Draft:West Hull FM

West Hull FM is a independent community radio station based in Kingston Upon Hull run by volunteers it was founded in 2007 as the first community radio station in the region and one of the first in the UK following the introduction of Ofcom's community radio licencing. It primarily broadcasts to west of the city of Kingston Upon Hull and the surrounding villages including Anlaby, Cottingham, Hessle and Willerby due to having a low-powered transmitter, and Ofcom saying it must have a blocker on the transmitter due to the then new commercial radio station KCFM meaning signal the is weak to the East of Hull. It broadcasts on 106.9FM but also online via their website and the TuneIn app to smartphones and tablets.

West Hull FM’s aim is to produce truly local radio, working with volunteers, local groups and organisations to give a voice to the community.

About

The station is described online as; Hull's original non for profit community radio since 2007 playing a wider choice of music than any station in the area. Run almost entirely by volunteers we produce local programmes, play a varied mix of music from the 1950’s to today including local music, a much broader mix of music than any commercial station. Plus local news, sport and events. We also provide affordable advertising for local businesses. We are always on the look out for volunteers and aim to give a voice to local people.

The station has an active facebook and Twitter pages with over 2000 Facebook followers and growing, it updates listeners on local news stories, programming and shares information about local events like Anlaby Scarecrow Festival.

Programming

The station provides a variety of programming broadcast from their studios which since 2019 have been based in Avenues area of West Hull, prior to that they were located within a former pub called Darley's on Porter Street close to Hull City Centre sharing the building with theatre company Middle Child Theatre since 2011. They were originally based at the former Goodwin Community Centre in West Hull, which has since been demolished.

Schedule has changed over the years but, notable programmes and presenters include The Afternoon Show live with James Bowers each Thursday and Friday between 2 and 4pm , Drivetime weekdays between 4 and 6pm and specialist programmes such as Mum's The Word, Five & Last (Rugby programme covering Hull FC and Hull KR, The Comedy Show with Rich Long, Island Folk with Andy, The Country Show with Peter Fairhead. The station has conducted interviews with local community groups, charities, authors, comedians and those working in the arts both live and pre-recorded.

In 2020 the station made a partnership with Freedom Road Community Arts whom in turn began producing a weekly programming looking at arts and culture in the local area, this was continued during the coronavirus pandemic despite the restrictions making live guest studio interviews impossible. The station has continued to broadcast during the coronavirus pandemic with many programmes being produced from home and providing equipment to some of it's staff to broadcast live from home during the lockdown.

Notable Former Presenters

• Russ Litten, writer and poet from Hull became involved in 2018.

• Pete Haslem former BBC Radio Humberside] broadcaster

• Les Smith, former BBC Radio Humberside presenter, produces radio adverts for commercial stations like Harlem FM

• Pete Mills (former station manager, left in 2013 to form Hull Kingston Radio)