Lagan FM - Ofcom Licensing

Community radio licence 

application form 

Lagan FM

Lagan FM application form 

1. Station Name Guidance Notes 

What is the proposed station name? 

Answer: 

Lagan FM 

2. Community to be served Guidance Notes 

Define the community or communities you are 

proposing to serve. Drawing from various sources of 

data (e.g. from the Office of Population, Census and 

Survey) and in relation to your proposed coverage 

area, please determine the size of the population 

concerned and the make-up of the population as a 

whole, along with any relevant socio-economic 

information that would support your application. 

(Please tell us the sources of the information you 

provide.) 

Answer in fewer than 300 words: 

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This is the name you expect to use to identify the station 

on air. 

It is a legislative requirement that a service is intended 

primarily to serve one or more communities (whether or 

not it also serves other members of the public) and we 

need to understand who comprises that community or 

communities. The target community will also be 

specified in the licence, if this application is successful. 

The legislation defines a ‘community’ as: people who live 

or work or undergo education or training in a particular 

area or locality, or people who have one or more 

interests or characteristics in common. 

Lagan FM will serve the people of Belfast with an emphasis on those from marginalised, ethnic and underserved 

communities. 

The station will also be positioned towards those aged 30+. Estimated at 365,187, this represents 56.1% of the 

population with 19.8% over 60 [1] . 46.8% are male, 53.2% female. 47.2% are Catholic, 48.6% Protestant [2] . 

Belfast has 80% of the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland [1] . 35% of residents are income deprived, 13.3% 

are claiming DLA, 7% Incapacity Benefit and 15.5% Income Support. [1] 

We aim to ‘complete’ the provision of radio services in Belfast by focusing on underserved communities rather 

than replicating existing stations. Many people opt in & out of community radio listening according to their 

interests and affiliations. Recognising this will enable minority communities to broadcast in their own languages 

alongside programming for Ulster Scots, Senior Citizens and community-of-interest groups currently 

underserved. 

9.4% of Belfast’s population were born outside NI [2] . Estimates show 5,000 Muslims (from 42 Nationalities), 200 

Hindu families [2] , and 500 Jews [3] live in Belfast, yet radio schedules don’t reflect this. 

Belfast was recently christened “Race Hate Capital of Europe” [3] with 206 racist attacks in 2010/11. [2] Ethnic 

minorities make a significant contribution to Belfast’s economic, social and cultural life yet a survey [4] found 25% 

of Northern Irish unwilling to have an African, Chinese or Asian person as a neighbour; 20% wouldn’t accept 

them as a friend; and 33.3% wouldn’t accept them as work colleagues. This research found racial prejudice is 

twice as significant as sectarianism in Northern Ireland [4] . Lagan FM will celebrate the benefits of the ethnic and 

cultural plurality of our city. 

Although the River Lagan ‘divides’ our city, it‘s also the symbol with which all traditions identify. The Lagan 

Redevelopment in recent years is a beacon of our troubled city’s rebirth. LaganFM will further this vision through 

broadcasting.

3. Proposed area Guidance Notes 


What is the area you propose to serve? It is Ofcom policy that community radio stations usually 

serve an area of up to a 5 kilometre radius from the 

transmission site. See ‘Coverage and planning policy for 

analogue radio broadcasting services’. 

Answer: 

Greater Belfast. 

Programmes and programme output: 

Definitions: 

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radi 

o-ops/coverage/analogue-coverage-policy.pdf 

Studio location: The studio from which the service will be broadcast should be located within the licensed area. 

(In some instances, and by prior written agreement from Ofcom, it may be acceptable for the primary studio to be 

located outside the licensed area.) 

Locally-produced: it is anticipated that most stations will produce the bulk of their output themselves, in the 

locality. However, for some target communities it may be appropriate for fairly high levels of output to originate 

from outside the licensed area. 

Live output: is that which is produced by a presenter in the studio at the time of broadcast. The amount of live 

output may vary between different services depending on the needs or expectations of the target community. 

Original output: All output specifically produced for this service (but excluding repeats and automated material). 

Peak time: it may be helpful to state what material will be broadcast in ‘peak time’. If you do, please say what you 

consider peak time to be for your target community (this may vary from station to station). 

Automated output/voice-tracked material: most stations will carry automated output at some time. The amount of 

automated or voice-tracked material does not need to be specified in the key commitments. 

Sustaining service/third party produced material: if you intend to broadcast material produced by a different 

organisation please state what it is and how much (per day or week as appropriate). 

4. Programming output Guidance Notes 

Please fill-in all three questions below 

Question A asks you to describe your programme 

service. 

Question B relates to how your output will serve the 

tastes and interests of your target community. 

Question C is about how your service will broaden 

the range of local (non-BBC) services available in 

your area. 

Later in this form you will be asked to draft your own 

‘key commitments’. This will form the basis of your 

licence and is what Ofcom will judge you against. It 

should include a summary of your proposed 

programme output as set out below and reflect your 

commitment to cater for relevant tastes and interests, 

The law requires applicants to state their proposals for 

providing a service that would: 

(i) cater for the tastes and interests of members of its 

target community or communities (or for any 

particular tastes and interests in those communities); 

(ii) broaden the range of programmes available on non- 

BBC local services (commercial and community 

stations) to members of the relevant community or 

communities; 

(iii) broaden the overall range of such non-BBC local 

services provided in the area concerned; and 

(iv) have a distinct nature, or provide distinct content, 

from any non-BBC local services with which it would 

overlap. 

Ofcom is required to consider the extent to which an 

applicant’s proposals will cater for the tastes and 

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to broaden the range of relevant programmes and 

services and to provide a service with a distinct 

nature and content as set out in the Guidance Notes 

in the column opposite. 

4. Programming output 

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interests of members of its target community or 

communities. 

Ofcom is also required to consider the extent to which 

proposals for a community radio station would broaden 

the range of programmes available by way of non-BBC 

local services (both commercial and community stations) 

in the area concerned (especially, the extent to which a 

proposed service would have a distinct nature or provide 

distinct content from any overlapping non-BBC local 

services). 

The information given here should be more detailed than 

what you set out in your draft key commitments (later in 

this form), and will help us gain a fuller understanding of 

how you will serve your target community and what the 

station will sound like. 

A: Please tell us about your programme service. The following questions may help you describe your 

programme service (but should only be used as a guide): 

What will the service sound like? 

What music will you play? 

What are the main speech elements of the service and how will the social gain/community benefits you 

propose be reflected on-air? 

What is the likely music to speech ratio? 

Will this vary at different times of the day or week (or year)? 

Do you intend to broadcast live output? If so when and how much do you propose to do? 

Will you broadcast in languages other than English (what languages and how much)? 

Will your output be original i.e. specifically produced for your service? 

Will it be locally produced? 

Do you intend to repeat material? 

Answer in fewer than 1,000 words: 

Lagan FM will provide a unique, engaging and entertaining service which neither duplicates nor replicates the 

provision of commercial stations or other community stations. 

This will be reflected in our music policy which will seek to serve an older audience than that provided for by 

Belfast’s other English Language community station (Blast106) and which will provide for a wider spectrum of 

music than is typically carried by commercial stations. In seeking to include ethnic minority communities, output 

will include music which appeals to these communities and which is currently absent from the Belfast airwaves. 

We will focus on filling gaps left by other community, commercial or public service broadcasters in their provision 

of radio content. Accordingly, the sound of Lagan FM will be unique and will reflect a diverse output and 

increased choice for the listener. 

Central to our vision of “completing” the provision of radio services for the people of Belfast will be the diversity of 

content that will be generated and produced by community organisations, groups and individuals from across the 

city. We use the term ‘Broadcast Publisher’ to describe this relationship where we shall empower groups and 

individuals, through extensive training and support, to conceptualise, develop and produce their own 

programming. This output may be live, pre-recorded or documentary in nature and it puts the ownership of this 

output in the hands of the community itself. Naturally, all programming (live or pre-produced) will be fully 

compliant with the Broadcasting Code. 

We recognise the void created by the closure of FeileFM and the enthusiastic skilled volunteer base which lost 

their access to a broadcast medium. Lagan FM will embrace the return of these volunteers in their variety of 

roles. One such example was the Senior Citizens group on FeileFM (about whom the BBC-TV documentary 

Grey-FM was made). We have held discussions with the coordinator of this group who are eager to work with 

Lagan FM to re-launch this programme to serve the senior population of Belfast. 

