of the audience, female and 39% male.

The Erewash Sound Academy has delivered radio training for over 10 years with over 100 volunteers getting involved and developing skills to boost confidence, particularly with communication skills. 

Ian Perry is the Press and Publicity spokesperson for Erewash Sound. He said: "As the local content of commercial and BBC radio continues to decrease, and after many local newspapers closed or merged with bigger titles covering wider areas, the radio station's place as a key news and information provider has been further cemented.

"Securing the £5,500 funding for new and more modern transmission equipment has removed multiple risks that may have otherwise prevented the radio station from continuing to broadcast, and has, instead, enabled a greater focus on the provision of supporting mental health for listeners through service continuity.  

"We're additionally delighted to have been able to coincide the transmitter installation work with applying technical changes which improve our broadcast footprint and maximise our potential reach."

Alongside securing the funding, Erewash Sound has also been able to reach agreement with the broadcast regulator, OFCOM, to remove a restriction which had previously restricted the reach of 103.5 FM transmissions.