£2.1m investment making waves » Local Government » 24dash.com

Progress is being made on a brand new multi-media centre, next to Leasowe Community Centre.

The centre will be home to 7Waves Community Radio, the only FM community station for the Wirral. 7Waves will start broadcasting full time on 1 March 2008 and will move into the new centre in the summer of 2008.

The story began in 2003 when 7Waves Community Radio Station 92.1FM (7WCR) delivered its first broadcast on a restricted service licence. This meant it could only broadcast for 28 days, twice a year! Now a 5 year, full-time community licence has been granted to broadcast across the Wirral, making the schemes and training provided by 7Waves accessible to the whole community.

A £1.3million European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant to build the new multi-media centre was awarded to Wirral Borough Council, with Arena Housing Group contributing a further £800,000.

The ERDF grant and the financial support of Arena, which includes revenue support costs for the first 3 years, enables us to build this amazing media centre and to provide the community with access to professional training leading to qualifications and the chance to be on radio.
It’s your community, it’s your radio and media centre.

We can help you develop your media skills in a real time radio station with live broadcasting. Anyone wanting to become the next chartbusting presenter or enjoy a career as a technician should contact us now. There are exciting courses in digital photography, editing, interviewing, scriptwriting and much more.

7Waves Community Radio has already exceeded expectations and has featured 575 community groups across the Wirral and trained more than 150 students in broadcasting and media skills.

7Waves Community Radio is a platform for local bands, artists and community groups, offering opportunities to be heard across the Wirral and worldwide via the 7Waves website www.7waves.co.uk.

Pauline Murphy, Station Manager comments “The station was set up in 2001 after a long hard battle to find funding and turn the dream into reality. In 2004, 7Waves Community Radio applied for one of the 5 year community licences, with great success. We were awarded the one hundredth licence by Ofcom in May 2006.”

David Prior, Chair of 7 Waves Community Radio said “The launch of 7 Waves with a full broadcasting licence will bring to realisation an exciting vision for community radio for the region.

"The station is run by the community for the community, and with the support of our key partners it will offer far more to the Wirral that just news and entertainment. We want everyone on the Wirral to feel a part of 7 Waves and to work with us to make it THE community radio station.

"Brian Cronin, Group Chief Executive of Arena, said “Arena is delighted to be involved with 7 Waves and it is heart-warming to see all the hard work and enthusiasm that has been devoted to the project over the last few years finally rewarded.

"The community should be very proud of what it has achieved and I am in no doubt that 7 Waves will be a huge success.”