Somer Valley Wins King’s Award for Voluntary Service

In a proud moment for community broadcasting, Somer Valley FM has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour bestowed upon volunteer groups in the UK. The accolade was formally presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq, at a community celebration held at The Centurion Hotel in Midsomer Norton on Friday, 16th May.

Often described as the “MBE for volunteer groups,” the award recognises the remarkable contributions made by volunteers who have helped shape Somer Valley FM into a vital and inclusive voice for the local community. The station was one of only three Somerset organisations to receive this honour in the last King’s Birthday Honours List.

Station founder Dom Chambers opened the evening, describing the event as “a wonderful celebration of the awesome power and impact a group of volunteers can have on community life.” He welcomed His Majesty the King’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant, alongside Deputy Lieutenant Thomas Sheppard. Also in attendance were Mayor of Midsomer Norton, Martyn Plant, and Debbie Huxham, President of the local Rotary Club.

Broadcasting full-time since 2008, Somer Valley FM expanded its reach in 2024 through a successful DAB licence bid, now covering Bath and most of Northeast Somerset. Its programming features a rich mix of local music, arts, heritage, sport, cultural content, and youth-focused broadcasting.

In his speech, Mr Saddiq praised the station as “a great example of what this award represents,” highlighting how volunteers can make a lasting impact through communication and community engagement. He placed special emphasis on the station’s work with local schools:

“What started out in a classroom in 2006 has grown into what it is today. Over 500 volunteers have contributed to this initiative, and if you consider the number of young people supported through this journey, it reaches into the thousands. That is nothing less than extraordinary.”

With an open-access approach to training, the station has created opportunities for both young people and adults to build confidence and develop skills in media production and broadcasting. The Lord Lieutenant concluded, “The success of Somer Valley FM is down to good leadership and the commitment of its volunteers. I’d like everyone to join me in recognising their outstanding achievement with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the station were the two volunteer executive directors, Pete Helmore — Somer Valley FM’s first-ever volunteer — and Dom Chambers. Dom paid tribute to the community of volunteers who have sustained the station over the years:

“This recognition is for all the volunteers — past and present — who have given their time, energy and creativity to make this station a trusted voice for the Somer Valley community. It’s proof that when people come together to serve a collective mission, incredible things happen.”

Jo Davis, who has presented the station’s flagship breakfast show for the past five years, reflected on what the award means to her:

“I’m proud to be a volunteer at SVFM, and for us now to be recognised by the King is amazing. For me, this is about spending time doing something you absolutely love — and hopefully spreading a bit of that passion to others.”

Dom, who has visited and worked with over 100 community radio stations across the UK, also emphasised the broader industry significance of the award:

“Volunteer-led community radio is not only the backbone of community life across the country, but it’s also a major contributor to the UK’s broadcast industry. That role hasn’t always been fully acknowledged, but this kind of recognition from The Palace — which other community stations have also received — is a powerful step forward.”