Lagan FM will operate on a citywide basis to be all-inclusive and ensure equitable representation of both major 

religious/political traditions while embracing the wider ethnic, cultural and faith diversity of our city. Through our 

broadcasting output, we will seek to positively contribute to the vision of a shared future for the people of Belfast 

and to promote the social and economic revitalisation of our city. In this context, we would intend to carry out 

regular outside broadcasts to bring the station, and its facilities, right into the heart of the communities that we

serve. 


Speech programming will include news and information; discussion programming focusing on community issues; 

and ‘commissioned’ programming made by local groups and organisations for their respective communities. Live 

programming will encourage interaction and feedback from listeners through a variety of communicative media. 

Overall we would expect the music to speech ratio to be a minimum of 75:25 during live output and pre-produced 

programming. The proportion of music output will be higher at night-time, weekends and at other times when the 

output is not live. 

From our research, and conversations with groups, we anticipate that as well as English, Lagan FM will include 

broadcasting in multiple minority languages to serve the many ethnic communities not currently served by 

existing stations. This would include the Chinese community; the Indian and Pakistani communities; the African 

communities and the new immigrant communities. 

Belfast has a successful Irish Language station (Raidio Failte), however, there is little provision on existing 

stations for Ulster Scots. While this would not be a large enough community in Belfast to sustain a fulltime 

community radio service of its own, we believe that Lagan FM will be the perfect medium to advance Ulster Scots 

provision in line with the aspirations of the community. 

In the words of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: 

“Participants recognise the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, 

including in Northern Ireland, the Irish language, Ulster-Scots and the languages of the various ethnic 

communities, all of which are part of the cultural wealth of the island of Ireland.” 

Furthermore, the UK government in adopting the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages agreed 

to ‘promote mutual understanding between all linguistic groups and in particular the inclusion of respect, 

understanding and tolerance in relation to the Ulster-Scots among the objectives of education and training and 

encouragement of the mass media to pursue the same objective’ (Article7, Part3). 

Rather than being dictated from the centre, programming will be led by demand and can be provided for any 

group that wants to be featured in the schedule. Groups can be formally constituted bodies or just an informal 

collection of individuals. This could include disabled groups; arts or sports organisations; historical societies; 

charities; educational bodies; and for those of all faiths & none. Lagan FM will bring together this diverse output 

with a Belfast-centric and community-focused output with broad appeal to those aged 30+ so that the plurality of 

our programming, and the communities it represents, is brought to a wider public. 

Neither of Belfast’s 2 main hospitals (Royal Victoria and City hospitals) have hospital radio. This is a deficiency 

that Lagan FM will seek to address by introducing dedicated programming celebrating our Health Service 

professionals and collecting, collating & playing requests for and from patients. 

Studios will be located in Belfast and most output will be locally produced. However, in meeting the needs of the 

various ethnic communities it is anticipated that some programming may originate from outside Belfast. 

Most programming will be original output and will be a mixture of live, pre-recorded and pre-produced output. We 

are happy to include repeats of programmes that are of significant interest or importance. We will also happily 

carry programming produced by other community broadcasters where this is of interest or relevance to our 

community. 

Due to the nature of Lagan FM a significant proportion of programming will always be documentary and preproduced, 

however, we would anticipate live output to be a minimum of 40 hours per week. 

B: Based on what you have said above, how will your proposed radio service cater for the tastes and 

interests of your target community/communities? 


Taking our ‘Broadcast Publisher’ approach to our broadcasting output will, for the first time in Belfast, place the 

tastes and interests of the community centre stage as the content will be developed by the community itself. 

This approach means that the ‘tastes and interests’ of the target community will be as defined by the groups and 

individuals themselves that make up the community, rather than being defined by a Programme Controller or 

Station Manager. 

There can be no better way of ensuring that we cater for the tastes and interests of our target 

community/communities than by letting them make their own programmes for themselves. Lagan FM is about 

empowering the community to develop concepts for programmes that they want to make and listen to. It is about 

providing them with the skills, training and ongoing support to enable them to have full access to a vibrant and 

inclusive broadcast medium. 

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In our conversations with Volunteer Now (the primary body responsible for the promotion of volunteering in 

Belfast and across Northern Ireland), they have expressed their support for our approach of putting the 

programming in the hands of the community so that groups and individuals can express their needs and 

aspirations directly. They have welcomed the opportunity that Lagan FM will provide for groups and individuals 

who were left without provision when FeileFM closed and they have expressed their desire to participate directly 

in Lagan FM as a medium by which they can promote the ethos and opportunities of volunteering to a wider 

audience. 

Our open-door policy towards all groups and individuals and our inclusive approach to the operation and output 

of the station means that we will welcome the participation of other groups who may apply for but be 

unsuccessful in securing a community radio licence. 

Lagan FM acknowledges that the value of community radio programming cannot be measured in listener 

numbers alone. There is merit in the skills, knowledge, confidence and self development that comes from 

individuals participating in the making and sharing of programming. This is a key strength of community radio and 

Lagan FM embraces this approach. 

Equally we respect the views and opinions of the wider audience in terms of our output and we will be proactive 

in seeking feedback so that the service, when taken as a whole, does indeed cater for the tastes and interests of 

the entire community. 

C: How will your proposed community radio service add to the range of programmes available on non- 

BBC local services (commercial and community stations) to members of the relevant community or 

communities, add to the overall range of such services in the area concerned and be different and 

distinct from them? Please tell us which non-BBC local services your station will overlap with. 


Belfast is relatively well served by existing stations in terms of the demographics of the city. Blast106 and 

CoolFM cater for younger people and as we progress demographically we have Citybeat, Downtown and U105 

(in addition to BBC Radio Ulster and DAB stations); with the city also served by Raidio Failte (an Irish Language 

station). 

We believe there is little point in replicating this provision or simply downsizing it to a community level. Currently 

the primary model of radio provision is ‘proprietary’ i.e. the output ‘belongs’ to the licence-holder and 

programming is decided by what they think the community wants to hear. Lagan FM will turn this traditional 

approach on its head by seeking to be a publisher of content made by the community itself. Groups and 

individuals will, with proper training and support, define their own priorities for programming output. In this way we 

will fill gaps that exist and provide for a broad spectrum of programming currently absent from Belfast radio 

schedules. From multi-lingual programming, arts & culture coverage to a raft of community-of-interest output, we 

believe that our approach of being a Broadcaster-Publisher will create for Lagan FM a sound and identity very 

much of its own. 

Speech output will focus on community issues and reflect the diversity of our city. Music policy will be different 

from that which is already the focus of other community stations and will include music which is absent from the 

schedules of commercial stations due to its niche listenership. 

In advancing this approach, we held a series of meetings with Directors, Staff and Volunteers of Blast106 to 

ensure that we avoid duplicating what they are doing. This has aided us in identifying specific gaps in provision 

that they have encountered since they began broadcasting. Blast 106 are endorsing our proposals and have 

agreed that we should engage in an ongoing conversation to maximise the social impact of the two stations for 

their respective demographic audiences, if we are successful in our application. 

With a scarcity of frequencies, we recognise that if Lagan FM is successful in its licence application this may 

mean that other applicants are unsuccessful. In this context, we would certainly welcome the participation of 

unsuccessful groups in the output and running of Lagan FM. Fundamental to Lagan FM is its inclusivity so there 

will likely be proposals in other applications which can be facilitated in our output. 

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Social gain 

5. Social gain Guidance Notes 

Community radio is required to be for the public good 

and to bring community benefits, or social gains, to 

listeners and participants. The requirement for ‘social 

gain,’ is one of the key factors that makes community 

radio stations different from other radio services. 

Please tell us what community benefits your service 

will bring to your target community(ies) and/or the 

general public. Please include summaries of 

evidence to support your answer. 

Your draft ‘key commitments’ (later in this form) 

should include a summary of your proposed social 

gain set out below. 



Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of 

‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence 

holders need to ensure their services conform to these 

characteristics, including in this case the delivery of 

social gain. 

The legislation sets out social gains that stations must 

provide. These are the achievement, in respect of 

individuals or groups of individuals in the target 

community, or in respect of other members of the public, 

of the following objectives – 

(a) the provision of a radio service to individuals who 

are otherwise underserved by such services, 

(b) the facilitation of discussion and the expression of 

opinion, 

(c) the provision (whether by means of programmes 

included in the service or otherwise) of education or 

training to individuals not employed by the station, 

and 

(d) the better understanding of the particular community 

and the strengthening of links within it. 

