Volunteer Presenter - Specialist

Role Status: Volunteer

Time Commitment: As much as you can give and depends on what’s available on the Future Radio schedule. However we should be looking for at least once a month, once a fortnight or once a week.

Location: Future Radio, 14 Woodcock Road, Norwich

Reporting to: Station Manager

Start date: As soon as practicable

Specific Responsibilities

• Introduce and host your show
• Carry out research and planning and contribute to the production of background information for items and music to be featured on the programme
• Pull together your own playlist of music, ensuring the music is clean and compliant with the Ofcom broadcast code.
• Plan and rehearse shows
• Write scripts and cues when required
• Interview guests in the studio, by telephone, zoom or on location when required
• Interact with the audience
• Create links between other programmes on Future Radio
• ‘Drive’ the desk and operate technical equipment for recording and playback, using computers to cue music, adverts and jingles
• Keep the programme running to schedule, responding positively & quickly to problems or changes – improvising if necessary
• Work with technical teams and other members of the Future Radio team

Don’t worry, full training will be given!

Your show will be pre-recorded to start with. Once you’re confident, and we feel you’re ready, you will then be given the option to broadcast live.

We always try to schedule your show based on your own requirements, but we do have to schedule the show where it will work best in order to give it its full potential.

Personal Profile

Whilst radio experience is desirable, it is not essential as full training will be given. You will be proactive, organised and able to work independently under a given remit. You will have excellent communication skills, a can-do attitude, and will act as a positive champion for Future Radio at all times. You will also be ready, willing and able to give the time, care and attention that the role requires over an extended period.

• You will need to have:
• Superb communication and presentation skills
• Performance skills and a clear voice
• The ability to generate original ideas
• A personable and confident manner
• A broad range of interests, specifically in the topic of your show
• Good research skills
• The ability to take initiative and make quick decisions under pressure
• Good team-working skills creativity and problem solving skills

About Us

Future Radio is part of Future Projects, a charity whose mission is to unlock the potential of communities experiencing hardship and deprivation by delivering high quality services and support which enables lasting change.

Alongside the radio station, Future Projects delivers that mission through Future Support and Future Education. 

Future Support is a collection of specialist support services helping those most in need, in areas such as housing and homelessness, welfare entitlements, family support, debt and money advice, health and wellbeing, employability support, loneliness and isolation, and any other challenges being faced by vulnerable people in our communities.

Future Education is a specialist independent school which engages children with complex needs and nurtures them to become successful adults through an academic and therapeutic curriculum.

Future Radio is Norwich’s community radio station, broadcasting 24 hours a day online, via Smart Speaker, DAB. and FM to a potential audience of around 381,000 people across the greater Norwich area. We also broadcast on DAB across Cambridge and King’s Lynn.  The station is staffed by approx. 70 volunteers and acts as a platform for local communities, promoting talent, supporting businesses and offering training and career development opportunities.  Our ambition is to create radio that everyone who considers themselves a resident of Norwich, enjoys listening to, no matter where in the world they are!

You can find out more about Future Projects here.

Funding The Station

It’s an expensive business running a radio station and we couldn’t do it without Future Projects.

We need funds to train and support volunteers, maintain and repair broadcast equipment and to cover costs such as broadcast and copyright licences, which run to thousands of pounds every year.

That’s why all volunteers who join the Broadcast Team make an initial payment of £35 and regular minimum monthly contributions of £12 a month. Some of our volunteers choose to contribute a higher monthly fee to support Future Radio and keep us on the air. If you’re in full time education, in receipt of employment limiting benefits or facing severe financial hardship, our concessionary rate is £6 a month, and if you’re under 18 then it’s free!

Get Involved

Specialist shows are vital to Future Radio, our shows are unique and cannot be heard on any other radio station in Norwich. You will be part of a very knowledgeable team of presenters and an eclectic selection of shows.

Working at Future Radio offers tremendous opportunities, valuable work experience, the chance to develop new and existing skills & to build confidence. Plus you’ll get to meet interesting and enthusiastic people with a passion for music, broadcasting & getting involved in their community.

Previous volunteers have gone on to develop careers in music, media, education & training, business, and the voluntary and community sector.