The three radio stations (initially in Treherbert then Penrhys and Penywaun) are all part of the RCT Community Radio Project which aims to make Rhondda Cynon Taff the centre of excellence for Community Radio in Wales. It follows the award of more than £270k funding from the Welsh Assembly Government’s flagship Communities@One programme to fund the project.

Communities @One is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative to help people in Communities First areas make the most of new technology. The programme is jointly funded through the European Union’s Objective 1 & 2 programme and the Welsh Assembly Government. Communities @One is administered by the Wales Co-Operative Centre.

Background

Community radio started in Rhondda Cynon Taff in 1999 when GTFM went on air on the Glyntaff Estate in Pontypridd in the same way as Radio Cwmni is now. Local residents tuned in and enjoyed the programmes and young and old alike took part in a whole range of ways. After several hugely successful month long broadcasts it then became Wales’s first full time community station in 2002.

In 2006 we received funding from Communities@One to develop community radio and stations will be established in Treherbert, Penywaun and Penrhys as part of the RCT Community Radio Partnership.