Social gain may also include the achievement of other 

objectives of a social nature. 1 

Applicants are required to provide evidence that their 

service will result in significant social gain to the public 

or the target community(ies). Copies of letters or 

research reports etc. should not be submitted, but brief 

relevant extracts from them, which represent an 

accurate and comprehensive summary, may be 

included. If we wish to see the source material, we will 

ask for it. 

Ofcom is required to have regard to the extent to which 

your proposed service would result in the delivery of 

social gain to the public or target community. 

Lagan FM will ‘complete’ the provision of radio services in Belfast by focusing on meeting the broadcasting needs 

of underserved communities and our output will be defined by these geographic, ethnic and communities of 

interest across Belfast. 

At the core of our proposals is our determination to be different. Not just another station which operates the 

traditional ‘safe & same’ schedule. We can only bring benefits to our communities if we bring something different 

to the broadcasting environment, if we do things in a different way that is community-focused rather than 

broadcaster-focused. We will achieve this by broadcasting programming made independently by groups and 

individuals from across the city on topics and issues of importance to their community. We will provide the 

training, support and resources necessary to empower people to create this programming. In this way, Lagan FM 

will truly belong to the people of Belfast because the output itself is generated and owned by them. We believe 

that this approach is the real strength of Lagan FM that will provide lasting social gains for our communities. 

Lagan Fm will embrace all areas of our city. It will not reinforce sectarian divisions by focusing on the 

predominantly Nationalist/Republican West Belfast nor predominantly Unionist/Loyalist East Belfast. Rather, 

Lagan FM will be an inclusive shared resource, contributing to community cohesion, integration and social gain 

across traditional sectarian divisions. When FeileFM was operating, despite the best efforts of the station, it was 

perceived as a service by Nationalists for Nationalists and created a feeling amongst Unionist and Loyalist 

communities that they had been excluded from the airwaves. By ensuring that Lagan FM is positioned as a 

neutral community resource and located in a neutral area, it will be a forum for expressing the opinions of all 

sections of our community and can be both an instigator and facilitator of discussion between communities and 

1 See Article 2(3) of the Community Radio Order 2004 and Ofcom’s Notes of guidance for community radio 

applicants and licensees. 

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between different social groups within those communities. The relative peace has highlighted that often working 

class groups on both sides of the sectarian divide have more in common with each other than they have with the 

middle classes within their own respective communities. However, despite this relative peace, many areas are 

still highly segregated along political and religious lines, especially in working class neighbourhoods, known as 

interface areas, and marked by flags, graffiti and murals. The tensions of these interface zones has come to the 

fore once again within the last month in respect of a proposed redevelopment in North Belfast, with accusations 

of voter gerrymandering and sectarian discrimination in housing allocation. 

Another key group who are underserved by current output are the ethnic minority groups across our city. Some of 

these are new immigrants from Eastern Europe; others are migrant workers who only intend to remain for a 

period; and others are well establish settled ethnic communities such as the Chinese and Indian communities, 

dispersed across the city. 

A report for the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency (Racial Attitudes & Prejudice in Northern Ireland) 

found that 25% of people in Northern Ireland were unwilling to have an African, Chinese or Asian person as a 

neighbour; 20% wouldn’t accept them as a friend; and 33.3% wouldn’t accept them as work colleagues. It is 

shocking that these attitudes remain in the 21 st century and that racism is now replacing sectarianism in Northern 

Ireland. Lagan FM will celebrate the benefits of the ethnic and cultural plurality of our city, and in doing so will 

benefit: 

1. The minority communities - by providing them with direct access to the airwaves and programming which 

celebrates their ethnicity and increases the profile of their cultures. This will contribute to strengthening the 

links within these dispersed communities and also enhance their confidence as distinct communities which 

contribute greatly to the social, economic and cultural mix of Belfast. 

2. The wider community - by addressing the hidden racism that exists and seeking to change mindsets by 

creating a better understanding of those communities. 

Volunteer Now is Northern Ireland’s key agency for the promotion, support and development of volunteering. It 

was formed in 2010 by the merger of 9 Volunteer Centres and the Volunteer Development Agency. It has found 

that “formal volunteering is, at best, static since 1995 whilst informal volunteering has fallen substantially from 

600,000 in 1995 to 470,000 in 2007”. In their Strategic Plan 2011-2016 they identified that 60% of voluntary and 

community organisations said that recruiting volunteers was becoming harder while at the same time 77% of 

organisations said they couldn’t operate without them. Furthermore, they found that generally volunteers tend to 

be white, middle aged and middle classed; and there is a need to encourage under-represented groups to 

volunteer. Lagan FM has agreed to work in partnership with Volunteer Now on an ongoing basis to actively 

promote all forms of volunteering by highlighting both the benefits and opportunities across the city. We believe 

that volunteer involvement reflects civic engagement and is at the heart of a vibrant and caring community, 

therefore increasing volunteering in our city will be a definite social gain 

But, Lagan FM will be about more than just tackling the big social issues. It will be a resource for other 

underserved groups. One such group are the Senior Citizens who had a hugely successful programme 

(Afternoon Delight) on Feile FM before it closed. This was an important social activity for the large group of 

volunteers directly involved in the making of the programme, but it was also a key resource for disseminating 

information to the older population about services and activities that would be of interest to them. The group was 

also proactive in creating discussion and debate on issues impacting on older people and tackled political 

representatives on many occasions about the failings of public services. Lagan FM will bring this important civic 

resource back to the airwaves and we have already agreed this with the group’s coordinator. 

The 2011 Census was the first to include a question to establish the Ulster Scots population. As the figures are 

not yet published, there are no official figures on the Ulster Scots community in Belfast but the Ulster Scots 

Community Network has over 300 member groups. This is a hugely underserved community in Belfast with no 

provision on current community or commercial broadcasters in the city. Raidio Failte provides a valuable service 

for Irish Language speakers across Greater Belfast and although the Ulster Scots is not thought to be as large a 

population, it is still important that space should be afforded on the airwaves for this and Lagan FM will provide 

for this. 

Despite being the two largest hospitals in Belfast, neither the Royal Victoria nor City hospitals have hospital radio 

services. One of our directors spent 14 years in paediatric nursing and has highlighted the value of dedicated 

hospital programming in terms of raising the morale of patients and staff and in communicating information on 

hospital services. Lagan FM will create dedicated space in the schedule to act as a ‘hospital radio service’ for 

these 2 major hospitals. We will recruit volunteers who will work with the staff of the hospitals to collect and 

collate requests and dedications from patients and staff alike. It can include interviews with patients and staff and 

will also be programming that can communicate information on health initiatives and issues concerning the health 

services in Belfast. 

Our patchwork of independently produced programming is the best way to bring significant and individual social 

gain to a number of communities within our city. We will unite this content with a Belfast-centric sustaining 

service. However, by not being tied to a fixed schedule of programmes, Lagan FM will be free to embrace 

different events, festivals and initiatives. One example of this would be the period immediately prior to Christmas, 

when can ‘rebrand’ the station as ‘Lagan Festive FM’ which will be a Radio-athon for raising funds for charities. 

7


This is successfully done under RSL-type licences in Dublin and Cork and is a great success both in terms of the 

funds raised for good causes and the community support it engenders. 

Professor Anthony Everitt stated in 2003 that community radio was “the most important cultural development in 

the United Kingdom for many years.” However, if all that community radio ultimately does is to copy the output of 

commercial stations and do the same thing on a smaller scale then it is an opportunity missed. We acknowledge 

that with our approach we cannot please all of our listeners all of the time, but we aim to please all of our listeners 

some of the time. The variety of community created content can ensure that this is achievable and Lagan FM’s 

output, when taken as a whole, will create a broadcasting tapestry of life in our city today. That in itself will be a 

real social gain for a city emerging from a troubled past. 

Access and participation: 

6. Participation in the service Guidance Notes 

How do you propose to ensure that members of your 

target community (or communities) are given 

opportunities to participate in the operation and 

management of the service? 



participation objectives as set out below. 


Volunteer participation is at the heart of what Lagan FM will do. 

Legislation specifies a number of ‘characteristics of 

community radio services’. Licence holders need to 

ensure their services conform to these characteristics, 

including in this case providing opportunities to 

participate in the operation and management of the 

service. Ofcom requires information as to how this would 

be achieved. 

What will be the involvement of members of the target 

community in the radio station? How many volunteers do 

you anticipate will be involved in your service per year? 

