The Community Radio Fund (CRF) was established in 2005 to help fund the core costs of running Ofcom-licensed community radio stations.

The Government has published the CRF evaluation report, which demonstrates how the community radio sector has grown and annual income streams have increased due to the grants received.  A The report shows that:

• after receiving a grant from the CRF, a station’s income increased by more than a third on average;
• over a third of stations have been able to employ more staff due to their grant award and nearly 60% of stations said their grant funding has enabled them to recruit more volunteers;
• more than half of grant recipients have been able to develop a new fundraising strategy or business plan; and
• the CRF has also given life and voice to smaller radio stations, such as Salford City Radio, that were on the brink of closure, and some have been able to expand their coverage.

The research also shows the impact of law changes in 2015 that allowed smaller radio stations more opportunities to secure income from advertising and sponsorship.

In the months to come, the Government says that it will carry out further work with Ofcom, which administers the Fund, to help it become more efficient and benefit communities as much as possible. To read the Government’s press release in full and for a link to the evaluation report, click here.