Stockport’s award-winning radio station Pure 107.8FM is desperately seeking a cash lifeline after its parent charity revealed it is no longer in a position to offer the financial subsidy required to cover the running costs.
Pure Innovations has been hit by continued austerity cuts and will hand Pure’s licence back to communications regulator Ofcom in April.
The station has three full-time members of staff and an army of more than 50 volunteers.
Louise Parrott Bates, the charity’s chief executive, said: “I’m absolutely devastated to have reached this position but it is the only way to protect front line services and concentrate on our core business to ensure we have a sustainable future for all clients.
“It feels fundamentally wrong for Stockport to face the potential of losing such a valuable community asset but there’s nothing more financially we can do.”
Pure 107.8FM first went on air in 2003 before getting a full time community radio licence for Stockport three years later. Last September it celebrated it’s tenth birthday.
It is planned that the station will close at the end of April unless a financial backer or a consortium of backers can be found.
For information contact louise.parrott-bates@pureinnovations.co.uk or call Louise on 07595 001998.
Community resource and talent spotter
Last year Pure Radio was a double winner at the inaugural National Community Radio Awards, winning Gold for in the Best Community Development category for it’s radio project One Voice, which works with people with learning disabilities.
Volunteer rock presenter Rory Auskerry also won Gold for Best Specialist Music Presenter.
The station has become essential listening for Stockport County fans. It is in its 10th year of providing full match commentary of Stockport County’s games, home and away.
It also gives a voice to disadvantaged and minority communities in the borough with a programme for older people, LGBT people and provides community news.
It has given backing to projects and campaigns such as care leavers’ charity Insight and homeless charity The Wellspring.
Pure has been a springboard for local talent – Tom Ogden of chart-topping band Blossoms, got his first radio play on the station at the tender age of sixteen back in 2010.
