Penzance Council supported west Cornwall's local radio station Coast FM with a grant during the coronavirus lockdown.

The £972 grant was to enable the station to increase their on-air presence and start planning for future outdoor events.

Concerned by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on vulnerable people living in the parish of Penzance, Penzance Council redirected their Social Action Fund to support community initiatives and projects aimed at helping and supporting local residents.

Councillor Will Elliott said: “Coast FM is a fantastic local news service, which does vital work - keeping the people of Penzance informed of the local issues which matter to them.

“This grant gave their workforce the support that they needed to carry on doing, and even enhance, the great work that they do every day.

“As a Town Council it is our duty and priority to support these community assets, and we hope that this grant has made a difference to Coast FM and to all their volunteers.”

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Volunteer Coast FM presenter Nik Sanderson broadcasting from home

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During the lockdown, Coast FM provided updates throughout the week, including information about the local support available, mental health assistance and food deliveries. The station has also focused on helping to lessen the feeling of isolation for many local residents.

Coast FM Manager Dave Pascoe said: “The grant money has enabled us to strengthen our output from home during the Covid pandemic, providing our presenters the opportunity of maintaining our service to the community giving relevant and important information to our listeners and entertaining them during periods of lockdown and self-isolation.

“This has assisted presenters mental health and some of those listeners who would otherwise feel lonely and isolated during this very stressful time for many.”

The funding from Penzance Council enabled the station to buy new equipment for their regular volunteer broadcasters who had been unable to host their shows from home during the lockdown.

Many volunteers did not have the appropriate equipment at home and were unable to access the station’s studio in central Penzance due to restrictions imposed on all non-essential travel and social distancing.

Presenter Neill Maguire said: “The home studio set up made it possible to go from one or two shows a week to as many as five or six a week. This meant that during self-isolation and lockdown I have been able to help keep Coast FM broadcasting to our listeners with entertainment and important Covid -19 information.

“This meant that I also could isolate at home and stay as safe as possible. Without the studio equipment, I would not have been on air and the station would have struggled to get presenters keeping our service going.”

Coast FM broadcasts seven days a week on 96.5 or 97.2 FM.