101.8 WCR FM

101.8 WCR FM is a unique and vibrant community radio station that serves the city of Wolverhampton, England, including Bilston and Wednesfield. Established as the Wolverhampton Community Radio Association back in 1986, it has been operating as WCR FM since 1996. Over the years, the station has been known by several names, including \"Challenge FM\", \"Forge FM\", \"One City FM\", \"Wolverhampton Campus Radio\", and currently \"101.8 WCR FM\". The station is a non-profit organization that is sustained by over 10,000 voluntary hours per year and is regulated by OFCOM​​. WCR FM provides a valuable platform for training and emergence of new broadcasting talent, where students and trainees can learn professional-level skills in all areas of audio-media production. Many of the volunteers go on to develop careers in various aspects of the media​​. Broadcasting on the VHF frequency of 101.8 under an Ofcom - Community Radio license, WCR FM operates from a purpose-developed three-studio broadcast, production, and training complex on the second floor of the Mander Centre. The station offers a mix of speech, specialist, and niche programming with a commitment to cover at least 30% of its total output in speech content. This is achieved primarily by a weekday lunchtime magazine show and a local news/current affairs series. The station also offers a broadcasting platform for various ethnic and community groups in Wolverhampton, a city with a mixed-race population of approximately 260,000​​.