Unity 101 Community Radio Secures 10 Year Licence Extension

Southampton’s Unity 101 Community Radio has secured a 10-year extension to its Ofcom community radio licence, confirming the station will continue broadcasting until at least December 2035.

The station has served the city’s Asian and ethnic communities for almost 20 years and was one of the first in the UK to receive a community radio licence in 2005.

For two decades, it has delivered a unique blend of local news, cultural programming and multilingual content, all rooted in its founding ethos: for the community, to the community, by the community.

Its presenters – all volunteers – are drawn from Southampton’s ethnically diverse communities, representing the rich cultural make-up of the city and keeping an authentic local community feel. In-house media training gives them the skills and confidence to produce content that entertains, educates, and informs, in culturally specific ways not found in commercial radio.

Unity 101’s impact extends beyond the airwaves. It also supports local organisations with events, festivals and outreach, acting as a hub for collaboration and civic engagement.

Station Manager and Founder, Ram Kalyan “Kelly”, said: “These moments remind us what’s possible when people work together with a shared goal. Everything we’ve achieved comes from the dedication of our volunteers. They are the reason Unity 101 continues to grow and thrive.”

Ofcom describes community radio stations as providing “a new voice for hundreds of local communities across the UK. Fuelled by the hard work and enthusiasm of volunteers, they reflect a diverse mix of cultures and interests and provide a rich mix of mostly locally-produced content.”

Unity 101 vows to continue to reflect that definition through culturally relevant, locally driven broadcasting.

To learn more about Unity 101, visit www.unity101.org.

Photo: Unity 101 volunteers celebrating the station’s 19^th anniversary in January this year.