Budding radio broadcasters across Britain will find it easier to set up a station in their local village, town or city thanks to a half a million pound Government grant, Media Secretary Tessa Jowell announced on 10 March.

The cash, which will be available in 2004/05, will help fund community radio stations - a new tier of not-for-profit radio, run by local people, for local people about local issues.

Community radio will complement existing local independent local radio stations. It gives the local community the opportunity to train and gain experience as broadcasters and learn other transferable skills. It can act as a conduit for getting messages across to otherwise hard to reach audiences about important community services. It offers potential benefits in terms of social inclusion, local education, training and experience and wider access for communities to broadcasting opportunities.

Announcing the funding, Media Secretary Tessa Jowell, said: "Community radio gives local people a real voice. It will make a great contribution to British communities in years to come, because its strength lies in that it is run by local people, for local people, about local issues. This funding will help give community radio a much needed boost at an early stage in its development."

Ofcom, the new communications industry regulator, will administer this new fund. People will be able to apply to Ofcom for a community radio licence. Once awarded a licence, they will be eligible to apply for financial support for their station from the fund.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also consulting on a draft of the Community Radio Order, which would introduce this new tier of very local, not-for-profit (or not profit distributing) radio. The draft Order and associated documents are available on the Department's website. The closing date to respond to the consultation is 20 April.

Ofcom consultation: The licensing of community radio

Department of Culture, Media and Sport