Lagan FM provides the opportunity for greater civic engagement by more individuals from all backgrounds thus 

supporting positive community development, building social capital and contributing to community cohesion 

across sectarian and ethnic divisions. This is what we mean when we talk about a ‘Shared Future’ for all in our 

city. 

Lagan FM’s approach to volunteering is that it enables people to connect to each other, their community and the 

causes they care about. Volunteer involvement will build Lagan FM as a democratic, sustainable organisation. 

Volunteering opportunities with Lagan FM will be across all the areas of operation of the station from participation 

as directors of the company to presenting on-air; and from off-air production to social activities of the station. 

The type of activities that volunteers will participate in will include, but are not limited to: 

Presenting programmes; Programme production; Feature production; Programme research; News gathering; 

Sports coverage; Handling listener response; Programme promotion; Making on-air trails; Fund-raising; Handling 

station guests and callers; Listener Research; Marketing; Contributing to the station’s web site; Managing the 

station’s social networking sites; Assisting with the delivery of training; Mentoring; Representing the station at 

external events; Participating in Boards, Committees and Working Groups; Assisting with Producing Annual 

Reports; and General administration. 

We aim to have a minimum of 50 volunteers actively, and regularly, participating in the station each year. In 

addition to this, we would envisage a wider number of people participating in the life of the station each year on 

an irregular basis. One example of this would be students at Belfast Metropolitan College. Through one of our 

Directors we would expect to tap into this human resource to work with groups and individuals and assist them to 

make their own programming. 

7. Access to facilities and training Guidance Notes 

Set out the practical (formal and informal) 

mechanisms which you will use to ensure that 

members of your target community can gain access 

to your facilities that would be used for the provision 

of your service and to receive training in their use. 


Ofcom is required by the legislation to have regard to the 

provision each applicant proposes to make to allow for 

access by members of the target community to the 

facilities to be used for the provision of the service and 

for their training in the use of those facilities. 

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should include a summary of your proposed access 

and objectives for training people in the use of the 

facilities as set out below. 


Training is the key to access, both in terms of skills and confidence. 

We looked at a variety of training models in other community radio stations in Northern Ireland, England and the 

Republic of Ireland. These range from accredited, examined courses to short hands-on inductions. 

One of our Directors was trained by FeileFM and then by Blast106 and has assisted in the delivery of training 

with Blast106. Another is Senior Lecturer in Broadcast Journalism at Belfast Metropolitan College and therefore 

we have access to a variety of quality training resources and models. 

We believe that best practice for Lagan FM will be a 4 stage process: 

1. Induction - this will be a 1-to-1 or 1-to-Group meeting between staff/directors of Lagan FM and the aspirant 

volunteer(s). It’s an opportunity to establish what they wish to achieve through their participation in the 

station and also to impart the stations objectives to the volunteer(s). 

2. Core Training - this will be the basic training required to get volunteer(s) on-air or up to a standard of 

creating, researching and recording programmes for output. This will deal with the background to community 

radio, station rules, the Broadcasting Code and the theory for good presentation and interview techniques. 

3. Mentoring - here the aspirant volunteer(s) will be allocated an experienced Mentor (initially one of the 

Directors or Station Manager but over time this will be devolved to Senior Volunteers). Mentoring will be 

more hands-on than Core Training with the Mentor showing the technical equipment (broadcast desk, 

microphone techniques, playout software, recording equipment and editing packages). 

4. Advanced Training - created on a bespoke basis to meet each individual’s needs and to expand their 

skillsets over time. This would include volunteers who may wish to diversify the nature of their volunteering - 

e.g. a volunteer might want to assist with the book-keeping for the station so we would arrange training to 

bring their skill level up to the necessary standard for them to contribute in this way. 

In terms of access, in addition to operating an Open-door policy for all volunteers, we would see Outside 

Broadcasts as an excellent way of bringing the station into the heart of our communities. Examples would be to 

broadcast live from the Indian Community Centre or from community festivals around the city which may be too 

small to attract the interest of the BBC or commercial stations. 

Ensuring accountability: 

8. Accountability Guidance Notes 

Please set out your proposed community 

accountability mechanisms. These should cover 

matters such as: 

How will members of your target community: 

make contact with your service, and 

influence the operation of the service? 

How will suggestions or criticisms from members of 

your target community (or communities) be 

considered and acted upon? 



accountability measures as set out below. 


9 

Broadcasting legislation specifies a number of 

‘characteristics of community radio services’. Licence 

holders need to ensure their services conform to these 

characteristics. One is that, in respect of the provision of 

the service, the provider makes itself accountable to the 

community (or communities) the service is intended to 

serve. 

Ofcom is required to have regard to the provision each 

applicant proposes to make in order to ensure its 

accountability to the relevant community (or 

communities). 

Lagan FM will only work if it is connected with, and accountable to, the various geographic, ethnic, cultural and 

demographic communities it is established to serve. 

Lagan FM will welcome comments, opinions and feedback through a variety of communicative media (email, text, 

snail mail etc). We will produce a number of on-air promos to promote the solicitation of this feedback and, in line 

with the communities that we serve, these promos will be produced multi-lingually. 

We will solicit feedback from our volunteer base to ensure the station is accountable to them and that they can 

influence directly how the station is run.


We will also introduce formal representation mechanisms to ensure that different stakeholder groups can 

contribute to the policy and development of the station. This will lead to the establishment of the Management 

Committee for the station which will consist of the Directors, the Station Manager, representatives of the 

Volunteers and representatives of the key Stakeholder Groups/Communities. 

Each year we will publish an Annual Report on the performance of the station against key targets and indicators 

and solicit feedback. In addition we will hold an Annual General Meeting and publish the minutes and reports of 

this online to ensure these are accessible to the community. 

In any research carried out for the station we will attempt to discern more than just crude listener numbers - it will 

be as important to understand why people listen as it is to know how many people listen. 

Lagan FM will follow a published Complaints procedure for listeners and the general public and a published 

Grievance procedure for our volunteers. 

Guidance notes: station’s draft key commitments 

Please draft the Key Commitments for your proposed service. There is a blank key commitments document 

overleaf. If your organisation is awarded a licence, the key commitments you draft here will form the basis of what 

we put in the licence. (Please note: this would be subject to Ofcom’s agreement, and we may require it to be 

amended, including, for example, to properly reflect legislative requirements). 

Your draft Key Commitments should be consistent with, and summarise the answers you have already given in 

sections 1-8 of this application form. 

Four sample key commitment documents are provided for information at annex 1. These are provided as 

illustrations only – it is important that you draft your own commitments, rather than just copying what may have 

been done by others, or what we have put in the sample versions. You should keep in mind that it will be a 

condition of any licence to meet the Key Commitments: something you must do at all times and for breach of 

which you could face sanctions including revocation of the licence. So, you should think carefully about what you 

will be committing to. 

We would expect key commitments to be brief, and no more than two pages long. 

KEY COMMITMENTS: to be completed by the applicant 

Station name 

[As in section 1 of this application] 

Community to be served 

[In no more than 30 words describe the 

community or communities you will 

serve. This should be a summary of 

section 2.] 

Proposed area 

[State the proposed coverage area as 

set out in section 3.] 

Lagan FM 

Lagan FM will serve the people of Greater Belfast, across the 

traditional geographic sectarian divide, with an emphasis on those 

aged 30+ and focusing on underserved communities. 

Greater Belfast 

Programming output 

[This should be a summary of the answer you have given in section 4, in no more than 200 words] 

Lagan FM will provide a unique, engaging and entertaining service which avoids simply replicating the provision 

of other community and commercial stations. 

Our music policy will serve persons aged 30+ and will provide for a wider spectrum of music than typically carried 

by other Belfast stations. 

Speech programming will include news and information, discussion programming focusing on community issues 

and diverse programming made by local groups and individuals for their respective communities. Live 

programming will encourage participation and feedback from listeners. 

Lagan FM will operate on a citywide basis and programming will embrace the ethnic and cultural diversity of our 

city. We will provide a medium for broadcasting in multiple languages as well as specialist programming for 

communities of interest. 

10


Overall it is anticipated that the music to speech ratio will be a minimum of 75:25 during live output and preproduced 

programming. The proportion of music output will be higher at night-time, weekends and at other times 

when the output is not live. 

Studios will be located within the licensed area and at least 75% of output will be locally produced, original and 

generally live for at least 40 hours per week. 

Social gain 

[Summarise the answers you have given in section 5.] 

