Guides Tuned in for Community Radio Visit

Nine Girl Guides and four leaders visited Sittingbourne’s local community radio station 106.9 SFM to view the production of the ‘Saturday Show’ at the weekend.

The girls aged between 10 – 15yrs from 2nd Sittingbourne Guides had a tour around the studios of the volunteer run station. The group visited last weekend (Saturday 7th February) as part of their work towards a communicator badge.

The Guides had complied several questions which they asked presenter Jason McCrossan and Stu James live on-air as well as playing jingles, helping with the traffic and Hollie aged 10 introducing a Marvin Gaye track.

Guide Leader Lesley Taylor said “the girls really enjoyed their visit to SFM. I am not sure who was more excited me or the Guides!”

The visit to the station was really useful insight for the girls and gave them a better understanding of how community Radio can enrich our local community. SFM has been broadcasting full time since July 2012 to the Sittingbourne area.

Station Director Pete Flynn said “it was our pleasure to welcome the Guides to our station and demonstrate first hand why community radio is important to our audience. I hope we managed to spark an interest in community radio and maybe welcome some of the girls to our team in the future”

Along with the 2nd Sittingbourne Guides - which I have only recently joined myself as one of their leaders - our PR Guider and my daugher (from 9th Sittingbourne Seniors and who took part as part of her Young Leader tasks) I was truly enthused by the daily operations of this local radio station.

I am very proud to say that our postal town (I live in Milton Regis) has the benefit of having a great local station to listen to.  It was puzzling to see the presenter working at his craft, but hearing the program coming out of a nearby radio - the connection being the voice was coming out of the little box across the room.  

The presenters - one on air the other showing us around with another colleague - made the job seem so streamlined and very professional; a person has to be a good clock watcher to get the news out at a specified time for example.  I am glad we did not distract them and mess up timings.  

From a Leader's view, it is always go