Lottery funds help Llanelli hospital radio upgrade facilities

Llanelli’s Hospital Radio has received a National Lottery Community Fund Grant to enable essential upgrades to its service.

Based in the Prince Philip Hospital and run as a volunteer-led Community and Hospital station, Radio BGM has recently received almost £9000.

The grant will be used to interact with both the in-patients and the local community and will deliver an improved experience for listeners as well as allowing greater opportunities for volunteer recruitment and promotion of Hywel Dda UHB health campaigns and local events.

Radio BGM’s Chairman, David Hurford said: “The past year has been one of the most challenging in the station’s history but having recently become a registered charity, and with the support of the Llanelli Town Council and the Llanelli Rural Council and local businesses as well as the dedication and drive from our team, we have managed to keep the station running successfully and safely.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as a recipient of a grant from the National Lottery, which will make a big difference to our operations and allow us to work more flexibly in the future.

“It will also enable us to make significant upgrades to our studio and help develop and train radio talent of the future.”

Radio BGM was founded in 1973, as the Llanelli Hospital Broadcasting Service at Bryntyrion Hospital and has continued to serve the patients of Llanelli’s Prince Philip Hospital.

Now modern technology allows people to listen within the community on their ‘smart speakers’, online at www.radiobgm.org.uk, and via the Radio BGM app, available on Android and iOS.

(Lead image: Hywel Dda Health Board)