Lagan FM will reflect the social, ethnic demographic and cultural diversity of Belfast and will offer a variety of 

engaging, entertaining and community-produced programming which will contribute to the vision of a shared 

future for our city. 

Lagan FM will facilitate community discussion and debate and provide opportunities for listeners to express 

ideas and views by a variety of communicative media. 

Lagan FM will maintain a flexible approach to the schedule to facilitate the provision of diverse programming 

and features such as multi-lingual programming, radio for Senior Citizens, Outside Broadcasts and On-air 

fundraising initiatives 

Lagan FM will actively promote an ethos of volunteering, not alone with the station but also in wider society 

and amongst under-represented groups. 

Participation in the service 

[Summarise the answer you have given in section 6.] 

Voluntary participation will be at the heart of all that Lagan FM does and the station will operate an ‘open 

door policy’ towards aspirant volunteers 

We will work equally with individuals and groups and we will take all reasonable steps to ensure there are no 

barriers to participation. 

Volunteering opportunities with will be across all the areas of operation of the station from participation in the 

running of the company to presenting on-air; and from the marketing tasks to social activities. 

We aim to have a minimum of 50 volunteers actively, and regularly, participating in the station each year. 

Access to facilities and training 


Lagan FM will provide full training to all volunteers as it is only through building people’s skills and 

confidence that they can play a full part in the life of the station. 

Lagan FM will operate a 4 stage training process for all volunteers, namely Induction, Core Training, 

Mentoring and Advanced Training. 

Lagan FM may enter into Service Level Agreements with external bodies which assist us in providing 

training and which will contribute to the sustainability of the service throughout the licence period. 

In addition to operating an Open-door policy for all volunteers, we would also see Outside Broadcasts as an 

excellent way of bringing the station into the heart of our communities. 

Accountability 


Lagan FM will be accountable to the community. Informally, comments and opinions will be welcomed 

through a variety of communicative media and formally we will introduce representation mechanisms to 

ensure that the objectives of the station remain paramount in all that we do and that different stakeholder 

groups can contribute to the policy and development of the station. 

Lagan FM will hold an Annual General Meeting and will publish an Annual Report. 

Lagan FM will follow published Complaints and Grievance Procedures. 

11


[Please note: If awarded a licence, the commitments the applicant makes in this section will, subject to Ofcom’s 

agreement, form the basis of the ‘key commitments’ part of its community radio licence. The headings above are 

for applicants’ guidance and will be removed from the final version.] 

About your organisation: 

9. Company details Guidance Notes 

The legislation requires that: 

Community radio services should not be provided primarily for commercial reasons or for the financial or 

other material gain of the body providing the service or the individuals involved in it 

Any profits produced may only be used to either improve the future provision of the service or for the delivery 

of social gain to members of the public or the target community 

Provide the name of the body corporate (e.g. 

company) submitting this application and the type of 

body corporate. 

Please provide copies of the company’s 

Memorandum, Articles of Association and Certificate 

of Incorporation (or, where it is another type of body 

corporate, its founding documents and those which 

set out its objectives and rules of operation) 

Answer: 

Only a body corporate can hold a community radio 

licence. A body corporate is almost always a (registered) 

company, although it can also include, for example, 

some bodies created by statute (an individual or a 

registered charity on its own is not a body corporate). 

Your application must therefore be submitted on behalf 

of a registered company (or other body corporate). 

There are different types of company (e.g. a company 

limited by shares, a community interest company, a 

company limited by guarantee) and we need to know 

what kind of company is applying for a licence. 

We will not consider a licence award to a company if it 

has not yet been registered. If the application is 

successful the licence will be awarded to the body 

corporate (e.g. company) submitting this application. 

Company (or other body corporate) name: Community Radio for Belfast Limited 

Date of registration: 13 th March 2012 

Company registration number: NI611687 

Type of company (or other body corporate): Company Limited by Guarantee and without Share Issue. 

Where your body is not a company, please explain how it meets the requirement to be a body corporate: 

N/A 

10. Ownership Guidance Notes 

Please provide details of who controls and who owns 

the body corporate (e.g. company) applying for this 

licence, and on what basis this control and ownership 

is achieved. (If this will be different once the station 

starts broadcasting please say so (a licence is not 

issued until broadcasting starts.) 

The information provided must include: 

all the subscribers, members, shareholders, or 

whatever is appropriate for the applicant 

company (or body corporate), and state the 

extent of their interest (e.g. % shareholding) (if 

Ofcom needs to know about the ownership of the 

company (or other body corporate) applying for this 

licence, and any issues regarding its control. We will 

also consider how the company (or body corporate) will 

be run (this will usually be specified in the Articles of 

Association of the company). 

In relation to exerting control over the applicant, the 

information provided should include the name and 

address of any individuals or corporate bodies in 

accordance with whose wishes the applicant’s affairs are 

or will be conducted in most cases or in significant 

12


13 

the company will be controlled by members, but 

the members are not yet recruited, please say 

so). (You will also be asked about the board of 

directors in 11 & 12 below.) 

details of any individual, company or other body 

that may exert control over the applicant. 

Answer: 

respects. 

Community Radio for Belfast Limited is a company limited by guarantee and without share issue. This means that 

the company has no shareholders and it comprises of members. 

Currently, as the station is not up and running, the membership of the company is limited to directors (listed in 

Section 11). However, opening up the membership is provided for under the Articles of Association. An up to date 

list of members will be retained at the company’s Registered Office as required by the Companies Acts. 

The Articles of Association are in a form that is approved by HMRC for charitable status. We are awaiting 

clarification as to the timescale when the new Charities’ Commission for Northern Ireland will begin to accept 

applications for registration. If this is not imminent then we shall apply to HMRC in Liverpool for charitable 

exemption. 

Ability to maintain the service: 

11. Management and operations Guidance Notes 

With regard to the applicant please provide: 

A list of directors, indicating who is the managing 

director and/or chair (please see question 12 

regarding directors’ details). 

An indication of management structure (e.g. 

management committee or equivalent, if 

applicable), and/or 

Information about who would be responsible for 

the day to day management and running of the 

station (there is a separate question regarding 

other staff below). Explain the role(s) in the 

station, job titles, and indicate whether paid or 

voluntary, full or part-time (and the number of 

hours). 

Answer: 

Below is a list of the current directors of Blast106: 

Dr John Coulter 

Mr Christopher Barber 

Ms Victoria Kerr 

Mr Derek Brum 

Mr Noel Maguire 

In addition to the notes above on ownership, Ofcom is 

also required to evaluate the human resources involved 

in the running of a community radio station. Answers 

should demonstrate how those who have relevant 

experience will work for the station. In addition, a 

diagram or organisation chart may help paint a clearer 

picture. 

It is envisaged that Lagan FM will have a part-time Station Manager (initially 15 hours per week) who 

will assume responsibility for the day to day management, administration and running of the station. 

The Management Committee for the station will comprise the Station Manager, the Directors, 

representatives of key stakeholder groups and representatives of the volunteers.

Stakeholder Orgs & 

Community Reps 

12. Management and operations Guidance Notes 

Please provide information regarding each director as 

set out below (some or all of which may be regarded 

as confidential). 

In addition if any individuals have been identified for 

management roles at the proposed station, please 

give further information in this section. 

Answer (for each director): 

Dr John Coulter 

Other directorships Not Applicable 

Mr Christopher Barber 

Other directorships None 

Ms Victoria Kerr 


Mr Derek Brum 


Mr Noel Maguire 


Board of Directors 

Management Committee 

Part Time Station Manager 

Senior Volunteers 

Team Leaders 

Mentors 

Volunteers 


Volunteers 

Representatives 

Ofcom needs to know about the proposed directors and 

chair of the applicant. Some or all of the information 

given in this section will usually be removed from 

the publicly available copy of this application form. 

(All community radio applications forms will be made 

available on our website.) If you request that any 

information be removed, please indicate which (and why 

by email to community.radio@ofcom.org.uk). 

If any individuals (not necessarily directors) have been identified for management roles please state what 

experience identified individuals have to undertake the role in question. 

14


13. Staffing structure Guidance Notes 

What is the staffing structure of your proposed radio 

service? Provide a job title for each position and 

indicate whether the individual will be paid or will 

work in a voluntary capacity, will be full or part-time 

(indicate the number of hours for part-time posts). 

This may be provided as a diagram or organisation 

chart. 

Answer in fewer than 400 words, plus organisation chart (optional): 

15 

The legislation requires that Ofcom has regard to the 

applicant’s ability to maintain the proposed service 

(as well as to ensure the applicant is fit and proper to 

hold the licence). As well as its ownership, 

management and operations, the proposed staffing 

of the station is relevant to these considerations. 

