University radio station Sparks success at national awards

Published on 11, October, 2024

Spark, the University of Sunderland’s community radio station, has been nominated as station of the year by the Community Radio Awards 2024.

The Community Radio Awards were set up to recognise the contributions that volunteers make to radio stations that operate under an Ofcom community radio licence.

Dr Richard Berry, Spark Station Manager and Lecturer at the University, said: “Spark is almost unique in straddling the student and community radio sectors and so to get recognition for what we do from either one of these is a tremendous boost.

“The UK community radio sector now stands at over 200 stations, so to make it onto this shortlist is a real achievement.

“Last year we had over 100 volunteers pass through our studios, many of them broadcasting for the first time and this diversity shines through in our entry.

“Our volunteer team run Spark 24 hours a day, with something coming out of our transmitter every single day of the year. For them to get recognition for that effort is tremendous.”

Spark’s continued success has seen its Ofcom broadcasting licence renewed until 2029, bringing another five years of radio to Sunderland.

The station also saw one of its shows, The Indie Club, nominated for specialist music show of the year.

Daryl Jenkins Dixon, presenter of The Indie Club and volunteer at Spark, said: “I feel really lucky and grateful to have been made a finalist for Specialist Music Show of the Year.

“The Indie Club has been a project for five years now and it’s very surreal to see it on award shortlists.

"Spark has added so much to the show and enriched it in so many ways in just less than a year and I’m really grateful to the team for making it what it is now.”

The winners will be announced at Cardiff City Stadium at the UK Community Radio Network’s national conference and award ceremony on November 16.

If you are interested in studying Media Production at the University of Sunderland, find out more here.

You can find out what it’s like to study at the University and check out the Spark Studio at one of our open days. Book your place here.

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