Specsavers Barry has begun a year-long partnership with community radio station, Bro Radio, following an investment from partners Jamie Pullen and Helen Hopgood.
The pair made the investment to help Bro Radio, which broadcasts from studios at YMCA Barry and The Old School, Llantwit Major to the Vale of Glamorgan, to continue providing an important public service and voice for the people of Barry.
The community station has been operating in Barry since its launch in 2009 and expanded its coverage in 2020 to cover the wider Vale of Glamorgan. It is run by only two paid members of staff and around 60 active volunteers.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and more recent cost of living crisis, community radio stations like Bro Radio have fallen into a precarious state due to increased costs caused by
inflation. As a result, many have been forced to make cutbacks on staffing and training, but Bro Radio has been able to continue to grow its opportunities by launching a new Training Academy.
Retail director, Jamie Pullen, says:
‘As a store that is passionate about supporting the local community, we are so pleased to begin this partnership with Bro Radio.
‘We hope that our investment will allow the station to continue updating listeners with local information that matters to them now and for years to come.’
Bro Radio’s operations director, Nathan Spackman, adds:
‘We’re delighted to continue to work with Specsavers in Barry, after the stores recent support of our Community Awards.
‘Whilst some stations struggle with rising costs, we’re committed to increasing our service and training opportunities and working with partners like Specsavers, allows us to continue to provide opportunities for growth and development right across the Vale of Glamorgan.’
