Academy FM – Music can change your life

“Music has the ability to change your life”, the words of Debbie Day, the station manager at Academy FM, who welcomes CommunityAd into the new-look studio to talk about the station’s evolution, the importance of community radio, and why you, yes you should get involved!

 

107.8 Academy FM is the ONLY OFFICIAL radio station broadcasting to the Isle of Thanet Licenced by OFCOM, and last year on 5th April celebrated a decade of filling the radio waves with mix of music, local news and information that the community cares about.

 

Debbie has been involved with the station before its conception, she’s been enthusiastically busy behind the scenes of Academy FM since before it went on air, in fact Debbie had many meetings with David Atkey before the school was even built. Atkey, from Splash FM, along with Paul Trumble, and the Roger De Hann Trust, were the driving force in the creation of radio station.

 

On April 5th 2010 Academy FM launched and instantly felt like a professional outfit, with a host of presenters with commercial radio experience who willingly gave their time for free to support this radio service.

 

In 2016 Academy FM nearly closed, but Debbie Day and Doc Atherton were not going to let this happen. With the support of local Thanet MPs, they started a campaign to save the radio station.

 

A new board of Trustees were formed and locals, businesses raised much needed funds. Then from February 2016 the radio went from strength to strength, and is now a radio service that is thriving like never before.

 

There is no doubt whatsoever in Debbie’s mind that the number of listeners to Academy’s broadcasting service has increased since our world adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. The radio station, like all good community stations across the country, became a hub of much-needed information as our world got a lot more localised during the lockdowns. Academy with its varied mix of music from the ’60s to present day, plus friendliness, the instantly accessible voice that is radio, Academy FM made sure no one was alone during those dark days and offered help to whomever needed it.

 

Helping the community is at the core of Academy FM’s values as Debbie tells us that they do a lot for people with mental health issues, “any of our listeners can call in and have a chat with us”. Some of those callers have gone from calling in to their favourite radio shows to presenting shows, as Academy FM is proud of its free training programme supported by grants from The Henry Smith Charity, Garfield Weston Foundation, Kent Community Foundation, allowing for anyone with an interest to get involved.

 

Among the alumni of trainees are Tom Brooks, a student who “had no idea what he wanted to do in a life” who trained as a presenter at Academy FM and has since travelled the world commenting on Motorsport. Debbie tells us how she trained an inspirational blind student Wilson Cole-Dellow to master the presenters mixing table and present a show, demonstrating that this radio station will always aim to be accessible to anyone.

 

The team of Andy Theoff and Paul Rutters are working hard in the background while the interview takes place, putting the finishing touches on the fresh new jingles. While to the left Lee Patrick is in the studio presenting with energy and vigour on his excellent Drivetime show. It’s like being in a busy household here in the studio which is fitting as Debbie finishes by saying “This is a wonderful place to work, where we teach invaluable skills, from communication to technical ability. Everybody here cares and works in the same direction for the good of the radio station. It’s a family, it’s been a second family to me in times of trouble. As clichéd as it sounds there’s no I in team, nor is there an I in Academy”.

Get involved or at the very least tune in at 107.8 Academy FM.

 

Find the wonderful Academy FM radio station on Facebook @1078academyfm, Twitter @academyfmthanet, and Instagram @academyfmthanet.

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