Another Five Years

Cross Rhythms Plymouth Station Manager Dave

Plymouth's community radio station Cross Rhythms has secured a further five year broadcast licence from Ofcom, guaranteeing the station will be on air until at least 2022.

The pioneering work of Cross Rhythms Plymouth started in March 2007, after it was granted an initial five year licence by Ofcom, which was further extended in 2012.

The station, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 96.3FM, is committed to promoting Christian values in the public arena as well as supporting charitable and public sector organisations which contribute to the strengthening of the local community.

Cross Rhythms is manned by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, led by station manager Dave Simpson.

Dave said: "We are thrilled with being awarded a licence for a further five years! It is a very exciting time for the city of Plymouth with the upcoming spotlight on Mayflower 400 and to have our new licence running beyond 2020 is great news.

"We have a brilliant team involved in the station and look forward to developing what we have in this next licence period. Our partnerships with organisations and charities who are working for the good of the city will continue to develop and we are excited to bring more interviews, information and uplifting content to the people of Plymouth through our broadcasting."

Cross Rhythms founder Chris Cole said: "This is such a great encouragement to the team of young people (and older folk) behind the voluntary work of Cross Rhythms who work really hard for the genuine love of what they are doing.

"This all started in 1983 when we launched a weekly 30 minute show of contemporary Christian music on Plymouth Sound. From that humble beginning we extended into festivals, magazines and eventually launched Cross Rhythms community radio in Stoke-on-Trent in 2002, followed by Plymouth in 2007 and Stockton-on-Tees a year later."

Chris Clewer, chairman of Churches Together in Plymouth (CTiP) said: "Churches Together in Plymouth is delighted that Cross Rhythms have had their licence to broadcast extended for another five years.

"The station has gone from strength to strength in their programming and include so many relevant and informative voices from the community. Their message of faith, music and life, interspersed with words of wisdom and challenge, is much needed by all generations in the city. Cross Rhythms Plymouth has become an essential part of the fabric of the city."

Local MP Gary Streeter said: "I know that the station is well listened to by many people in the area and the diversity of material is much appreciated. I believe Cross Rhythms Plymouth is making a very positive contribution to our local culture."

Jane Frajbis, director of Pregnancy Crisis Care commented: "Cross Rhythms Plymouth is an important resource for the city providing a great platform for many people – services, businesses, voluntary and statutory sectors - to raise awareness of important issues that affect not only individuals but also families and larger communities themselves.

"We feel the radio station is an invaluable community resource within our city, and as a small local charity we fully embrace their work. Cross Rhythms Plymouth has a positive impact on our local community and worked really diligently to embrace and promote a variety of different services, ensuring they receive high quality recognition of the great work undertaken in our city."

For further information contact Dave Simpson on 01752 225623.

More in Cross Rhythms Plymouth 96.3FM..