How Harrogate Community Radio 'planted a pole in the ground for the town' with a unique broadcasting policy

After being launched at midnight on Yorkshire Day in 2019 by three friends who had contributed so much to the town’s music scene, Harrogate Community Radio wracked up 36,765 listener minutes per month before Christmas.

The bravely principled radio station with a ‘no adverts' philosophy saw its mix of everything from from Moroccan hip hop to spoken word shows win popularity almost immediately.

But then Covid struck just six months after its launch date.

Determined never be a commercial station, HCR found its routes to donations and fundraising reduced by the arrival of the pandemic and the series of lockdowns.

Four years later, the good news is that Harrogate Community Radio is going more strongly than ever, broadcasting for hundreds of hours each week with a staggering number and variety of local shows.

Now an accredited member of the Community Media Association, its resilience is a testimony to the three founders’ faith in their original concept and their faith in Harrogate itself, says one of the three, Andy Backhouse.

"Harrogate is a very musical town, more so than people may realise,” said Andy who presents a world music programme as well as a free jazz improv show.

"Myself and DJ Scooby were fed up being broadcast on other radio stations.

"We decided to plant a pole in the ground for Harrogate and for the whole range of what it has to offer."

In a sign of the high standards of this entirely volunteer-led venture, HCR features some of the known names in the town’s arts and music scene on a regular basis, including Rory Hoy, Simon Bleasdale, DJ Trev, Mark Ellis and DJ Scooby.

As happy with the obscure, as the mainstream, welcoming of any and all ideas, within reason, this idealistic enterprise is about much more than music.

It also broadcasts a huge number of spoken word broadcasts from local charities, local community groups and interesting individuals.

It even has its own Community Events Board.

Bigger, better and stronger than before the Covid era threatened to put a spoke in its wheels, Harrogate Community Radio remains a labour of love, committed to Harrogate in all its shades, in all its best aspects.

The guiding lights remain the station’s founding fathers Andrew Backhouse, Stewart Thornton and Allan Smyth – with the assistance of Charley Christopher, formerly of Stray FM, as well as Jack Sinclair and Simon Bleasdale who voluntarily do a lot of the admin work.

Andy Backhouse said: "We believe that radio should be about the community, not just profit

"We are self-funded and rely entirely on public donations.

"Everyone does it for the love of it, rather than getting clicks on Instagram or likes on Facebook.

"Our enthusiasm hasn’t dwindled since we first talked about setting up a radio station five years ago.

"People should give Harrogate Community Radio a chance.

"If they don't like what they hear on one show, we have a lot of other shows!"

Harrogate Community Radio attracts a steady stream of new hosts but is always ready to welcome to new voices and new ideas, though it does have a thorough screening policy.

To make a donation or apply to host a show, email [email protected] or visit: https://harrogatecommunityradio.online/