The Directors have carefully considered the need for paid staff to get the station up and running against the 

financial cost that this brings and the pressure to secure the funding for this. 

We have noted that of the stations operating in Northern Ireland only BFBS stations and Raidio Failte have a 

fulltime staffing compliment. Drive 105 do not have a paid Station Manager; Blast106 has a part-time manager 

(who we understand is performance related with pay linked to station income and the achievement of key 

commitments); Shine in Banbridge do not have a paid Station Manager; IURFM in Newry have a part-time Media 

Officer who also works on Community Television and Community Internet projects; and the college stations in 

Lisburn, Bangor and Downpatrick share a single staff member between the 3 stations. 

Furthermore, having fulltime staff does not necessarily indicates sustainability for the licensed service. FeileFM 

had a number of paid staff, and yet the station failed for financial reasons including its high cost base. 

In this context we feel that a part-time Station Manager will be adequate to prepare the station for launch and 

manage it in the early years of the licence on the basis of 15 hours per week. However, more important than the 

number of hours will be the competence of the candidate and we will offer the position on a salaried or 

freelance/contract basis in order to appeal to the widest selection of candidates. The part-time Station Manager 

will have a performance related element to their package and will report directly to the Board of Directors. They 

will be a non-voting member of the Management Committee. 

The Directors have each committed to devoting a minimum of 2 hours each in the period prior to launch and a 

minimum of 5 hours per week in the first year of broadcasting. If additional hours are needed then the directors 

are committed to meeting these (as detailed in Section 22). 

The Directors also recognise the experience of existing community radio stations in Northern Ireland who have 

found that over time it is possible to identify Senior Volunteers to whom additional responsibilities and duties can 

be devolved which increases the reliable human resource of the station. We believe that the likely age profile of 

our volunteers may provide a wealth of experienced and time-rich volunteers (early retirees etc). 

14. Applicant’s experience Guidance Notes 

Please describe the history of your group, and any 

relevant experience of the group, or the individuals 

within the group, by answering the questions below. 

A. Please provide a brief history of your group. 


Ofcom is required to consider whether an applicant 

has the ability to run a community radio station for 

the licence period (up to five years). To aid our 

consideration we want to know about any relevant 

experience the applicant group as a whole, or the 

individuals involved, may have. 

The company was incorporated just before the licensing round opened, however, the group have been 

considering the potential of Lagan FM ever since FeileFM closed and it became apparent that a frequency for 

Belfast would be available in the third round of licensing. 

The group visited existing stations in Belfast and Newry. John Coulter and Chris Barber’s contacts within 

Blast106 meant that discussions could take place to help identify the underserved communities of Belfast and 

gaps in current provision so we could avoid duplication. This also enabled us to negotiate a Site-share agreement 

with Blast106, reducing our start-up and ongoing costs, as they have a free roof-top site. 

In 2011/12 John and Chris acted as guinea pigs for Media Ireland, a community media charity, which was writing 

a book about community radio entitled “90% Community-10% Radio”. Their participation in this helped us gain a


greater understanding of the context of community radio; the application process; the requirements once a 

licence is awarded; and preparing for launch. 

We have also learned about many of the ongoing requirements of sustaining a community radio station 

throughout the entire licence term. The group bring together the core skills that are needed to do this: 

John has RSL and teaching experience in Media/Broadcasting. 

Chris has community radio experience and experience in training/supporting volunteers 

Victoria’s experience in office management (including accounting and record keeping) may be ‘boring’ 

but is essential in operating a community radio station. 

Derek is originally from outside Northern Ireland and has studied Sectarianism in Communities. 

Professionally, he has developed Teams in commercial and community settings. 

Noel’s technical competence especially in the field of computers, electronics, networking and software 

will prove invaluable. 

B. Please summarise the group’s broadcasting experience (e.g. internet radio, Restricted Service 

Licences (RSLs)). 


Dr John Coulter lectures in Broadcast Journalism and has co-run a number of RSLs operated by Belfast 

Metropolitan College (formerly BIFHE). John negotiated the SLA between the College and Blast106 whereby all 

HND students must complete a placement with the station. He previously arranged placements with FeileFM 

prior to its closure. John has worked freelance with a number of commercial and PSB stations. 

Chris Barber is an experienced community radio activist who began his broadcasting with FeileFM, presenting a 

local bands programme for 2 years. Chris has also presented with Blast106 and was elected to its ruling 

Executive as Volunteer Coordinator, responsible for the induction, training and mentoring of new volunteers. 

Chris brings this invaluable Peer-Mentoring experience to Lagan FM. 

Noel Maguire has been an advertiser on radio and has also built specialist computer equipment (logging 

machines, processors and link computers) for the community radio sector and for internet stations. 

C. Please summarise the relevant experience of the group or its members, in relevant non-broadcast 

areas (such as third sector, local business, fund-raising, training or education). 


John’s journalism experience will be key to the PR of the station. His professional appointments include Southern 

Health and Social Services Council and he’s a dedicated fundraiser for Autism Northern Ireland. 

Victoria brings a wealth of experience in the field of Office & Administrative Management. She’s used to 

preparing balance sheets, profit & loss and cash-flow statements. 

Derek’s experienced in Operations and Sales Management. His particular expertise is in recruitment, training and 

mentoring of staff and developing Teams. He holds a Professional Certificate in Business Management. 

Noel is cofounder of a leading computer service company. He’s a Microsoft Certified Professional and member of 

The Federation of Small Business. He’s been a youth worker with Youth Council, YMCA Ireland and The Peace 

People. He’s also spent 15 years as an Emergency Ambulance Technician. 

Chris is a former construction worker who can assist with any joinery or maintenance tasks around the station. 

D. Please summarise the radio broadcasting experience of key individuals in the applicant group (only if 

not already described above). 


Detailed above in 14.B. 

16


Evidence of demand: 

15. Demand and/or support Guidance Notes 

Please provide a summary of evidence of demand 

and/or support for your proposed service. 

This may include a variety of information, for 

example: 

summary of support from statutory or voluntary 

sector organisations which expect to contribute 

practically and/or financially to your operations, 

or which would expect to collaborate with you in 

joint activities; 

evidence of interest generated through radio 

activity (e.g. RSLs, internet radio), community 

activity, training, voluntary sector work etc; 

results of research; 

summary of support from local politicians, 

councils, educational or religious bodies etc; 

summary of support from local business or other 

sectors; 

evidence of support from your proposed target 

community. 


Our research into demand and support for the service includes the following: 

Independent Field Research 

2 Focus Groups 

Meeting with key stakeholders (including Volunteer Now) 

Consulting with potential volunteer groups 

Consulting with local business community 

Meeting with an existing Belfast Community Radio Station. 

Visiting other Community Radio Stations in Northern Ireland 

17 

When considering community radio licence applications, 

Ofcom is required to take into account the extent of local 

demand for, or support for, the provision of the proposed 

service. 

It is for applicants to decide what evidence of demand or 

support they wish to submit. However, Ofcom does not 

believe that generic support for the establishment of a 

new radio service is as meaningful as evidence of 

considered support for a specific applicant’s proposals. 

This means that Ofcom does not attach great value to 

numerous examples of similar generic or form letters of 

support by your group, or to petitions. 

Copies of letters or research reports etc. should not be 

submitted. However, your response here may include 

brief relevant extracts from such material and must 

represent an accurate and comprehensive summary of 

any such supporting evidence. If we wish to see the 

source material, we will ask for it. 

Independent Field Research: 

BTW Consulting conducted research into radio listenership in Belfast in 2011. This was commissioned by 

Blast106 and, with their agreement, we secured a copy of the full report. This research was carried out to a 

robust methodology and with a sample size in excess of 500 survey respondents. It was limited to people who 

live, work or study in Belfast and demonstrated that the majority of respondents listened to at least two stations in 

an average week and the largest single section of respondents listened to three stations. 

The research supported the general demographic assumptions of Cool FM and Blast106 serving the younger age 

groups with Citybeat, Downtown, U105 and BBC Radio Ulster having older listener profiles. It showed that the 

majority of people will trial new stations but may not make a permanent switch. 

We engaged MD Consulting to conduct additional field research in Belfast in April 2012 to a sample size of 250 

respondents (247 eligible responses). This focused on the gaps in current provision and what people would 

support in terms of a new station. The questionnaire was designed to be quantitative but the researcher noted 

any qualitative feedback given on the forms and included this material in his report. 

