10 years of learning, struggles and continual growth: Black Country Radio celebrates landmark anniversary
The leading figures at a Black Country community radio station have been reflecting on the challenges and triumphs from a decade of broadcasting across the region.
Dave Brownhill and Keith Horsfall were there at the creation of Black Country Radio in 2015, having discussed the plights of their own stations on a journey from an award ceremony in London, before deciding to pool their resources together.
From humble beginnings at a draughty church using antiquated broadcast equipment to having four modern studios which are the envy of professional stations at Cable Plaza on the Waterfront in Brierley Hill, Black Country Radio has become a station well-known for quality broadcasting and a place where the community is at its heart.
This has been shown in the honours won by the station over the years, from being given the Freedom of Dudley Borough to being awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2021 and being named Community Radio Station of the Year in 2022 at the Community Radio Awards.
Run and operated by more than 120 volunteers over two stations, including the community-focused BCR Xtra, the journey to this point has been one station manager Dave Brownhill said had had its challenges, but had been a wonderful ride.
He said: "We've had some difficulties over the years, from having our equipment stolen in the early years, which I would say was the lowest point, but we've also had the highs of moving into our brand new studios at Cable Plaza.
"We've been lucky to get some of the awards as well, from awards for the work we did during Covid to being given the freedom of the borough by the Mayor of Dudley and, of course, the Queen's Award and the Community Station of the Year.
"We've also seen a lot of individuals progress and move on to new careers, such as Lauren Redfern, who is going to Radio 1, and we've been able to increase our reach as we've extended our broadcast areas to include Wolverhampton Birmingham.
"Going forward, we want to maintain what we've got, such as our shop in the Merry Hill centre and the Black Country Hub, from which we want to set up a studio so we can broadcast live from the centre and just increase the areas that we can serve and get involved with in the community."
Station chairman Keith Horsfall said the progression of the station had been what had most pleased him, as well as the way it helped volunteers on to careers within the industry.
He said: "We've gone from a draughtyold church to four modern and super studios that someone said the other day looked like the BBC, and that's the measure of our success, particularly as when we started, we were only doing in Stourbridge, but we've now gone across Wolverhampton, Sandwell and into South Birmingham.
"We've also got Black Country Xtra, which is a remarkable and unique station because it is so community-focused and gives a platform to 40 to 50 groups who tell their story and help people out there.
"There are volunteers and work experience people who have gone to work in broadcast radio, as well as people who have become journalists from their involvement, so this station is about progression and makes a big difference in people's lives."
