Before 209radio came into being there was no community media, no free media training for the local community and no access to broadcast facilities in the civic sector. 209 has realised these for the Cambridge Community at large and provided not only a service but oppourtunities for people to realise skills that would otherwise be consigned to personal dreams or to be simply ignored. As well as specialist music programs, there are talk programs on a range of topics from film to sports to a range of local issues, there is even a chinese community show in both English and Chinese. Not a single radio station in the locality has ever provided such an effective delivery of media direct into the hands of a wide range of people and all of it achieved with a trickle of grants and arts funding. The station has now been granted a 5 year FM license for cambridge after over 3 years of hard work and dedication. If anyone deserves this award its Karl Hartland and 209radio for seeing a community project throught and sticking to their goal through all manner of hardships and setbacks.

Nominated by Gil Karpas, 05 April 2007

209Radio brings together a series of communites and organsation in the city together though its media voice and its openness. Trrugh communityradio it develops an open voice of the people of cambridge which would not normally be heard. surely a good thing when the maority of media is owned by the very few.

Nominated by Phil Pethybridge, 02 May 2007

209Radio has created oppurtunities for people in Cambridge that would normally get ignored. No matter what you background is, you are accepted at 209Radio. They deliver great radio. And for this 209Radio deserve's the award.

Submitted by Ricky, 08 April 2007

Power To The People!

Give 209 the award. It brilliant.

Submitted by Tom Summer, 08 April 2007

209radio represents the community. The whole community. And by that i mean all the communities together under a bigger community umbrella. No-one else does it, so its time to get recognised and offer a wider model for the rest of the UK.

Submitted by John Matoke, 09 April 2007

Karl Hartland has a dedication to people and the community that I haven't seen before. 209radio is such an open organisation, giving people the chance to make a difference for the Community they live in. 209radio is in essence, a Community Centre but using Radio as the form of expression. 209radio deserves the award, and will continue to be the fantastic volunteer-driven organisation it is.

Submitted by Matt Webb, 10 April 2007

Having been out of the employment system for a number of years due to illness, I was looking for a space in which I could revitalise my skills. 209radio gave me a secure, welcoming and inspiring environment in which to re-establish myself again. The station provides a wonderful resource to a diverse community. It should be rewarded for this.

Submitted by Nicky, 10 April 2007

209 radio offers local people of all ages and from all sectors of society the the chance to recieve excellent training and support on all aspects of radio broadcast, free of charge, giving a voice and invaluable opportunities to the people of Cambridge.

Bring on FM, and long may it last! =)

Submitted by Krystl, 10 April 2007

I live in Cambridge and love the variety of shows that are available on demand through 209radio.

Submitted by James Trevick, 11 April 2007

Great organisation, great people, the sky is the limit if you get involved with 209. It's an organisation that really does have the power to change things on a collective and individual level and has provided the springboard for many a broadcasting career.

Submitted by Paul Corey, 11 April 2007

209 is an inspiration, and of immense benefit to many people in Cambridge. It is an inclusive volunteer centred and directed organisation. It reflects and celebrates the diverse communities of Cambridge.

Submitted by Lucas, 11 April 2007

209Radio as well as been a community voice has been able to link a lot of organisations within the city together and become a hub for volunteer and community driven projects. The awareness of these projects has been improved thanks to 209Radio and its work. A benefit to the community all round. With it going FM this year it will dramatically affect the city of Cambridge and its awareness and importance of community.

Submitted by Phil, 12 April 2007

I know the hard work and dedication this team has put into getting this station on to the air. Four years of hard work has lead to a well deserved FM licence.

Submitted by Ian, 12 April 2007

The radio programmes are original and unusal but always to the point with interesting content, the thing I like most is it run for the community of Camabridge, the snowball is growing with more information around cambridge with their logos

Submitted by G man, 12 April 2007

A staggering amount of work has gone into 209. Some sort of recognition is the very least, in my opinion, that these people deserve. And the station is a genuine community voice of a very high standard. Please give them the award!

Submitted by Pete Um, 12 April 2007

209radio has inspired myself and many many others and i feel it is an essential voice for our community.

Submitted by Louise, 12 April 2007

209radio has opened my eyes up to what I can do in a media sense and how much it can do for a Community. The shows broadcast are of a Specialist nature and will make the station stand out from other Commercial stations in the region. Karl Hartland deserves a medal for his passion and what he has achieved so far. Without his dedication, so many of us wouldn't have been given such an opportunity. Give this Award to 209 radio and watch it grow onwards and upwards from this Summers FM launch.

Submitted by James Stubbins, 12 April 2007

209radio is a genuinely open organisation - encouraging and enabling people to share their interests and passions with each other. It is particularly notable for its support and involvement of artists who work with the medium of sound. In February last year 209radio ran a ten day RSL FM broadcast to the city - radio art was an integral feature of the whole programme enabling the participating artists to share their work with a broad audience of listeners. The schedule included a whole day of broadcasting especially dedicated to an exploration of the idea of silence - an extraordinarily brave scheduling decision!. 209radio is not afraid of taking risks and understands that inclusivity means embracing difference.

