Cotswold Hospital Radio

Join Us

Can you answer these questions:

  • Are you aged over 18?
  • Do you enjoy music?
  • Do you enjoy meeting new people?
  • Do you enjoy making new friends?
  • Do you want to learn about radio?
  • Do you have a few hours spare each week?
  • Do you want to make a difference?

If the answer is YES, then volunteering to be a Patients Ward Visitor at Cotswold Hospital Radio may be what you’re looking for. Volunteering at Cotswold Hospital Radio is a significant commitment, and our volunteers form a community of dedicated people serving the Gloucestershire hospitals week in, week out. Here’s what you need to know if you want to join our station.

  • What’s involved in being a volunteer in hospital broadcasting?

We provide a special service to hospital patients, and only a small part is about presenting programmes! Keeping the station running takes a lot of work, and most stations expect volunteers to help with a range of the jobs involved. That includes ward visiting and request collecting, fundraising activities and cleaning the studio, as well as operating the studio equipment and presenting programmes.

  • What skills do I need?

You should be able to communicate well. It helps if you are outgoing and enjoy meeting people, especially for collecting requests on the wards or fundraising for Cotswold Hospital Radio. You don’t need expert knowledge of music, nor any technical expertise, most important is a willingness to learn and be part of a team and be able to make a regular commitment.

  • Do I have to go on air?

Most members want to be involved in presenting programmes, but you won’t be forced to speak on air if you don’t want to! You’ll be equally welcome if you just want to visit the wards, chat to the patients and collect requests.

  • How much time will I have to give?

You’ll be expected to make a regular commitment, such as one evening a week from 6.00 pm to 9.30pm if you’re involved with a programme. Plus there may be fundraising events or outside broadcasts at weekends. Because stations are run by volunteers, most activities happen in the evenings or at weekends. Presenting a show doesn’t just mean turning up at the studio and going on air,  it means visiting the wards to collect requests, finding the records in the library, doing the programme, and putting everything away afterwards.

  • Is there an age limit?

Cotswold Hospital Radio requires that members are a minimum age of 18. This is because our employment insurance only covers people to be that age as a minimum.

  • Do I require DBS clearance? 

Yes. A DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check will be required to be completed as part of the probationary period on Cotswold Hospital Radio. Full membership status is dependent upon results.

  • Do we offer Work Experience?

No. Sorry. Cotswold Hospital Radio can not offer Work Experience due to our age restriction.

  • What will it cost?

The annual membership fee at Cotswold Hospital Radio is currently a donation. The amount is at the discretion of the member. However, You’ll have to pay for your own travel to get to the studio and events.

  • What training is there?

When you apply to join us, we will arrange for you to visit the studio one evening, during which you will observe one of our broadcast teams ‘on the job.’ When you join, you will be trained by the broadcast team you are a part of. This will include (pending DBS clearance) ward visiting in the hospitals; presenting; show preparation; and sound engineering.

  • Will hospital broadcasting help my career?

Any voluntary work can be put on your CV to impress a future employer (and that applies to any job, not just the media), but nothing is guaranteed and for every one who’s gone on into a job there are hundreds who haven’t. However, it’s all good experience – many professional broadcasters started in hospital stations and we’ll be happy to share our skills with you as long as you support a range of station activities.

  • How do I find Cotswold Hospital Radio?

The Cotswold Hospital Radio studios are at Parkside Studios, Parkside, Cheltenham General Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7AN. You can ring us on 01242 245245. The web site address is www.patientstation.org.uk  and you can contact us by filling out the form below.

  • I phoned/emailed Cotswold Hospital Radio – but I’m still waiting for a reply?

As at most stations, membership inquiries are dealt with by one person, if you ring 01242 245245 during the day you’ll probably get an answering machine and be asked to leave a message. Please make sure you leave a daytime and an evening contact number. Still interested in joining us? then Please complete this form

Checkout our current volunteer vacancies with Go Volunteer Glos.