Jonathan Bellamy, Cross Rhythms CEO

Cross Rhythms City Radio was the first Community Radio station to start broadcasting in the nation in 2002, they were one of the first to be awarded a full licence in 2005, and now they are celebrating the news they have just been awarded another 5 years to serve Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme with FM community radio.

Said Jonathan Bellamy, Chief Executive, "I was doing my emails this morning when up popped a little blue email box with the tantalizing words: 'I am delighted to let you know that,...' My heart leaped as I jumped to open up the email box and continued to read: '...following your application, the licence currently held by Cross Rhythms City Radio has been extended for a period of five years and will now expire on 31 December 2015. Congratulations to all at Cross Rhythms City Radio.'

"As I read it aloud to the Cross Rhythms team there were whoops of joy across the whole office and an overwhelming sense of encouragement, release and renewed hope for the future."

Broadcasting on 101.8FM the station is based in the 12,000 sq ft, old BBC Radio Stoke, building in the Cultural Quarter in the heart of the city centre. It broadcasts a 24 hours a day mix of rock, pop and R&B, with a focus on community news, stories, reports and interviews from across the city.

Chris Mountford, Programme Controller

Said Mr Bellamy, "For 8 years the station has served the city, profiling all sectors of our community including local politics, health, education, entertainment, events, business, and voluntary organizations. Because we are just for this city we are able to focus in on a wider range of local interest stories than other stations perhaps can. Every month we run updates with the Council Leader; the Sentinel supplies us with local news; at elections we've run acclaimed round table debates; local students have produced dramas on drug use; schools take part in on air programmes; live outside broadcasts take place from the Victoria Hall, Trentham Gardens and across the city; and loads more".

Mr Bellamy continued, "The station is often recognized for the Christian values that undergird its approach to serving the city but we're a million miles from Songs Of Praise or being 'church on air'. Our approach is to provide radio that is relevant to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and of value to all aspects of people's lives: the practical everyday things, the emotional challenges we all face, and the spiritual journeys we are all searching out as we go through life. The feedback we have received over the years shows that our unique approach to local community radio is well received, and we are thrilled that we now have the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of our contribution to this city over the next five years".

The success of the Cross Rhythms model of community radio has proved so popular that in the last few years groups in two other UK cities have partnered with them to set up FM Cross Rhythms community stations in both Plymouth and Stockton-on-Tees, and the vision is for ten such stations across the UK. Something that began as a pilot in Stoke-on-Trent is now multiplying across the nation.

As well as a core team of 9 employees, the station sees in excess of 60 other volunteers and work experience students come through its doors each year to receive training across a spectrum of media and office opportunities. Building on this, Cross Rhythms is also now developing a Media Training Academy which will give opportunity for local disadvantaged young people to achieve accredited qualifications in media courses.

Cross Rhythms HQ

The station is broadcast online from Stoke-on-Trent to the world on the Cross Rhythms website, a site that receives more than 800,000 different users every year from around the globe.

Commenting on the next season for the Cross Rhythms station Mr Bellamy said, "The whole Cross Rhythms team have been amazingly committed to the vision of bringing this station to the city. There have been real challenges along the way, and we have had little resource to do much marketing. But we have proved ourselves capable to sustain this service to the city and in this next season it is time to increase our effectiveness. We are now looking for people across the city, who see a value to what we do, to engage with the station; to tell people about us, put posters up in their workplaces, play the station in their businesses, advertise on air, whatever they can to make the most of this station for the city. Call us on 01782 251000 or email admin@crossrhythms.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you".