BHBN Radio brought a burst of music and outreach to Mell Square at the weekend as the hospital broadcasting charity ran a public roadshow aimed at raising awareness of its service and recruiting volunteers. The event was formally welcomed to the borough by the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Sardul Singh Marwa, who met the team and members of the public.
Public engagement and volunteer recruitment
Volunteers from BHBN spent the day speaking with residents about the variety of roles that support hospital broadcasting across multiple sites. The charity emphasised that no previous radio experience is necessary, with full training provided for new recruits. Those staffing the pop-up highlighted opportunities both in front of and behind the microphone, including ward visits to listen and talk to patients.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Mayor and Mayoress and the people of Solihull for such a warm and enthusiastic welcome. Mell Square provided the perfect platform to share our passion for radio and hospital broadcasting. We met some fantastic potential recruits on Saturday, and we look forward to welcoming new faces into both our on-air and behind-the-scenes teams to help us keep patients entertained and connected.”
The charity’s publicity officer, Andy Caddick, said the team had met a number of people interested in joining. The roadshow also served to explain how hospital radio contributes to patient welfare by providing entertainment and companionship to those spending time in hospital.
How residents can get involved
BHBN are actively looking for volunteers to fill a range of posts. The event reiterated that roles are flexible and that training will be provided to enable volunteers to take part irrespective of prior experience.
- On-air presenters — delivering shows and music to hospital patients
- Ward visitors — offering companionship and conversation to patients
- Technical assistants — supporting studio and broadcasting equipment
- Fundraisers and publicity volunteers — helping to sustain the service
For those interested, BHBN invited people to contact the charity directly to find out more about volunteering or to apply: info@bhbn.co.uk.
| Role | Key task | Experience needed |
|---|---|---|
| Presenter | Host shows, choose music | None — training provided |
| Ward visitor | Visit patients, offer companionship | Empathy and reliability |
| Technical assistant | Maintain equipment, support broadcasts | Willingness to learn |
The appearance in Solihull follows BHBN’s wider efforts to maintain broadcasting services to patients across several hospitals and to expand volunteer numbers amid growing demand for community-led patient support. By staging events in public spaces such as Mell Square, the charity aims to reach people who might not otherwise consider hospital broadcasting as a way to contribute to local healthcare.
For residents considering volunteering, the roadshow underlined the social as well as operational benefits of involvement: volunteers gain experience in broadcasting or patient care, and patients receive companionship and diversion during hospital stays. The Mayor’s public endorsement is likely to raise the profile of the campaign locally.
Further information and applications can be made via the email address publicised by BHBN: info@bhbn.co.uk.
