Radio Glamorgan (RG) is a registered charity (no:504534)

All over the UK, patients can hear music, news and information from their local hospital radio service. There are also a handful of hospital television services.

The Hospital Broadcasting Association is the national body, representing around 260 local stations.

What is the purpose of hospital radio?
Hospital radio aims to provide comfort and entertainment to patients in hospital with a special mix of music and chat. The service also keeps patients in touch with their family and friends with music requests and local news items. Hospital TV programmes, where they are provided, report on events in the community and keep patients informed.

Who are they run by?
All hospital stations are run entirely by volunteers. We have no paid staff and get no regular income from the NHS or other Government sources.

What are the rewards?
The biggest reward for a hospital broadcasting volunteer is a letter from a patient who says thank you for keeping them company at a difficult time. Thanks to new technology, more and more stations are now keep their special service on air for 24 hours a day.

What's involved in being a volunteer in hospital broadcasting?
We provide a special service to hospital patients, but it's not just about presenting programmes! Keeping the station running takes a lot of work, and most stations expect volunteers to help with a range of the jobs involved. That includes ward visiting and request collecting, fundraising activities and cleaning the studio, as well as operating the studio equipment and presenting programmes.

What skills do I need?
You should be able to communicate well in English (a couple of stations in Wales also ask for Welsh speakers). It helps if you are outgoing and enjoy meeting people, especially for collecting requests on the wards or fundraising for your station. You don't need expert knowledge of music, nor any technical expertise - most important is a willingness to learn!

Do I have to go on air?
Most members want to be involved in programmes but you won't be forced to speak on air if you don't want to! You'll be equally welcome if you just want to visit the wards, chat to the patients and collect requests, or if you just want to do the technical side.

How much time will I have to give?
You'll be expected to make a regular commitment, such as one evening a week or fortnight if you're involved with a programme. Plus there may be fundraising events or outside broadcasts at weekends. (Because stations are run by volunteers, most activities happen in the evenings or at weekends.) Presenting a show doesn't just mean turning up at the studio and going on air - it means visiting the wards to collect requests, finding the records in the library, doing the programme, and putting everything away afterwards.

Is there an age limit?
Our volunteers range in age from their mid-teens to retirement, and beyond. Many hospitals have a minimum age limit for volunteers; or the hospital station will set its own limit, often for insurance reasons. Your local station will tell you its policy.

What will it cost?
Annual membership fees vary, but typically it's £15 - £20 a year. Some stations have reduced subs for students and the unwaged, but others don't. You'll have to pay for your own travel to get to the studio and events, and may need a station t-shirt for ward visiting and fundraising.

Are there any reasons why I might not be accepted?
Patients in hospital are vulnerable people, so we need measures to protect them. Most stations will ask you for references, and most hospitals will want to carry out a police check. (Because of the sensitive nature of volunteer work in hospitals, the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not normally apply and all convictions, whether "spent" or not, must be declared.) But you won't be refused because of things like parking fines. If you are concerned about this, ring your local hospital and speak to the Volunteer Services Co-ordinator who will advise you of the local rules.

What training is there?
It varies, but you should first visit the wards with a more experienced member. Then as you move on, you should get an introduction to presenting and a technical course for the equipment. Most stations have an audition for all would-be presenters - and even people who've done hospital, student or professional broadcasting before are expected to take it!

Will hospital broadcasting help my career?
Any voluntary work can be put on your CV to impress a future employer (and that applies to any job, not just the media), but nothing is guaranteed and for every one who's gone on into a job there are hundreds who haven't. Remember too that hospital stations exist to benefit the patients; not as a training academy for would-be journalists and presenters! However, it's all good experience - many professional broadcasters started in hospital stations and we'll be happy to share our skills with you as long as you support a range of station activities.

How do I find my local station?
Contact you local library or volunteer bureau, or try your local hospital or NHS Trust. Or you could look under "Broadcasters" or "Charities" in the phone book. Details are also available from the Hospital Broadcasting Association - see our online membership directory, or contact our Membership Manager by e-mail or telephone (0870 321 6002).

I phoned my local station - but I'm still waiting for a reply?
At most stations, membership enquiries are dealt with by one person who only comes in once a week. And remember that we're all volunteers with family, work and other commitments too. If you ring during the day you'll probably get an answering machine and be asked to leave a message. Leave a daytime and an evening contact number.

What is the Hospital Broadcasting Association?
The Hospital Broadcasting Association is an umbrella organisation representing around 260 local stations in the UK. It provides advice to its member stations, and a central contact point for the public. Not all stations in the UK are members, but most do.

Each hospital station is an individual organisation, run by its own committee with its own rules and way of handling new members. The HBA cannot tell stations how to act in particular situations, although it will advise when asked, and has limited authority to act on behalf of its members. To learn more about the work of this organisation click here