June 19th is National Community Radio Day and we wanted to mark the occasion by highlighting some of the work The Community Foundation for Ireland have done with CRAOL, the national organisation for community radio stations, who empower and support community radio broadcasters throughout Ireland. As a long standing supporter of CRAOL, we strongly believe in the power of local radio to ensure that all voices, especially of those of marginalised communities are given the opportunity to share their experiences and have their voices heard and amplified within our society.
Over €250,000 has been awarded from The Community Foundation for Ireland to CRAOL. Part of this funding was used from our Older Persons Fund to train a number of older people as broadcasters and empower them to represent themselves on the airwaves in 2016 and 2017. Each participant received a level three qualification and put together local radio shows highlighting the issues facing older persons in their communities and daily lives.
After the success of this community radio project, it was decided to set up another one in 2018 focusing on the inclusion of minorities such as Travellers, asylum seekers, ex-offenders, the LGBTQ community etc. ‘On the Cusp- Belonging to Ireland’ had over 60 participants and involved seven different local radio stations around the country. They they were taught about advocacy, expression, and representation of their groups in the media while also gaining broadcast skills and an understanding of the media landscape. At the end of the course they received a QQI Level 3 certificate as well as creating hour long programmes discussing issues concerning them, the communities they represent and the changes they would like to see. You can listen to some of them here.
Following on from this model, another project was set up in 2018/19 that was specifically geared towards people living in Direct Provision. Declan Gibbons, CEO of CRAOL, said of the project: “I think it’s brought stations closer together but also it has enabled individual stations to really provide a voice to those people living in communities that are, particularly in the case of direct provision, the most excluded of all.” He added: “It (Direct Provision) needs to be addressed. We’re publicising it but more importantly we’re giving the people involved the opportunity to tell their own story. They are part of Ireland at the moment and we need to hear what’s going on.”
Community radio is a vital piece of community framework for telling these stories. Visit the CRAOL website to learn more about your local community radio station.