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Frequently Asked Questions
Below
is a list of questions frequently asked by prospective volunteers and
those new to the station. If you have a query not covered by the below
list, send us an email and
we’ll get back to you as soon as we’re able.
Volunteering –
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| Above
- WHR's Entrance Foyer |
Q:
Who can volunteer? What sort of people currently volunteer?
A: We welcome volunteers from all ages and backgrounds, so the
short answer to the question ‘who can volunteer?’ is pretty much
anyone who is enthusiastic about radio and about providing a service to
the patients staying in the hospital. The hospital requires that all
staff complete a CRB check before taking up a role at the station but
beyond that, there are no real requirements for membership, all that is
needed is enthusiasm. Check out the ‘Volunteering’
section of this site for more info.
Our current volunteers come from many different backgrounds and so are a
difficult bunch to sum up in a paragraph. Some have full time jobs and
volunteer at evenings/weekends, some are retired and present shows
during the day, some are fresh-faced youngsters with rosy cheeks and
some are a little more mature. Different as they are, all our volunteers
are friendly and try their best to make new recruits feel welcome.
Q:
I have a disability, can I still volunteer?
A: A disability needn’t
prevent you from volunteering at the station and true to this, several
of our volunteers do have disabilities. If you’re unsure, get in contact
with us and we’ll answer any questions you might have.
Q:
Can I join with a friend and co-present?
A: Several of our members co-present shows and if you're
feeling a little nervous about joining on your own, there's no reason
for you not to bring a friend along. We can train you both and then once
you are both confident in the studio you will be able to co-present a
show of your own choosing. Studio space restrictions aside, the more the
merrier!
Q:
How much time do I have to give as a volunteer?
A: Most volunteers give between one and three hours a week
to the station which can be presenting shows, fundraising,
administration etc. You can, of
course, give more if you wish to and you may well find that as you get
into the swing of things, you'll be inclined to increase your level of
participation. As for when you volunteer, many of our members come
in during the evening, although there are quite a few who volunteer
during the day as their free time allows.
Q:
What sort of training is offered to new volunteers?
A: We have a full training program in place designed to quickly
bring new recruits up to speed on what they need to know to present a
show. The training is set at a pace appropriate to the trainee and
there’s never any rush to complete the syllabus. Training is generally
done on a one-to-one basis in a relaxed atmosphere and take about five
weeks to complete. Check out the ‘Volunteering’
section for more info.
Q:
Is it free to volunteer?
A: Volunteers pay a small annual subscription cost of £15 (£10
for students/unemployed) which covers the cost of the station’s
insurance.
Q:
Where can volunteering with WHR lead?
A: Hospital radio experience looks great on any CV, whether
it belongs to someone specifically interested in working in
radio/media or instead simply a person wanting to show that their
interests outside work stretch beyond the usual 'watching films, going
to the pub etc'. Several of our members have left the station to
pursue successful careers with the likes of the BBC, Heart FM etc and
many others have undoubtedly benefited from the positive associations
that come with charity volunteering. Even for those not
interested in professional broadcasting, volunteering with WHR is still
a highly rewarding experience and if nothing else, leads to a
gratifying sense of purpose in that you are helping bring a valued
service to a needy audience.
Q:
I'd like to get involved with hosptial radio but I don't think I
could manage to reach WHR, are there any stations closer to me?
A: Check out the HBA's
index of hospital radio stations if you think WHR might be a little
too far for you to reach. If you feel inspired to help the station but
can't actually join us in person, you can still make a donation using
any of the 'donate' buttons on this site or through the other methods
found in our 'Fundraising'
section.
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| Above -
Expensive looking broadcast equipment in Studio 1 |
Funding
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Q:
How is the station funded?
A:
Walsall
Hospital
Radio supports itself by regular fundraising activities and receives no
financial support from the Hospital itself. For more information on our
fundraising activities, check out the ‘Fundraising’
section.
Q:
How can I make a donation to WHR?
A: Without regular donations, the station could not continue to
operate so donations are always welcome. We accept donations through this
site using Paypal, via standing order, cheque and by several other
methods. Have a look at the table
you'll find on the 'Fundraising'
page for more information on how you can help WHR.
Q:
Can my business sponsor WHR?
A: In the past we have enjoyed successful sponsorship deals with
companies including Lloyd’s Pharmacy, SAGA FM and the Rainbow Fish Bar
in Darlaston. If you’d like to know about the business opportunities
available through sponsoring Walsall Hospital Radio, please send us an email.
Q:
What are WHR’s funds needed for?
A: Station expenses generally break down into two areas –
utility bills and equipment maintenance. We have to pay for our phone line
rental/call charges and also for broadcast licensing such as the PPL
Licence. Studio equipment requires regular attention to keep us on the
air and has to be replaced periodically as things fail e.g. computer
screens, microphones. In particular, upkeep of the station’s computer is
particularly expensive because they have to be left running constantly to
supply our playout system. To get a
better idea of what we spend our money on, have a look at last
year's accounts.
Contacting
WHR –
Q:
Where is Walsall Hospital Radio?
A: The station’s studios are located on the third floor of
St. John’s
Wing, just off
Moat Road
on the East side of the hospital complex. Full mapping details are
available here. If
you'd like to visit the studios, you'll need to get in touch with us
beforehand as you have to get through three security doors before
you'll get anywhere near our studios. Go to the 'Contact
Us' section to, well, contact us.
Q:
What is the best way of getting in touch with the station?
A: The most reliable form of communication is email. Our address is
contact@walsall-hr.co.uk.
You can also write to us or call us using the details found in the ‘Contact’
section.
Q:
I need to contact WHR with regards to a business matter e.g. licensing,
professional bodies etc. What is the best way to do this?
A: If you're representing a professional body (the Charity
Commision, HBA etc) the best way of contacting us is to send us an email
at contact@walsall-hr.co.uk
and we'll ensure that the message is passed on to the relevent Committee
Officer. They'll then be able to contact you directly.
Website –
Q:
I am having problems viewing this website, can you help?
A: This site was built based around HTML tables which can
cause some problems as they will be displayed differently in different
browsers e.g. Firefox renders tables differently to IE etc. Furthermore,
the site has been designed by a novice (a 'noob' if you will) using
Microsoft FrontPage 2000 which again could be causing some issues. The
site has been checked pretty thoroughly to make sure there aren’t any
major glitches but if you do find one, let us know by dropping us an
email.
Q:
I have found a broken link on this site, what can I do?
A: Report it to us via email,
we’ll see what’s going on and try to amend it.
Q:
Can I advertise on this website?
A: We're open to offers with regards to advertising on this
site. If you are interested in purchasing banners etc, please
send us an email.
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