Case Study
Sixty is a fine age to be discovered and 60 year old local radio star, Betty Kemp, presenter of ‘Betty’s Books’ seems to be enjoying her time in the limelight.
‘Betty’s Books’ is one of many home-grown programmes developed by local residents who have volunteered to work with community radio station, South Leeds Community Radio, formerly known as LS11 FM. Now operating from custom-built premises at Hillside, a new enterprise centre at the refurbished Beeston Grammar School, South Leeds Community Radio is right in the heart of the community it serves.
The new space offers improved facilities and will allow 14 people to share editing suites, studios and office space at any one time. It’s a big improvement on their previous base, which could only hold four people at a time.
Nominated for a ‘Making a Difference’ Award in 2007, supported by The Big Issue & Yorkshire Forward, South Leeds Community Radio have worked with hundreds of volunteers like Betty, attracted by the chance to give some time and energy back to their local community.
According to Judith Wayment, South Leeds Community Radio’s station manager, “Not all of the programmes will appeal to all of our listeners. Some people like Hip Hop, some like cooking, gardening, reading, watching films; and some programmes are broadcast in community languages, but there is likely to be something there that will catch your interest. The best thing about what we do is that people volunteer with us and in a matter of weeks, you see them literally walking taller with the new skills and confidence they’ve taken on board.”
There are other stories like Betty’s, of people who have discovered a whole new outlet for their interests via South Leeds Community Radio. John Bostock from Middleton, a cabinet maker by trade, with a love of country and western music, was looking for a creative hobby. His wife had persuaded him to attend creative writing classes at Park Lane College, where he met Judith. The rest, as they say, is history, and John believes South Leeds Community Radio has really transformed his life.
“South Leeds Community Radio gives people a voice and a chance to express themselves”, says Judith, “and the programmes speak to local people. We’re now based in Beeston, but LS11 covers Holbeck and Holbeck Urban Village. We’re interested in programmes that cut across the social and cultural spectrum, to explore and illustrate LS11 the area, its differences and similarities, and the programmes will chart the shifting patterns and changes in the ways we live, work and play.”