The result of this research identified a number of key issues: 

1. People are generally happy with current provision and any new service needs to offer something different 

that they cannot get from existing stations. 

2. People agreed, regardless of their own ethnicity, that there was a benefit to programming for ethnic minority 

communities. A number of respondents offered the view that such output could serve to break down barriers 

between ethnic communities. Two respondents felt that this could be an educational resource for language 

students. 

3. There was wide support that any new service should be a resource for all sections of the community and 

not be centred on either East or West Belfast. 

4. There was general acceptance that advertising and sponsorship was appropriate to fund a community 

station. A number of respondents indicated that they felt that community stations should have an “ethical” or 

“responsible” approach to the nature of the advertising they carried. Less than 20% of respondents 

supported community stations being financed through public funding as a replacement to advertising and

sponsorship. 


Focus Groups 

2 Focus Group sessions were conducted by a University of Ulster student for his dissertation. These Focus 

Groups indicated that the variety of radio services for Belfast is generally good. Some notable niche music 

genres were identified as missing along with the lack of multiple presenter programming and an absence of 

“different languages” and ‘different accents’ on the airwaves. 

The focus groups identified that BBC Radio Ulster was the overwhelming choice for news coverage and people 

would flick across to Radio Ulster for the news but then return to their primary station afterwards. The majority of 

people in the focus groups listened to radio while doing some other activity and participants description of their 

relationship with radio to ranged from “their friend” to “wallpaper” and “background noise”. 

Meeting with key stakeholder - Volunteer Now 

Volunteer Now (formerly Volunteer Service Belfast) is the primary volunteer agency in Northern Ireland and the 

largest in Belfast. We have met with their officers to discuss our proposals and how the station could link with the 

strategy for increasing volunteering opportunities in Greater Belfast. 

Volunteer Now have confirmed their support for our proposals. 

Furthermore, they want to engage with Lagan FM on an ongoing basis and collaborate in creating commissioned 

programming for broadcast on Lagan FM. 

Consulting with potential volunteer groups 

We discussed our proposals with a number of former volunteers of Feile FM who support and are excited by the 

prospect of a new service in which they can get involved once again. 

Through Dr John Coulter we expect to collaborate with Belfast Metropolitan College with a view to 

intergenerational programming and documentary output. 

Consulting with local business community 

MD Consulting’s brief included investigating the likely financial support from the local business community. 

Drawing from the street research carried out, the potential for sponsorship of programmes and features was of 

particular focus. The response was positive but price sensitive with most businesses surveyed prepared to pay 

between £50 and £200 per week to sponsor programming. As a direct result of this research we have secured 

commitments from 8 businesses totalling £7,200 for front-loaded advertising/sponsorship prior to launch and a 

further £1000 in promised donations. 

Meeting with an existing Belfast Community Radio Station. 

We met with directors and staff at Blast106 community radio on a number of occasions. They indicated to us the 

variety of requests that they have received to participate in their service but which they had to turn away as not 

fitting in with their Key Commitments. This information, albeit anecdotal, supports our approach that creating a 

service to embrace a diverse range of programming will meet a demonstrable need. 

Blast106 is supporting our application and have agreed that maintaining an ongoing conversation between the 

stations will reduce the chance of replicating each other’s output and duplicating resources which might instead 

be shared (e.g. Outside Broadcast equipment and training events, and joint funding applications). 

Visiting other Community Radio Stations in Northern Ireland 

In addition to visiting Blast106, a number of the Directors visited IUR-FM community radio in Newry which 

broadcast in 3 languages. This provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges of multilingual programming 

and a schedule which has a very diverse content and wide demographic to its listenership and volunteer base. 

Ability to maintain the service – financial information: 

16. Pre-launch financial information 

In assessing an applicant’s ability to maintain the service we need to know what funds and assets it holds, how 

much it intends to spend getting the station on-air (pre-launch expenditure), and predicted funding for the prelaunch 

period. Please note ‘in-kind’ income is dealt with in 18 below. 

Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of your application. 

18


17. Year 1 financial information - income 

Please provide information on the predicted income for your first year of broadcasting. N.B. there is a legislative 

restriction on income from on-air advertising and sponsorship/commercial references (this is usually 50% of total 

annual income (cash and value of in-kind support), but the amount of such income may be more limited in some 

cases and some stations cannot take any income from on-air advertising and sponsorship/commercial 

references). 


18. Financial information – in-kind support 

Please provide totals that reflect the in-kind support you expect to receive for the pre-launch period, and for year 

one. You may count some volunteer input as in-kind support – please see our guidance on this 

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/volunteerinput.pdf 


19. Year 1 financial information – outgoings 

Please summarise year 1 outgoings – your expected operational expenditure to cover the first 12 months after 

the service has commenced broadcasting. (Add rows if necessary). 


20. Year 1 financial information – commercial activities on air 

During your first year of broadcasting would your proposed 

station carry any on-air advertising? (If so, please state the 

amount of income you anticipate from this source and its 

anticipated proportion of total income) 

If ‘No’ might your proposed service seek to carry on-air 

advertising at a later date? (If so, please state the amount 

of income you estimate from this source and its estimated 

proportion of total income) 

During your first year of broadcasting would your proposed 

station carry sponsorship or commercial references in 

return for payment? (If so, please state the amount of 

income you anticipate from this source and its anticipated 


19 

The legislation for 

Community Radio 

places limits on the 

amount of income 

annually from the sale 

of on-air advertising and 

sponsorship that can be 

generated. 

If ‘No’ might your proposed service seek to carry 

sponsorship or commercial references in return for 

payment at a later date? (If so, please state the amount of 

income you estimate from this source and its estimated 



21. Pre-launch financial information - contingency 

If there is a shortfall between pre-launch predicted income and outgoings, please explain below how you would 

expect to cover any outstanding costs. 


22. Year 1 financial information - contingency 

If there is a shortfall between Year 1 income and Year 1 outgoings, please explain below how you would expect 

to cover any outstanding costs (see also 23 and 24 below). 

Alternatively if there is a surplus at the end of Year 1, please explain what you intend to do with such additional 

resources. 

Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of your application.

23. Financial information – loans and other borrowings 


If any of your proposed funding (either set-up or operational) is in the form of loans e.g. from directors, individuals 

or organisations, please provide details as to who the loan is from and the terms of such lending, expected 

repayment terms, interest rate charged and other associated costs. 


24. Financial information – alternative funding streams 

If there is a shortfall between income and outgoings, what arrangements have you explored and are in place to 

provide further financial and/or ‘in-kind’ support for your proposed service? 

If you have any proposals for expanding and/or changing the funding model of your proposed service after the 

first year of operation, please provide details below: 


Broadcasting engineering: 

Engineering notes 

We require preliminary radio frequency (r.f.) engineering information and applicants are advised that this section 

is not intended to be exhaustive. We are asking for the basic engineering parameters necessary to determine the 

extent of frequency availability in an applicant’s chosen area (after taking account of the requirements of 

neighbouring broadcasters). While Ofcom would not wish applicants to go to unnecessary expense (we do not 

guarantee the availability of a suitable frequency and/or our ability to allocate it for broadcasting from the chosen 

transmission site), we do require precise details about the transmission site chosen. The questions following 

relate to this. 

Applicants should provide evidence of negotiations or agreement with the site owner (e.g. whether a provisional 

agreement is in place). Any licence award will be based on the coverage area from the site identified in the 

application. If a licence is offered, Ofcom may not be able to agree to a change from the site put forward in this 

application (and any request for a change will need to be justified). 

Applicants should read and be aware of the relevant part of the Ofcom Site Engineering Code which may be 

found at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/guidance/tech-guidance/eng_code/ 

Community radio stations typically have a coverage area of up to a 5 kilometre radius. Please see Ofcom’s 

‘Coverage and planning policy for analogue broadcasting services’ (including community radio) 

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/broadcast/radio-ops/coverage/analogue-coverage-policy.pdf 

25. Engineering information 

Note: there are fundamental differences between FM (VHF) and AM (MF) transmission systems. These include 

differences in mast and antenna size, transmitter site requirements, site location, installation cost, audio quality 

and night-time interference. Before completing this section, applicants may wish to take professional advice to 

ensure they understand these differences and their implications. 

Waveband: Is the application for an FM licence? Yes 

Is the application for an AM licence? No 

Should a suitable FM frequency be unavailable, would 

a frequency on AM be acceptable? 

