Ofcom’s Community Radio Fund (1 Dec - 7 Jan)

Funding to support the core costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK that are currently broadcasting.

The Community Radio Fund is managed by Ofcom with funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Grants can only be made to Ofcom-licensed community radio stations in the UK, broadcasting on AM, FM, or via a Community Digital Sound Programme (C-DSP) licence on a digital radio multiplex.

A total of £378,533 is available for the winter 2021/22 round. There is no set level of funding. In the last round, grants ranged from £2,000 up to £19,760 with an average of £9,629.

The funding can support the core costs of running Ofcom licensed community radio stations including:

Management
Fundraising to support the station (eg, grants, commercial funding)
Administration
Financial management and reporting
Community outreach
Volunteer organisation and support
Applicant stations must be on air as at the date of their application for their application to be considered by the Panel. Payment can only be made to stations that have launched.

This is a very competitive grants programme with many more requests for funding than can be awarded.

The deadline for applications is 7 January 2022 (5pm).

For more information visit https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/radio-broadcasters/community-radio-fund