The Ofcom Community Radio Fund Report for the financial year 2022-23 was published on 13th October 2023. The report outlines the administration and allocation of grants to community radio stations in the United Kingdom. The report reveals that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) allocated £400,000 to the fund for the year, with an additional £100,000 added later, making a total of £493,816 available for grants. The Community Radio Fund Panel, responsible for grant decisions, met twice during the year and awarded grants ranging from £1,500 to £24,570, with an average payment of £14,109.
Priority for Future Funding: The Panel emphasised that future grants should aim to support the financial stability and long-term sustainability of community radio stations. Applications that prioritise these areas or offer prospects of becoming self-sustaining beyond the term of the grant are likely to be favoured. The Panel also highlighted the importance of clarity in job roles funded by the grants and encouraged innovative income generation methods.
Key Insights from the report include:
- Emphasis on Sustainability: The Panel’s focus on long-term sustainability suggests a strategic shift towards ensuring that community radio stations are not just operational, but also financially viable in the long run.
- Role of Innovation: The Panel’s encouragement for innovative income generation methods indicates an openness to adapt to changing market dynamics and technological advancements.
- Accountability and Monitoring: The report also mentions a robust grant monitoring system, indicating that accountability is a key factor in the allocation and utilisation of funds.
Absence of Social Gain Metrics: While the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Report for 2022-23 provides a detailed account of the financial allocations and priorities for community radio stations, it notably lacks an assessment of the Social Gain achieved by these stations. Social Gain, a critical metric, goes beyond the mere operational maintenance of stations; it measures the tangible and intangible benefits that community radio stations bring to their listeners and the communities they serve.
The Imperative of Demonstrating Social Value: It is a common feature of all forms of public funding to demonstrate and provide evidence that social impact has been achieved in relation to the intended beneficiaries. In the context of community radio, this would mean assessing how stations enrich the cultural, educational, and social fabric of the communities they serve. Whether it’s through local news coverage, educational programmes, or platforms for community dialogue, the value of a community radio station should not be judged solely by its operational viability, but also by its contribution to social well-being.
Accountability and Value for Money: Both Ofcom and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that public funds are utilised effectively. Achieving ‘value for money’ is not merely a financial calculation, but should also account for the social value generated by the funded projects. Therefore, it is imperative that future reports and funding criteria incorporate metrics for Social Gain to provide a more holistic view of the impact of community radio stations.
The Expectation for Community Radio: Given that community radio stations often serve as vital hubs for local information, culture, and dialogue, they should be expected to demonstrate the social value they represent. This would not only align with the broader objectives of public funding but also provide a more comprehensive framework for evaluating the success and sustainability of these stations.
Limited Understanding of Community Radio Principles: It is evident that the principles of social gain and access, which are foundational to the ethos of community radio, are not adequately understood by those associated with traditional models of radio, including local, commercial, and BBC forms. These traditional models typically operate on commercial imperatives or public service mandates that do not necessarily align with the community-centric focus of social gain and access.
Principles of Access and Social Gain in UK Community Radio According to Ofcom
In the United Kingdom, Ofcom outlines specific principles that community radio stations are expected to adhere to, with a particular focus on access and social gain. These principles serve as the foundation for the unique role that community radio plays in the broader media landscape.
Access
- Participation: Community radio stations are expected to encourage members of the community to participate in the creation and production of content, as well as in the operation and management of the station itself.
Representation: These stations should aim to represent the diversity of the communities they serve, giving a voice to underrepresented groups and perspectives that may not find space in mainstream media. - Local Focus: Community radio is often hyper-local, focusing on issues, events, and concerns that are directly relevant to the community in which the station operates.
Social Gain
- Community Cohesion: One of the primary objectives is to foster a sense of community, bringing together different parts of the community that might not otherwise interact.
- Education and Training: Many community radio stations offer educational content and training opportunities, both in media production and other areas relevant to the community.
- Social Inclusion: By giving a platform to marginalised voices and covering issues that are frequently overlooked, community radio stations contribute to social inclusion.
- Accountability: Stations are expected to be accountable to the communities they serve, typically through governance structures that involve community members and through transparent operations.
- Information and Advice: Providing valuable information and advice on a range of topics, from local news and events to health and social services, is another key aspect of social gain.
- Cultural Development: Community radio can also play a role in the cultural development of a community, providing a platform for local artists, musicians, and cultural commentators.
These principles of access and social gain are what set community radio apart from commercial and public service broadcasting. They are designed to ensure that community radio stations operate in a manner that is fundamentally rooted in the needs, interests, and well-being of the communities they serve.
Lack of Promotion and Understanding by Ofcom and DCMS: Ofcom and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have not done enough to promote a comprehensive understanding of these unique principles that differentiate community radio from its commercial and public counterparts. The absence of targeted educational and promotional efforts contributes to a lack of awareness and understanding, thereby undermining the distinct value that community radio brings to the media landscape.
Absence of a Coherent Evaluation Framework: Moreover, both Ofcom and DCMS currently lack a coherent or methodologically sound framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the funding allocated to community radio stations in the UK. While financial metrics and operational sustainability are important, they are insufficient in capturing the social impact and community access that these stations provide. This gap in evaluation methods fails to offer a holistic view of the effectiveness of public funding in achieving the intended social gains.
The Need for a Policy Shift: Given the unique role that community radio plays in serving local communities, it is imperative for Ofcom and DCMS to develop and implement a robust evaluation framework that goes beyond financial and operational metrics. Such a framework should aim to quantify and qualify the social gains and levels of community access achieved through the funding provided. This would validate the effectiveness of public expenditure and elevate the understanding and appreciation of the unique value proposition of community radio.
There is a pressing need for Ofcom and DCMS to enhance their efforts in promoting the unique principles of community radio and to develop a comprehensive evaluation methodology that truly captures the social value and community access these stations provide. While the Ofcom Community Radio Fund Report for 2022-23 is informative in terms of financial allocations and priorities, it falls short in evaluating the social impact of community radio, an aspect that should be integral to future assessments.
