New batch of volunteers to start at Dr Gray's Wave Radio station after coronavirus lockdown
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TEN new volunteers are set to start at Dr Gray's Wave Radio station when coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted.
After an appeal in the Northern Scot and its sister titles across Moray, 13 people came forward to volunteer at the hospital radio station.
Eight of those were coming towards the end of their training when the lockdown was enforced – with two more waiting to start.
Chairman Stewart Kennedy, from Forres, is delighted with the response received.
He said: "It has been fantastic – we are really happy with the new presenters under training and look forward to having them back in as soon as possible.
"We were down to our last seven volunteers so we have more than doubled our numbers.
"A couple will soon be ready to go live when restrictions are lifted as they were just on the brink before lockdown came in."
The station is still taking on more volunteers, too, and interested parties should email secretary@waveradio.org.uk for more. Training will start up post-lockdown.
Training may have paused, but Wave Radio itself is still on air – with a band of five working remotely to keep the station going.
With people at home more than ever before, the station has also noticed an increase in listeners.
Mr Kennedy added: "We are operating pretty much as normal. There are five of us broadcasting live from our homes.
"Three of us have got the proper kit but the other two are using domestic software and managing to get through with that.
"We are broadcasting into the studio at Dr Gray's and back out from there. Nobody is in the studio.
"We have gained a lot of listeners, too, which is great."
While broadcasting is going on with only minor disruption – fundraising has taken a bigger hit.
Wave Radio needs to raise around £1000 every year to remain on air and, with all events cancelled, raising cash has proven a challenge this year.
The station was a mobile unit which, under normal circumstances, it takes to events and uses as a means of fundraising.
But the team are now looking to fill the funding gap left by the cancellation of events across Moray.
Stewart added: "Normally, we go to a few events in the summer with buckets and we can usually get enough to cover our costs.
"Sadly we can't go anywhere so fundraising has taken a hit.
"We need to fill the void and need support on fundraising, so we set up a JustGiving page.
"We have received £210 so far from 13 people and are really pleased with that."
You can donate to Wave Radio HERE.
Listeners can put forward requests at the station's new Facebook page HERE.
