BCfm 93.2 have scooped another major award today and are officially the Best small Station in the South West as voted by the Radio Academy in the Nations & Regions Awards 2014. The aim of the awards is to celebrate programming that caters for the needs of a local audience, recognising the passion, commitment and outstanding content of UK local radio.
Jon Kirby, Smooth Radio Programme Controller for Communicorp UK and Chairman of the 2014 Nations and Regions Awards Judging Panel said: “It was a great honour and privilege to judge such a broad range of fantastic stations. The overall standard was incredibly high this year within every branch, and all of the stations who didn’t win should be very proud of their entries. 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. Many congratulations to all of the winners; you were the best of a very good bunch and we hope that all the effort and dedication you give to your stations continues to be recognised within The Radio Academy in the future.”
BCfm 93.2 won this award in 2010 and now 4 years later after a series of other awards and accolades we find ourselves in the unprecedented situation of winning again 4 years later. The official judgement cited: ” “A great listen with big ambitions, Bristol Community FM delivered brave programming with creativity and an appetite for the unusual. The judges were impressed with the items from Brazil, which began as a fun idea but then delved into the reality and challenges of living there.”
Station Manager Patrick Hart said ” We tell our volunteers that they are the best on a daily basis and I often wonder if they really believe it, well now they can be proud in the knowledge that it wasn’t me but a panel of radio experts that have told them that they are the best and I agree” he added “Now they can continue their amazing work on community radio with their heads held high knowing they’ve beaten some really stiff competition and come out on top. I’d like to especially thank Stacy Yelland from “Up Our Street” who really encouraged and practically supported the nomination process and our board of trustees headed by Ali Grant who have allowed & trusted me to get on with the job of making radio and training our team, I’d also like to thank BBC Bristol who have provided some great opportunities for us to collaborate. Most of all though this award MUST be dedicated to the 180 strong band of presenters and volunteers who make this station what it is . No longer do they need to feel like the poor relations to other radio stations because we are a community station. We’re all so proud to be serving the communities of Bristol that we know and love and this award goes to show that our strength really is in our diversity”
