Last November, Black Cat Radio launched a new weekday 'magazine' show called Your Voice, breakfast show presenter Ste Greenall writes about its success.

Almost 12 months on, the show has been nominated in the annual National Community Radio Awards.

With five different presenters, it’s a mixture of informative, often serious, occasionally humorous, but  engaging content. The emphasis is on giving listeners a voice of their own.

Some of the people and topics covered include; John Walker who has clocked up 67 years service with St Neots Town FC; St Neots Town Crier Ian Payne; concerns about the town's cinema and memories of the old one; archaeologists find headless remains on the A428; Walk and Talk for Men mental health support group and the St Neots Festival.

The awards submission included: Nigel Pauley reported from Grafham Water on an initiative called Sailability. Nigel’s guest was forced to give up work after a stroke. Once a week, through sailing, she has been “given her freedom back”. 

I did a piece about domestic abuse, featuring a group in St Neots called the Property Angels Foundation, who now sponsor Your Voice.

 Tom Morphew’s passion is farming and presenter Jenny Jefferies spoke with him about the Garden Army; an initiative which created a therapeutic farm and kitchen garden in West Sussex. Jenny hopes the idea will be brought to St Neots.

Brian Dobson chatted with Geraldine Tumelty, whose upbringing was defined by “chaos and suffering” and her education was effectively ended at the age of 13. Her life has been rebuilt through Art.

A recent success of the show was to alert local councillors about poor disabled access. After Nigel spoke with Liz Owen, Cllr Stephen Ferguson met her and walked the town to see the issues for himself.

The Hunts Post: Cllr Stephen Ferguson is with Liz Owen of Access in St Neots; her husband Adam and Zophia Lumley from Cambs County Council.Cllr Stephen Ferguson is with Liz Owen of Access in St Neots; her husband Adam and Zophia Lumley from Cambs County Council. (Image: Black Cat Radio)

I also spoke with Vivien Almond – a local preacher and survivor of childhood domestic abuse. Vivien, along with the Rev Sue Baker-Maher, will encourage female survivors of abuse to come together in an informal, safe and creative space. The event is on November 4 at 5pm on The Green in Brampton.

The Hunts Post: Ste is pictured with Vivien Almond.Ste is pictured with Vivien Almond. (Image: Ste Greenall.)