About GFM
GFM is a not-for-profit community radio station run entirely by volunteers. We broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a potential audience of 37,000 listeners. Our programmes cover a variety of different genres, local business and community issues, the local landscape and heritage, as well as output for and by young people.
GFM provides a voice for individuals and organisations with over 60 different local community groups on air each year.
Our new transmitter has enabled us to offer an improved service to a wider listening audience.
Our Directors
Aimee Coelho - Director
Aimee is a freelance journalist, teacher and head of Media Studies and teacher of English Literature at Millfield School. Her passion for media started at Hospital Radio Plymouth when she was a teenager and from that point, she has had a love for the airwaves.
She is keen to help young people who aspire to work in the media as well as keeping her community aspect of GFM alive.
Mell Turford - Director
Mell has worked on numerous project with GFM in previous years going back to 2007 and joined the GFM Board of Directors in 2019. He has taught Broadcast media and Multimedia at numerous colleges and was Head of Broadcast Media at Strode College.
Currently working freelance as a producer of audio and video material along with live camera production/filming production. Radio is his first passion “it is an immediate media that connect with people quickly”.
Ian Liversidge - Chair
Ian joined GFM as a volunteer presenter many years ago in response to an article in the paper asking for volunteers. He became a volunteer Director in 2015. His passion is supporting local musicians and being part of the community radio station. He brings his experience and expertise in local live music events to the Board of Directors, raising thousands of pounds for the station.
Liz Gilbert - Director
Having been involved with the station since the temporary broadcast trials in 2005 and presenting live shows since 2007 Liz joined the Board of Directors in 2017. She brings her skills in production and administration to the running of the radio station ensuring the communities of Glastonbury, Wells and Street continue to benefit from a well managed community radio station.
Joanne Schofield - Station Development
Joanne Schofield joined the GFM Board of Directors in 2017 having supported and advised on the initial application for a licence in her capacity as Director of Bristol Community radio station (BCFM). She teaches radio production skills and spent 3 years working at HMP Eastwood Park and previously with City of Bristol College. She is a freelance radio producer for BBC Radio 2 working on Faith In The World and spent 6 months working for Radio 4 on The Listening Project. She currently freelances with BBC local radio.
Phil Gibbons - Secretary
Phil was a founding member of Bristol’s first Community radio station – Bristol Community 93.2fm in 2004, where he was a Director and station manager responsible for overall control of the business, station and output until 2012 and has previously been Chair of the Community Media Association which Champions community radio.
He has been a tutor and lecturer at university and college level for over fifteen years and is also a presenter with SVfm and Gfm.
The Story So Far…
Only in Glastonbury could a community radio station start life in a bowls club with several short term broadcasts (thank you Wirral Park) 2003 – 2007; use a black tin can at a football stadium to launch as a community radio station in April 2009 (thank you Glastonbury FC); follow that up with a move to a historic, derelict building, itself in the process of being transformed into a community hub (thank you Red Brick Building) and then decide not only to raise the money (£24,000) but also to build two studios and finally to improve transmission across the area (thanks to a grant from Mendip District Council). That’s the story of GFM in a nutshell – and it is a nutshell.
“They had a dream”
… Abba
“Let’s work together”
… Canned Heat
“Celebration “
… Kool & The Gang
“There’s something in the air”
…Thunderclap Newman
Who’d have thought we would have our own stage at the Godney Gathering, an annual song writing competition, an outdoor stage at the Glastonbury Fringe: a presence at the Wells Moat Boat Race, Glastonbury Frost Fayre, Glastonbury Road run and many other community events. There’s a lot to be proud of in what we’ve done. So many community groups, organisations and businesses have found their voice on the radio. Lots of volunteers have gained new skills, gained confidence and learned how to provide the many, varied and unique programmes that make up GFM. That’s the story so far.