The Hour

A number of hospitals through out Scotland have volunteer radio programmes, such as Southern Sound in Glasgow, Mayfield Radio Unit in Edinburgh and Grampian Radio Network in Aberdeen. They are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers that live in the area to host a broadcast.

The fact that it makes such a difference in people’s lives is a big draw for volunteers like Mark; it is beneficial for the patients who rely on the radio for entertainment especially those who are unable to entertain themselves.

Mark said “Where possible I would always suggest to people to, if they can, do voluntary work because it’s very satisfying, well I think it’s satisfying.”

He would encourage people to work out realistically how much time they can genuinely spend volunteering and if people can spend two to three hours per week it’s beneficial for any organisation, especially hospital radio.

Most radio stations do not need volunteers to have any experience in radio as they will provide training all they need is enthusiasm and a love of music. The show Mark runs at BridgeFM, with his assistant Angela, is a request show where the patients ask him to play their favourite songs.

Mark felt it was important for him to volunteer as, as he is a wheelchair user, he was used to how boring the hospital environment can be and how much of an escape the radio provides.

“I’ve been in and out of hospital myself so I know what it can be like on the other side, had enough of reading can only do so many crosswords people obviously like to listen to the radio and yes I think it does put a smile on their face,” he said
 
For more information on volunteering in hospital radio across Scotland there is a broadcasting network called Scotland’s Hospital Radio Stations, which is a collective of all the hospital radio station. You can contact them for locations of radio stations in your area and how you can get involved.

The Hospital Broadcasting Association's annual conference and awards ceremony will be held in Glasgow this year on the 27th of March at the Normandy Hotel. Attending will be special guest Nicola Sturgeon MSP. A number of Scottish Hospital Radio stations are up for awards. This is due to the quality and professionalism of all the volunteers that give up some of their spare time to help entertain those in hospital.

For more information on Mark Ross's show at BridgeFm.