Submitted by Kirsten Lavers, 13 April 2007

I've just moved to Cambridge and can't help feeling that 209 is already an integral part of Cambridge life in 2007 and beyond. I see flyers for programmes and speak to folk who tune in. It's established and the listeners like what they hear. In short it speaks for and to the broad spectrum of Cambridge residents. I can't imagine a more deserving candidate for an award than 209.

Submitted by Elaine C, 13 April 2007

I think that 209radio wholeheartedly deserve this award - their hard work and enthusiasm have developed a fantastic outlet for all. This is a real example of a community coming together for a great end result. Good luck 209!

Submitted by Jane Foster, 13 April 2007

209 has opened up a whole new accessible, alternative, information stream in Cambridge. It is founded on a belief in openness and this is key to its continuing existence.

Submitted by Clive, 13 April 2007

209radio is a fabulous station offering Cambridge a truly alternative outlet for its voices. I predict a great future for it.

Submitted by Phillip Joseph, 13 April 2007

This Is It!

Community Radio as it should be - Radio "For the people,by the people". Nobody has worked harder than Karl Hartland to prove that this is the Radio Station that Cambridge needs.

209Radio not only provides great specialist shows but information about every aspect of life in Cambridge,keeping the Community informed about things that matter.

209Radio deserves the award for the inspiration it is giving to the people of Cambridge with it's friendly approach and open invitation to anyone and everyone to get involved.

Submitted by John Gannon, 15 April 2007

The internet and the FM dials are awash with pointless and tedious radio statiosn either tied to playlists, advertising and sponsorship or simply self serving vanity vehicles. 209 Radio is a refreshing change, tonnes of passionate people making radio about things that they love, it should stand as an example to any new community media organisation starting out.

Submitted by Nik Shelton, 16 April 2007

209radio is doing a great job in Cambridge by 'reaching the parts other stations do not even attempt to reach !' Karl Hartland has done the City a great service and richly deserves the award.

Submitted by Pete B, 18 April 2007

When i tryed to get a vollunteering job in cambridge,we contacted the Volunteer bureau and they were the only place in cambridge to take somone my age (13) and they even asked if i had any friends to bring along!Ther've even said that i could get a show,the've always treated me as a person instead of a kid,But also consider that i can't do certain things...like vollunteer during the week or be able to go off and do things without my parents knowing.It really is the highlight of my week going down there.So give them the award^_^

Submitted by Steph Emra, 22 April 2007

The amount of work put in by the folks behind 209radio is phenominal. It's a true outlet for the unheard in the community but remains accessible and a consistantly good listen. If an award was ever deserved by a cause, this cause is it!

Submitted by Peter Moore, 24 April 2007

Radio should be a medium that reflects its audience not dictates to it, 209Radio embodies this ethos with passionate, diverse, inclusive, community based broadcasting. Karl Hartland's tireless work in creating a station Cambridge can be (and is) proud of deserves some awesome recognition.

Submitted by Elles, 24 April 2007

209Radio is the only station in Cambridge that dares to challenge its listeners with interesting content. As well as speaking to the community, it welcomes them with open arms to make a contribution and in so doing provides training and other opportunities that are generally otherwise unavailable.

Not only should 209Radio win this award, but OFCOM should also allow the station to take on-air sponsorship to help build a bigger and brighter future.

Submitted by Holmes, 25 April 2007

209 Radio enables people to learn new skills, meet new people and instills a real sense of responsibility and enthusiasm with all who get involved. The programming and variety of sounds and comment is second to none!

Submitted by Harry Sword, 25 April 2007

209 has changed the way I view Cambridge - it has created a sense of community and enabled me to be a part of that community. The radio it produces is fantastic, so good I rarely listen to anything else. I have recieved training and been given oppportunities to do things I would never have dreamt of. I can truely say that Karl Hartland is my inspiriration, what he was worked for and achieved is awewsome and how he finds the patience and drive to work day in day out so that other people can have chances and opportunities and live out their dreams is admirable. Cambridge will never be the same and that is a good thing - thank you Karl, you have made more of a difference in my life that you will ever know. Cheers Mate x x

Submitted by Marcie, 25 April 2007

209 is a fantastic thing to happen to the Cambridge community as most have the comments above have mentioned long live 209.

Submitted by Lee, 25 April 2007

209Radio offers a voice to many people who remain socially excluded within their own communities. It gives local people the confidence to gain media skills in a friendly and supportive environment with people who are passionate about the community in which they live. For me personally, I've gained a whole host of new skills, a huge amount of confidence and now broadcast my own show...still have to pinch myself to believe I'm doing this! Karl Hartland's passion to move the station forward is simply awesome!!209Radio really does deserve to win this award.

