Sunny Govan Radio facts for kids
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| Frequency | 103.5 MHz |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner | Sunny Govan Community Media Group |
| History | |
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First air date
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1 August 1998 |
Sunny Govan Radio, often called "Sunny G", is a special radio station in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland. It's a "community radio station," which means it's run by local people for local people. A charity called Sunny Govan Community Radio Group manages it.
Contents
How Sunny G Started
Sunny Govan Radio first broadcast on FM for two weeks in August 1998. They wanted to show the good side of Govan and challenge any negative ideas. People really liked it!
Because it was so popular, they broadcast again for three weeks in December 2001. Later, the station started broadcasting digitally. In March 2007, they got a special "Community Radio license." This meant they could broadcast on FM all the time.
Helping the Community
The station helps local people learn new skills. They offer training in radio, so anyone can get involved. All the presenters are volunteers who give their time for free.
Sunny Govan Radio also supports local artists, music, and culture. They have even interviewed famous people! These include Rebecca Adlington (a swimmer), Ken Dodd (a comedian), and Nicola Sturgeon. Nicola Sturgeon was the First Minister for Scotland at the time, like a leader for the country. Her interview was a big deal and was even talked about in the news.
Awards and Recognition
Sunny Govan Radio has won some cool awards!
- In 2004, BT Group (a big phone company) praised them. They said Sunny Govan Radio used "broadband technology" in a very smart way.
- In 2012, the station was on a TV show called The Secret Millionaire. A millionaire named Gordon McAlpine gave them £15,000 to help their work.
- In 2020, The Herald newspaper called them a High Street Hero for Glasgow. This award celebrated businesses that helped their community.
Some well-known people have been presenters at Sunny G. This includes Steg G, who helped start the station and is a Scottish hip hop producer.
Sunny G and the Community
Sunny Govan Radio is really involved in its community. They have always supported local music in Glasgow. Many presenters are local artists and musicians, like Sarah "Sindigo" Simpson.
The station teaches people who want to learn about radio. All the presenters are volunteers. In 2011, Sunny Govan Radio worked with Oxfam on a "twinning project." This project connected people from Govan with people from South Uist.
In 2014, a presenter named Ross Tomlinson was only 11 years old! He was thought to be Scotland's youngest DJ. Darren "Loki" McGarvey, a famous rapper, has called Sunny Govan Radio a "radio legend." He even made guest appearances there when he was starting his career.
A Difficult Time
In March 2020, Sunny Govan Radio had to close its building for a while. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2021, the station announced they were in danger of closing for good. They had lost money from things like partnership programs and live music events. To help, they started a "crowdfunder." This is where many people donate small amounts of money online. Many people supported them, including Darren McGarvey, MSP Annie Wells (a Scottish politician), and Councillor Mhairi Hunter.
