Public File
Each local community radio station in the UK has requirements to deliver social gain and benefit the local community it serves. These requirements are set out by the Goverment regulator Ofcom by whom we are and will be regulated.
This public file is intended to give you an indication of our music policy, local content, and services offered.
erewashsound.com is a website operated by Erewash Sound Community Interest Company. Erewash Sound is registered in England with Companies House and the CIC Regulator under Company No: 6658171. Our address is c/o The Media Centre, Vernon Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. DE7 8PD.
The station is now even more accountable and very much an asset of the community. For more details on Community Interest Companies and how they are connected to the community being served - visit www.cicregulator.gov.uk.
We aim to operate within the terms and conditions of our radio licence at all times and welcome comments about output as well as the content of this website.
Contact Details
As your community radio station, listener interaction is very important to us and we'd love to hear from you. If you'd like to contact us, you can do so by going to our Contact Us page.
Annual Report
Erewash Sound is licenced as a community radio station under the licence number CR171. After an initial five year licence was granted from Saturday 6th March 2010, the broadcast regulator, OFCOM granted subsequent five year extensions meaning that the radio station will remain on-air until March 2025. We are currently applying for a further five-year licence taking us to March 2030.
Previously, each year, we were required to submit an annual report to the broadcast regulator OFCOM, outlining how the radio station met its licence obligations and key commitments in the past year of operation.
The regulator has not requested a written report since 2014 hence no documents are featured here, however, OFCOM have permitted this on the understanding that the radio station remains within its Key Commitments. These can be viewed on the OFCOM website.
Annual General Meetings
Erewash Sound CIC held its 2023 AGM on Monday 20th November. A copy of documents from the meeting is available on request..
The 2024 AGM will be held on Monday 18th November at The Media Centre, between 7:30pm and 8:00pm. Limited parking is available at The Media Centre and this includes limited spaces for blue badge holders. The Media Centre is on ground level and is DDA compliant.
If you are planning on attending, please send an e-mail detailing people and vehicle numbers to info @ erewashsound.com so that we know to expect you. Erewash Sound CIC cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal property howsoever caused.
Format (Output)
Music: To cater for the whole family, Erewash Sound proudly airs a popular mix comprising of the best of latest new music blended with the best tracks from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s and 20s.
Erewash Sound differs from most other radio stations due to our willingness to embrace the needs of its listeners, irrespective of the era or genre of music.
Content: Our full time licence remit includes elements to provide an information service to and for the community. To this extent, all mainstream shows are required to include items of local content which refer to community issues, initiatives, what's on, news, travel and general conversation about issues which affect the people of the borough - our presenters included. The presentation of this material also gives valuable and often welcome opportunities for local organisations to receive much deserved publicity, which is not available to the same unrestricted extent anywhere.
News Output
Erewash Sound broadcasts hourly international / national news bulletins from SKY Radio News. However, Erewash Sound takes pride in ensuring local stories receive equal if not greater prominence. As a result, SKY Radio News bulletins may be followed by a short bulletin of local stories produced and read by Erewash Sound News readers.
Sport
Erewash Sound is dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of local sport from grass roots to senior level. We provide regular coverage of Ilkeston Town FC, Long Eaton United, Borrowash Victoria and Sandiacre Town - our four main footballing sides - and we also provide information, scores and reports on Ilkeston and Long Eaton rugby plus cricket matches featuring local sides - these types of coverage are not available from any other radio station.
Our website also has a series of dedicated sports page containing a breadth and depth of sports news and results from across the borough.
News bulletins may include fixtures and headline stories from across the borough, whilst there is a full summary of Saturday results on Sunday morning at around 11:10am.
Our Facebook page dedicated to 'as it happens' local and regional sport keeps followers up to date during both midweek and weekend games. Addtionally, you can also follow the Sports Team @erewashsport on Twitter.
General Programming
An outline of all Erewash Sound programming can be found by clicking on the schedule from the home page of this website with more details about the build of the service on the 'About Us' link from the main website menu.
The 'Shows' link can be viewed from the main menu on this website. Erewash Sound also offers specialist programming during our schedule.
It is the aim of Erewash Sound to enhance listener choice by providing a wide range of informative, entertaining and innovative programmes to the Erewash area. This style of programming is unique to Erewash Sound. This standard is achieved by producing professional programmes, using highly-trained individuals with a passion for providing an alternative for the Erewash area. We believe that both our listeners and advertisers alike want the highest quality product possible, and will be treated as such.
We genuinely believe that the above policy gives the group credibility among the community, ensuring that Erewash Sound will improve the performance of local radio in the borough of Erewash. It is the responsibility of all the team to ensure that this policy is adhered to robustly.
