BATMOBILE TAXI RAISES CHARITY CASH

Skyline customers were surprised this week when their taxi arrived driven by Batman and Robin.

The dynamic duo took a break from fighting crime in Gotham City to raise money for Willen Hospice on the streets of Milton Keynes.

 

 

Instead of paying the driver, customers gave their fares to the hospice, with most customers adding a generous donation.

Joining the superheroes was MKFM’s mascot Samantha The Panther, and the community radio station was broadcasting live updates from the taxi all day.

Gavin Sokhi from Skyline Taxis said: “We were overwhelmed by the support and generosity of our customers who helped us raise such a fantastic total.”

MKFM Programme Director Chris Gregg added: “There was a great response from our listeners and on facebook. We made lots of people smile and it was great to be able to help the hospice”

A total of £400 was raised, including a donation of £75 from the driver and a further £75 from the Skyline Taxis staff.

1,500 TINS DONATED TO THE FOOD BANK IN ONE WEEKEND AFTER RADIO CAMPAIGN!

Local radio bosses were left stunned after an on air appeal for donations for the Food Bank led to the MKFM studio being buried in over 1,500 donated tins.

The new community radio station which launched two weeks ago on DAB Digital Radio was responding to news that record numbers of people are now relying on food donations by offering to collect food on behalf of Milton Keynes Food Bank.

Within hours, listeners and local businesses began bringing tins to the studio outside Xscape, and afternoon presenter Oliver Dean found himself buried in cans of rice pudding and cartons of fruit juice!

By the end of Monday, MKFM had collected over 1,500 tins including a large donation from Sainsbury’s Milton Keynes.

Rebecca Savage from MK Food Bank was delighted: “This is absolutely fantastic, I can’t thank MKFM and everyone involved enough. Milton Keynes has long needed its very own radio station and with initiatives like this I believe MKFM will make a massive difference in our community’’

Darren Dorrington from MKFM said: “People are struggling to feed themselves and we wanted to do this to remind people in MK to keep making donations at the Food Bank’s drop off points but we were blown away by the response – this is exactly what local radio is all about.”

Andy White, a Milton Keynes business connector from BiTC helped to secure the donation from Sainsburys. He said “We were pleased to assist MKFM with this challenge and knew Sainsbury’s one of our partners would want to get involved in this fantastic project. BiTC is all about bringing the business and community together and we are planning to work very closely with MKFM in the future”

MK HAS A PERMANENT LOCAL RADIO STATION AGAIN

The first new full time local radio station for 24 years launches in Milton Keynes on Monday 20^th May 2013.

MKFM has been campaigning for the return of dedicated local broadcasting for two years and is now available permanently on DAB Digital Radio in Milton Keynes and the surrounding region.

The station will feature local news, travel news, sport, what’s on information and charity appeals alongside a fresh mix of music from the charts and the last 20 years.

Many former Horizon and Chiltern Radio presenters are returning to the MK airwaves including Gaz Wesley who will present the MKFM Breakfast Show.

Gaz said: “MKFM is a platform to shout about all the great things that happen in MK and it’s very exciting to be part of the team bringing local radio back permanently”

MKFM’s programmes will be presented from studios in Milton Keynes including the iconic ‘pod’ outside Xscape.

Prominent members of the local community will also present shows, including Destination MK’s CEO Steven Gordon-Wilson with a local theatre and arts show on Sunday afternoons, Theo Chalmers’ Uncensored which aims to expose global conspiracy theories and the MK Pride Show which represents the lesbian and gay community.

The majority of people already own a DAB Digital Radio but MKFM will be working with local manufacturer Aves to offer the sets at a 50% discount via their website.

MKFM will also be available on 107FM until mid-June, and will still be applying for a permanent FM license in early 2014.

Chairman of MK Dons Pete Winkelman said: “After years of hard work, I am delighted MKFM is on DAB radio and that Milton Keynes once again has its own, unique radio station which can cater for the people of the city. It is incredibly important that Milton Keynes has its own station – radio remains the medium that people use when they are on the move and by keeping up to date with all the local, travel and community updates we can all stay connected. MKFM has already had a significant impact on the community in Milton Keynes and I expect it will make a huge splash on DAB.”

Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Catriona Morris said: ”During my year as Mayor of Milton Keynes I have seen the determination from MKFM to bring local radio back permanently to Milton Keynes. The community needs a voice and I’m delighted that MKFM is a vital part of our community and wish them continuing success”

Darren Dorrington, Commercial Director added: ‘’Radio is one of the key ingredients in communities working together, we will be able to react quickly to local events as well as supporting charities and local business in MK and surrounding areas‘’

To find out more about MKFM and to volunteer visit www.mkfm.com

 

MKFM Schedule for May 2013

MONDAY – THURSDAY

6am THE MK BREAKFAST SHOW – Gaz Wesley

10am THE MID MORNING SHOW – Darren D and Magic Chris

12pm LUNCHTIME LIVE – Darren D and Kirstie Duffy

1pm THE AFTERNOON SHOW – Mikey Faulkner

4pm DRIVETIME – Oliver Dean

7pm THE EVENING SHOW – Matt Rayzie

10pm SPECIALIST SHOWS

Mondays: URBAN – Lolly and Ishmael from London Lions

Tuesdays: INDIE ROCK SHOW – Ellie Antonini / Ben Haytack

Wednesdays: THE MK SCENE – Sam Varney & Matt Hollingsworth

Thursdays: MKFM GUESTMIX – Lee Kent + Guest Mixes from 11pm

12am THE CHILLOUT – Rob James (Mon-Thu)

3am MKFM OVERNIGHT – Michael Robinson

FRIDAY

7pm COMMERCIAL DANCE – Alex Grover

9pm HOUSE HEADZ – Carlo Nigro and Terry Bedeau

12am ELECTRO HOUSE – Meg

2am RELEASE YOURSELF – Roger Sanchez

4am CORSTEN’S COUNTDOWN – Ferry Corsten

5am MKFM NON STOP

SATURDAY

6am WEEKEND BREAKFAST – Joe Rudd

10am THE SATURDAY SHOW – Gaz Wesley

2pm MKFM SPORT – Adam Beechers & Liam Andrews

6pm SATURDAY WARMUP – Matt Rayzie

9pm TRIPLE DEE RADIO SHOW – David Dunn and Anthony Daniels

11pm FIREBIRD (HOUSE) – Scott Northey & Salty

2am GRAHAM PARK SHOW – Graham Park

4am JUICY RADIO – Robbie Rivera

SUNDAY

6am WEEKEND BREAKFAST – Joe Rudd

9am SUNDAY MORNING – James Watts

12pm MKFM REQUEST SHOW – Amy & Rich

2pm MK PRIDE – Michael Robinson and Andy Milligan

4pm SHOWTIME – Steven Gordon Wilson

6pm UNCENSORED – Theo Chalmers

8pm TOTAL 90s – Matt Cadman

10pm SOUL STEW– Paul Gray

12am KU DE TA – from Bali with BTK (chillout tracks)

2am THE CHILLOUT – Rob James

MAYOR OPENS NEW COMMUNITY RADIO STUDIOS

The Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Catriona Morris officially opened the new studios of the community radio station, MKFM this week.

The brand new, state of the art radio studios in Northfield will be used by MKFM to broadcast local news, information and music alongside the existing ‘studio pod’ outside Xscape as the station prepares for its fourth FM trial broadcast month.

The new studio complex will provide improved facilities for the radio station, including a broadcast newsroom which will enable it to increase its local news coverage and introduce some new community based programmes including a local arts review show on a Sunday with Nancy Stevens.

It will also be used to train the dozens of aspiring broadcasters who volunteer with the radio station and to run workshops for local students.

MKFM Programme Director, Chris Gregg says the new studio will make a big difference: “The existing ‘pod’ is important to us because it lets our listeners see that we’re here, we’re local and we’re broadcasting live from MK but we needed more space.  The new studio will enhance what we can do behind the scenes as we work towards a permanent FM license”.

MKFM will be broadcasting on 107 FM from 24th November until 21st December with a limited ‘trial’ license.  There are two more trial broadcasts planned over the next year, followed by an application for a permanent license in around 12 months.  The radio station has to wait until the end of next year to apply for a permanent license due to the current community radio licensing system.

MKFM Commercial Director, Darren Dorrington explained why the radio station was established: “We think Milton Keynes is an important city with a unique identity which should have its own dedicated local radio station.  We’re a not for profit organisation committed to broadcasting high quality programmes with local news, travel, school closures, sports coverage and details of local events and supporting charities, community groups and local businesses”

To find out more about MKFM and to volunteer visit www.mkfm.com