South Norfolk Radio adapts to changing circumstances

South Norfolk Radio (SNR), the local volunteer-run Community Radio Station based in Wymondham, is, like many other small businesses, having to rapidly adapt to the changing financial circumstances.

“It would be fair to say that the financial crisis has impacted our plans” says Anthony Woods, Chair of the local not-for profit Community Interest Company (CIC).  “We’ve been affected especially by the lack of advertising revenue for the station, despite some extremely attractively-priced packages available for local businesses to advertise to local people. But we are focussing on the future which we think still looks good for Community Radio, and currently we’re actively exploring possible grant funding from various sources for an educational project that we’re keen to set up in conjunction with local schools in the South Norfolk area.”

“We’ve had to look at expenditure across all areas of the business, and we realised that our spacious Wymondham studio was being severely under-utilised” says Anthony’s fellow SNR Director, and regular #BreakfastBriefing presenter, David Mann. “Happily an opportunity has now arisen for us to arrange to share another existing radio studio facility in the town, the one operated by the long-established charitable organisation, the Wymondham & Attleborough Talking Newspaper (WATN), and still based in central Wymondham. We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Chair and Trustees of the Charity for welcoming us.”

A spokesperson for the Talking Newspaper said “As our own charitable objective of providing community information in audio form is similar to that of the radio station, it makes sense for us to work together, for the benefit of both organisations.”

“We’re looking forwards to working in shared facilities alongside our new colleagues at the WATN” says South Norfolk Radio’s Chair Anthony Woods, “and although we remain two separate organisations, it’s obvious that the objectives of both are clearly focussed on serving the local community.”

South Norfolk Radio can be heard on-line at www.snradio.uk, through leading radio streaming apps and on Smart Speakers.