Submitted by Lisa Pearce, 25 April 2007

If anyone had told me 2years ago that I would be involved in presenting 2 radio shows playing the music I love to not only to my local city but to the whole world I would have thought they were mad !209 has given me and others an opportunity to do this we would never have had through mainstream media.But 209 is not only about playing music it also truly gives a voice to the local community with a variety of speech based programmes presented not by professional journo's but well(in-house and free) trained voulunteer members of the local community.Truly democracy in action !

Submitted by Peter Monaghan, 25 April 2007

209Radio gives people chances which wouldn't normally be given. And is a friendly place where everybody is welcome. It gives top training and support, and gives you a platform to express yourself and your skills, which wouldn't normally be utilised in so many people.

For this 209Radio deserves the award

Submitted by Luke Monaghan, 25 April 2007

Referring to Steph Emra's;

I am one of the 'friends' of Steph and I totally agree with the fact that we are not treated like kids which is great!

p.s Karl is awesome!

Submitted by Kathryn King, 26 April 2007

Radio209 reflects the real mix of people and life-style in cambridge. It has given me the chance to learn new skills at my own pace, and to give back something of my own experience at the same time. It really does deserve this award.

Submitted by sarah baylis, 27 April 2007

209 is a fantactic place to volunteer!Its full of all different kinds of people from the community and its like a big family.

P.S : Karl rocks

Submitted by Jennie Devine, 27 April 2007

If you listened you know whats so special for the radio programmes are clear and interesting, if you haven't heard its meant to be by volunteers well I didn't know the volunteers could easily be as good a the better know radio presenters.

Submitted by Anthony, 28 April 2007

Who else would let me near a radio mike? :-)

It's been great fun and very inspirational learning how to make shows for radio.

A great station with a great varity of things to offer to listeners and volunteers.

A wonderful thing, this community radio.

Submitted by Francis Beadle, 29 April 2007

209radio is a remarkable ideal of community broadcasting that through ceaseless hard work, self belief and a passion that never seems to flag, is now coming to fruition. For me, even the limited amount of help I've been able to offer over the past two years has been the most worthwhile thing I have done in my adult life.

Submitted by Toby Miller, 29 April 2007

I\'d just like to add my support for everything that\'s been said so far... 209radio enriches life in Cambridge in so many ways and I hope it continues to do so for many, many years to come.

Submitted by Sacha, 05 May 2007

my life is great at sometimes it can be crazy but i love my life.

Submitted by helen, 17 May 2007

This Is It!

Community Radio as it should be - Radio "For the people,by the people". Nobody has worked harder than Karl Hartland to prove that this is the Radio Station that Cambridge needs.

209Radio not only provides great specialist shows but information about every aspect of life in Cambridge,keeping the Community informed about things that matter.

209Radio deserves the award for the inspiration it is giving to the people of Cambridge with it's friendly approach and open invitation to anyone and everyone to get involved.

Submitted by This Is It!, 17 May 2007

poody is fly no lie and the haters no this i stay fresh everyday i be ballin so get at ya chick yea i love ma boo D*wade and he loves me poody and denzel 4 life

Submitted by poody, 17 May 2007

i love denzel i love denzel

poody@denzel

Submitted by poody@denzel 4 life, 17 May 2007

i'm looking 4 a lady so if you r looking 4 a man come get at me

Submitted by its wat ever, 17 May 2007

Although I don't want to knock 209's fantastic achievements, I wonder what this initiative really achieves regarding information and openness. Yes, the issues that are picked up are relevant to the local community, but are these relevant beyond Cambridge, I'm not so sure.

Submitted by Richard Johnson, 22 May 2007

In answer to your question, Richard, that there are number of ways in which the station acts to open up UK society be it locally based or not.The skills output from the station in terms of broadcast media training will have an effect on the wider workforce within the UK. Many people of all ages are currently recieving training from the station and will inevitbaly take that knowledge with them into their jobs and careers. The younger, pre-university generation will take these skills to university across the UK and the many broadcasters already on the station will (and do) provide information and media to a broad spectrum of people through their local, national and international promotion schemes. The chinese community radio show in itself is a good example of how a community outside its land of origin is expressing its co-existence in both English and Chinese. This will no doubt open up UK culture, in part to a new avenue. Through the stations current web broadcasting facility it has the potential to reach the largest populated country on this planet and once they have made contact with a single show on the station that talks about their culture\'s existence outside of China, the browsing potential for a country of 1.3 billion people to investigate UK culture through the medium is vastly increased.

Submitted by Gil Karpas, 23 May 2007

I've listened to 209 radio and I think they're a really good example of community radio - I'd be really pleased to see them get the award.

Submitted by Hannah Lownsbrough, 24 May 2007