Calon FM Wins Radio Academy Nations & Regions Station of the Year

A community radio station in Wrexham has been crowned Radio Academy’s Nations and Regions Station of the Year for Wales 2014.

Calon FM beat off competition from other radio stations from across Wales to claim the 2014 Nations and Regions Award for the second year running.

The Academy Judge said the ‘Charming and fun’ station is a ‘great example of local radio delivered with passion and truly in tune with its area’.

Calon FM Station Editor Katherine Wade credits the win to the hard work of the stations team of volunteers who offer their time to the station.

Katherine said: “It’s wonderful that smaller community stations are being recognised wit such a prestigious award. It’s great to be able to show our volunteers that all of their hard work has paid off, particularly for a second time.

“Running the station on such a limited budget is often a real challenge, so it’s humbling to be recognised for our position as a real platform and voice for the community.

“Thanks to the positive response to the award in 2013, we have partnered with even more local and national organisations so it’s exciting to see what will happen over the next 12 months.”

Katherine is one of the only two paid employees of the station, with fellow Station Editor Amy Hughes, working together with over 90 volunteers.

Broadcast on FM to listeners within five miles of the station, Calon FM has built a following of more than 4,000 listeners worldwide online.

Their bid for the Radio Academy Award involved the submission of a 30-minute package of highlights from the stations programming, plus a summary explanation of the stations activities and achievements.

A spokesperson for the Radio Academy Awards who judged their entry said: “Calon FM is a charming and fun station, serving its audience in a fully inclusive way. Balancing sport, music and community content, this is a great example of local radio delivered with passion and truly in tune with its area.”

Jon Kirby, Smooth Radio Programme Controller for Communicorp UK and Chairman of the 2014 Nations and Regions Awards Judging Panel said: “The overall standard was incredibly high this year within every branch. What leapt out of the entries universally was the passion, dedication and ambition that runs through all of the programming elements and this is what makes the Nations & Regions Awards so very special.”