Automation / Locally Orientated Programming
All output is locally orientated towards the borough.
All Erewash Sound output is broadcast from studios at the Media Centre on the former site of the Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy (formerly known as Bennerley Business & Enterprise College) in Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, and from no other location to any extent. All output is produced and presented by a team of experienced volunteers. On occasions, some of our programming may be voicetracked, although every effort is made to keep such output to a minimum.
Programming from 1:00am to 7:00am Monday to Saturday and 1:00am to 8:00am on Sunday is automated.
Roadshow
As part of our commitment to serve the community, and in exchange for a reasonable sum, the station appears at local events with its trade stand and/or by hosting the event for organisers, by acting as compere or with our roadshow vehicle 'Melody'. We also provide event compere and DJ services for a discerning customer base. Please contact us if you would like to find out more about hiring our PA, compere or DJ services and have the kudos of having a local radio station and presenters hosting YOUR event!
We also welcome invitations to attend local community events with our promotional display, subject to availability.
Our Website
The Erewash Sound website offers a valuable opportunity for local community organisations to get the kind of promotion they so richly deserve, but so rarely achieve elsewhere. Our news pages contain a digest of information from across the borough. Other pages contain information about the radio station, its current structure and activities, the on-line service and a quick and easy way to both interact and listen. Content is welcome via e-mail to info(at)erewashsound.com.
(Please change the (at) for an @ symbol before sending your e-mail - we display e-mail addresses on our site this way to reduce the amount of spam e-mails received for the intended recipient)
Whilst we take every opportunity to ensure the site is safe and secure for all users, and make regular checks on functionality and status, we recommend that you ensure that you have a valid, up-to-date internet security program running on your PC, MAC, laptop, phone or tablet at all times.
If you experience any issue with the website that causes some operational issue to your machine, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can take the necessary action with our site set up. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for the effects of any internet security issues on users machines.
How to Complain
If you have heard something on air which is not to your liking, please tell us so we can take the appropriate action. Your comments or complaints will be investigated and a prompt reply will be issued. Please direct any issues to station director - Ian Perry via e-mail to:ian.perry @ erewashsound.com. You can also write to him care of The Media Centre, 37 Vernon Street, Ilkeston. DE7 8PD.
In the unlikely event that you do not receive a satisfactory response, you should then contact the broadcast regulator - Ofcom - www.ofcom.org.uk.
Board of Directors
The operation of Erewash Sound is overseen by an experienced board of non-executive Directors, with a breadth and depth of broadcasting, community and business experience.
Listener Panel / Accountability
As part of its licence application, Erewash Sound has a Listener Panel. The panel is made up of members of the community who, from their own homes, offer independent views on all aspects of output, to ensure that the station meets the needs of the community on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in sitting on this panel, please contact us.
FM Transmissions
FM transmissions can be heard on 103.5 and 96.8FM from studios as detailed above, using transmission levels set by the broadcast regulator - OFCOM.
The full radio service launched on 96.8FM at 9:00am on Saturday 6th March 2010 with a licence running for 5 years. After successful applications to OFCOM in late 2014, and in 2019, the regulator subsequently granted respective five year extensions meaning that, under the current licence, Erewash Sound will remain on-air until March 2025.
As of August 2024, an application for a further five years from 6th March 2025 is currently pending with OFCOM, but if/once granted, will allow the radio station to remain on-air until March 2030, some twenty years from the original launch date.
The successful applications came after ongoing adherence to key commitments contained within licence documentation - these documents are available for public viewing on the OFCOM website.
In the Summer of 2018, Erewash Sound took advantage of an opportunity to apply for a second frequency with the aim to offer increased signal strengths to the south and south west of the borough. If you have any particular difficulties in listening to Erewash Sound on FM, we're delighted to announce that, in September 2019, the regulator approved our application. Subsequently, after a year of planning and securing finance, test transmissions began on 1st October 2020 on 103.5FM with regular output beginning at 7am on Monday 12th October 2020 - Local Radio Day.
Please send your reception reports via e-mail to info @ erewashsound.com. FM transmissions are also simulcast via the 'Listen Live' link on the top of this website, and can also be heard via select WiFi-radio platforms and other selected items of IT such as some TV boxes and AI devices such as smartspeakers on Google Home and Alexa. Output is not currently available via DAB receivers, but we continue to explore opportunities for the service to be carried on DAB and DAB+.
For listening on-line, we also have a free-to-download app for tablets and mobiles available from your preferred download store - but please note that streaming charges may apply with your network operator.
