Community media is thriving in Earl Shilton and the wider Hinckley area.

At the heart of it is Hilltop Radio, Hinckley’s own community internet radio station, broadcasting from its own dedicated studios at the Earl Shilton Community House.

Set up by a group of dedicated radio volunteers, led by Station Manager and former Hinckley Policeman, Dave Elliott, it broadcasts around the clock. The schedule includes a range of different programmes, from dedicated broadcasts from our youth group, to Phil Gardner’s ‘Rockaria’ and Friday Night Live with Chris Savage.

I present the station’s own dedicated current affairs show called ‘Mat’s Mix,’ (think ‘The Jeremy Vine Show’ on BBC Radio Two) which can be heard each Monday and Friday between Midday and 2pm.

We recently achieved a fantastic first at Hilltop Radio. I conducted the only broadcast hustings debate between the three main party candidates vying to be the next MP for Hinckley and Bosworth.

It was great to think that this was taking place not on the BBC or the local commercial station, but live and only on a volunteer-run community radio station. We’re about to start another exciting aspect of our work, which will see me running a short course teaching our young people how to carry out broadcast interviews.

This can take place thanks to a grant we’ve secured from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council and I’d like to thank Rachel Duncan, a Council Officer based at the Community House, for all her hard work in putting the application together. Hilltop Radio is truly a wonderful team effort.

Meanwhile, I also recently set up a dedicated local news website for the Hinckley area. It’s called ‘LE10 News’ and includes local information, events and sports news amongst other things.

Currently, I’m a one-man band but I’m hoping other people from Hinckley and Bosworth will become involved and submit content for the site. Take a look via: www.le10news.blogspot.com

If you’d like to be involved with either Hilltop Radio or LE10 News please e-mail me via: comedymat@yahoo.co.uk

Hilltop Radio can be heard via: www.hilltop-radio.com

By Mathew Hulbert