About Us

We began in 2008. This is our history, our story, our purpose and our future

What is Newport missing compared to other cities?

It’s very own radio service. Since 2008 we’ve been setting about putting it right! Community Radio helps engender a sense of civic pride in its local area, solidifies its unique identity, celebrates its diversity, and rejoices in all of its successes. Our aim is to be the go-to place for all things positive in Newport, People, Places, Charities and Businesses thriving together under our brand.

We provide our volunteers with safe spaces to be creative and contribute to society whilst also building confidence and skills and building long lasting friendships. We will attract a wide diversity of participants (this has always happened naturally, but we will not be complacent) offering the equality of opportunity for all and adapting the means to volunteer where needs be. This is Newport City Radio.

Our history.

Newport City Radio first began life as Urban Circle Radio, based in Pill in 2007. The very next year, Urban Circle received a 3-year funding grant from the Big Lottery and moved to Upper Dock Street. It was at this point that Ian Lamsdale became involved and morphed Urban Circle Radio into Newport City Radio to celebrate and live up to our status a Wales’s newest City.

During the next three years Newport City Radio appeared on FM on 87.9FM notably in July 2008, December 2009, and December 2010. In between we continued to stream online.

In 2011 as the funding grant ended the decision was made to take Newport City Radio in a different direction. We were supporting and empowering people of all ages, all abilities with training and development in radio broadcasting. In short, we were no longer a youth-based project. It was agreed with Urban Circle that we would become a Community Interest Company (CIC) in our own right. We will always be grateful to the team at Urban Circle for their love and support.

With a move to St David’s House on Commercial Street/Hill Street. Ian Lamsdale became Managing Director of the CIC with support from Finance Director, David Philips and Programme Director, Philip Davies. We ramped up social media and training. Through a grant from a European funding project and started working with Charter housing and then Newport City Homes to increase volunteer numbers. It was through this programme we met Adam Edwards who asked if he could redesign the website. This then brought a whole new aspect. Blogging. Writing would become an equal partner to radio.

We were dependent entirely on many volunteers from a variety of backgrounds and ethnicities, serving Newport online with a mix of programming, who have their various radio shows and blogs. At one point had 50 active volunteers at any given time. 

Our purpose

Newport City Radio serves to entertain and inform all audiences of Newport.

Our impact on our community.

We truly change lives. Since 2008 we have made an impact on our community with the work we do. We have many case studies of volunteers who have gone on the record to praise our work and community organisations who also agree.

Outside of the organisation we work with and support other bodies, groups and individuals who are striving to make Newport a better place. These include Dragons Rugby, Gwent Police, GAVO, Newport Now BID, Maindee Festival, Newport Pride, Rainbow Newport. Newport County, Newport LIVE, Newport City Homes, Pobl and notably our local music community through our ‘Love Live Music’ initiative amongst others.

Untitled design

Our vision

To be the most listened to volunteer-powered community radio station in Newport.

Creating a fun and inclusive environment, where everyone is a partner in our continuous evolution.  Powered by volunteers to provide consistently high-quality, entertaining and informative content, across radio, podcasts, events and socials, that contributes to making Newport a great place to live. 

Composing a vibrant and distinctive sound that engages and provides value to our audience, however they want to listen.

We broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week online from our City Centre studio to our website, www.newportcityradio.org on mobile via the TuneIn app and on your smartspeaker by saying “Play Newport City Radio from TuneIn”

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