If you have answered YES to this last question please 

complete the questions below separately for both an 

FM transmission site and an AM transmission site. 

No 

Delete as appropriate 

20


Transmission site 

address: 

National Grid 

Reference (NGR): 

About the site’s 

dimensions: 

About the 

transmission site: 

Transmission site 

availability: 

21 

Do you understand the fundamental differences 

between FM (VHF) and AM (MF) services and have you 

incorporated these below and in, for example, your 

start-up and other costs, detailed earlier? 

What is the postal address and post code: Europa Hotel, Great Victoria 

Street, Belfast, BT2 7AP 

The NGR is a reference code comprising two letters 

and two groups of three numbers (e.g. SW 123 456). It 

is available from Ordnance Survey. Further information 

can be found at: 

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/index.html 

What is the height of the site, in metres, Above 

Ordnance Datum (AOD)? 

In metres, what is the total height of the mast / building 

Above Ground level (AGL)? 

What is the height, in metres, of the transmitting 

antenna AGL? 

Please supply photographs of the transmitter mast / 

building and aerial location. 

Who owns the site and what are their full contact 

details? 

Is this site already used for broadcasting and if so by 

whom? 

Yes 

IJ 334 738 

13 metres 

51 metres 

54 metres 

Tick if enclosed 

Tick this box if you request Ofcom to withhold this information from the public copy of 

this application 

Delete as appropriate the yes/no answers which 

describe your situation regarding proposed site (it may 

be that you cannot answer all four questions): 

Site identified? Yes 

Provisional agreement with site owner in place? Yes 

Or under negotiation? No 

Applicant group owns site? No 

Other – please specify. N/A 

(Note: we cannot consider an application if no site has been identified.) 

Delete as appropriate

How to contact you: 

26. Public contact details Guidance Notes 

Provide the name of the person who will deal with 

enquiries from the press and public and the contact 

details for them. 

Answer here: 

Name: Dr John Coulter 

E-mail: laganfm@gmail.com 

Website: www.laganfm.co.uk 

Postal address: First Floor, River House, 48 High Street, Belfast. BT1 2BE. 


Ofcom will publish community radio licence applications, 

and from time to time statements which may include 

public contact details, on its website. A point of contact 

is required to deal with press and other enquiries from 

interested parties. 

PLEASE ENSURE YOU ADVISE OFCOM OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT DETAILS 

27. Contact details for Ofcom Guidance Notes 

Provide the name of the person who will be Ofcom’s 

primary contact and their contact details: 

Ofcom will need to contact your group in relation to this 

application. 


PLEASE ENSURE YOU ADVISE OFCOM OF ANY CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT DETAILS 

Concluding declaration: 

28. Declaration 

APPLICANT’S, DIRECTORS’ AND OWNERS’ OTHER INTERESTS 

1. In relation to the applicant and any body’s and/or individuals whose details are given in sections 11, 12 and 

13 of this application, please state whether the applicant, any body or individual is (and if so identify that 

body or individual) involved in any of the activities set out in the table below, and the extent of the 

involvement or interest. For these purposes, the applicant includes associates of the applicant (i.e. 

directors and their associates and other group companies): (Note: if none of the following categories in this 

section apply, this must be clearly indicated by writing “none” in any appropriate box.) 

Activity/involvement By the applicant 

and/or a shareholder 

or member 

(section 11 of this 

application form) 

a) Local authorities None None 

b) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a 

political nature, or which are affiliated to such a body 

c) Bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a 

religious nature 

d) An individual who is an officer of a body falling within 

(c) above 

Dr John Coulter’s father 

was a MLA (Member of 

the Legislative 

Assembly for Northern 

Ireland) who retired at 

the last elections. 

John is a member of the 

Ulster Unionist Party but 

is not politically active 

and does not canvas in 

elections. 

None None 

None None 

By a director 

(section 12 of this 

application form) 

Dr John Coulter’s father 

was a MLA (Member of 

the Legislative 

Assembly for Northern 

Ireland) who retired at 

the last elections. 

John is a member of the 

Ulster Unionist Party but 

is not politically active 

and does not canvas in 

elections. 

22


e) A body corporate which is an associate (as defined in 

paragraphs 1(1) and 1(1a) of Part I of Schedule 2 to 

the Broadcasting Act 1990) or a body falling within (b) 

or (c) above) 

f) An advertising agency or an associate of an 

advertising agency 

g) Other broadcasting interests (including radio, 

television, satellite and cable broadcasting and allied 

activities). 

Other interests 

23 

None None 

None None 

Dr John Coulter has 

been involved in the 

RSL stations operated 

each year by Belfast 

Metropolitan College 

(formerly Belfast 

Institute of Further & 

Higher Education) as 

part of his duties as a 

Senior Lecturer and 

Course Coordinator. 

Christopher Barber was 

a volunteer with 

FeileFM until its closure. 

He has also been a 

volunteer with Blast106. 

Dr John Coulter has 

been involved in the 

RSL stations operated 

each year by Belfast 

Metropolitan College 

(formerly Belfast 

Institute of Further & 

Higher Education) as 

part of his duties as a 

Senior Lecturer and 

Course Coordinator. 

Christopher Barber was 

a volunteer with 

FeileFM until its closure. 

He has also been a 

volunteer with Blast106. 

2. Give details of any other interest or activity of the applicant which is or could be incompatible with the 

requirements imposed by or under Schedule 2 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as modified by the 

Community Radio Order 2004) and Articles 6 and 7 of the Community Radio Order 2004. Please also 

give details of any other participant in the applicant whose interest is or could be incompatible with those 

requirements. (You may need to seek advice about these matters) 

Answer: None 

Other matters 

3. In pursuance of its duties under Section 86(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended), Ofcom 

requires that the applicant should notify Ofcom of any matters which might influence Ofcom’s judgement 

as to whether: 

(i) the applicant; 

(ii) any director of the applicant; 

(iii) any individual, or any director of a company, who will have an interest of 5 per cent or more in the 

applicant; 

may not be considered a 'fit and proper person' to participate in a radio licence. Such matters would 

include, for example, the following (whether they occurred in the UK or any other country): any unspent 

criminal conviction, any undischarged insolvency and/or bankruptcy orders, any disqualification from being 

a director of a limited company, and any adverse findings made by Ofcom (or its predecessor broadcast 

regulators), any other regulatory authority and/or any court or tribunal in respect of any regulatory matters. 

Answer: None 

Do you confirm, to the best of your knowledge and belief, that: 

4. The applicant is not a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of the provisions of section 143 

(5) of the Broadcasting Act 1996 (relating to political objects); 

5. The applicant is not otherwise a disqualified person in relation to the licence by virtue of Part II of Schedule 2 

to the Broadcasting Act 1990 or any other rule prohibiting its holding the licence; 

6. No director, member or other person involved directly or indirectly in the management of the applicant group 

is the subject of a disqualification order as defined by section 145 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 1996; 

7. No person (body corporate or individual) involved in the application has been convicted within the past five 

years of an unauthorised broadcasting offence and that the applicant will do all it can to ensure that no 

person (body corporate or individual) so convicted will be concerned in the provision of the service, the 

making of programmes included in it, or the operation of the radio station if the applicant is granted a licence; 

and 

8. Any matters which might influence Ofcom's judgement as to whether the directors or members of the 

applicant group are fit and proper persons to participate in a radio licence have been made to Ofcom. 

Applicants should note that Ofcom reserves the right to revoke a licence if at any time any material


statement made is found to be false and to have been made by the applicant or any member or officer 

thereof knowing it to be false, and that in the circumstances of section 144 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, 

the provision of false information or the withholding of relevant information with the intention of 

misleading Ofcom could incur a criminal conviction and a disqualification from the holding of a licence. 

Please tick this box to confirm that the applicant agrees with the above statements. 

Please tick the boxes below to indicate which additional documentation is included as part of this application. We 

are not willing to accept additional information with this application, other than that set out below: 

Memorandum & Articles of Association 

Certificate of Incorporation 

Application Payment (UK £600.00) non-returnable. Paid by CHAPS 1/6/2012 - reference CR CR for Belfast 

Photographs of the transmitter mast / building and aerial location. 

I hereby apply to Ofcom for the grant of a community radio licence and declare that the information given 

in this application and any additional documentation is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, correct. 

Dr John Coulter (Name of person) 

Director 

31 st May 2012 

(Title or position in the applicant group) 

(Date) 

24

Lagan FM - Ofcom Licensing

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