LOCAL charity Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells [HRTW] is seeking a sponsor for one of its feature slots, Single of the Week, after receiving a boost from two corporate backers in the town.
The charity broadcasts to patients 24 hours a day at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital, as well as online via its website at www.hrtw.org.uk and via the Tune In App.
It has launched a new daily Breakfast Show from 8am-10am thanks to sponsorship it has received from Chamberlain Court Care Home on Mount Ephraim.
The backing has seen the radio volunteers devise a new set of jingles to promote the company’s
support of the hospital radio charity.
Clearwell Mobility in Grosvenor Road has also renewed its sponsorship of The Golden Hour, which runs every day at 7am and also at 1pm on weekdays, and the Request Shows on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 8pm.
As a voluntary organisation, HRTW relies on the contributions of the public at street collections and the support of local businesses to keep the service in operation.
The charity, which has been broadcasting since 1961, cannot take paid advertising but is able to offer local businesses the opportunity to associate their name with its service.
The company’s bespoke jingles are played a minimum of three times per hour during the sponsored show, or before and after the feature.
The presenters also refer to the sponsor in their verbal links and collaborate with them to create jingles that include ‘tag lines’ the business can include in other forms of advertising.
The HRTW Station Manager Chris Manser said: ‘We are really proud of our local businesses who are show sponsors, they are a great fit for their respective shows.
‘Chamberlain Court Care Home is part of a top 20 care home group called Hallmark Care Homes and we potentially see care homes as offering us a future audience, as the length of time people stay in hospital continues to fall.
‘In fact, we are developing ideas to be able to extend our service into such premises, and so this new partnership with Chamberlain Court is an ideal way of looking to our possible future.
He added: ‘Clearwell Mobility is a fantastic supporter of ours over the years as a family-run business and regional and nationwide leader, so we are chuffed they have renewed with us.
‘The synergy is clear as they are a leading supplier of mobility and home healthcare equipment in the UK.’
The General Manager at Chamberlain Court Care Home, Genevieve Rodrigues, said: ‘We are delighted to be the main sponsor of the Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells Breakfast Show.
‘The radio station provides an excellent bedside service to its patients through personal requests and we hope our sponsorship will allow the charity to continue its great work.’
Duncan Gillett, Managing Director at Clearwell Mobility, said: ‘We recognise that this radio service is an aide to patients’ recovery, whether as an in-patient or at home through the station’s listen-live website button.
‘That is why we continue to be a sponsor of the Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells’ service.’
PICTURE: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: (L-R) Arthur Hosmer, Chief Engineer at Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells, Genevieve Rodrigues, General Manager of Chamberlain Court, and HRTW Trustee Claire Backhurst
