Banbury's Radio Horton extends service to Katharine House Hospice

Following the successful partnership with local performing arts group, Voices Across Time, on developing a radio programme for hospital patients and care home residents, Radio Horton secured funding to purchase internet radios to supply to local care homes and hospices.

The purchase meant the radio station could provide a local broadcasting service for hospitals, hospices, residential homes and similar institutions, and wherever possible, provide a similar service within the local community to assist patients receiving 'Care in the Community.'

The internet radios were purchased with funding from Banbury Town Council’s Emergency Battle Fund, from UK manufacturer, Roberts – who also supplied free battery packs, making the radio completely portable so it can be moved between rooms within care homes.

Radios are currently installed in seven local care homes across Banbury, with Radio Horton receiving a positive reception from care home staff, residents and their relatives, especially during the first lockdown when family members were unable to visit their loved ones.

Radio Horton has focused its programme schedule to suit a variety of audiences, with a selection of presenter led broadcasts comprising of musical entertainment or speech and crafted with hospital patients and care home residents in mind.

The station is currently exploring programme development and the provision of interactive listener content such as sing-along sessions, light exercises, interviews, stories, and special features produced by care home residents or staff, and hopes to pilot this service in 2021.

Last week, Radio Horton delivered a radio to the Katharine House Hospice, a charity that provides specialist palliative care for adults with life limiting conditions across North Oxfordshire, South Northamptonshire and South Warwickshire.

Radio Horton Chair Sam Smette said: “We are delighted to provide a radio to the Katharine House Hospice. This earmarks the beginning of a renewed relationship with the hospice and we look forward to bringing our radio service to residents and service users, whom we hope will be able to benefit from listening to our programmes and hearing the voices of our friendly volunteers on the airwaves."

Radio Horton has previously supported the Katharine House Hospice on providing public address and entertainment at a number of its community events including the Midnight Walk and the Santa Fun Run, although these have been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Sam added: “We would like to thank everybody at the Katharine House Hospice for their support in and recognising the value of hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting”.

Molly Davies, marketing and communications assistant at Katharine House Hospice, said: “Thank you so much for sharing Radio Horton with the hospice. I know we are all very excited about having in house access to our local radio team.”

“Sharing music and stories helps #MakeEveryMomentMatter for our patients and their families and all of us here at Katharine House. It is a great way to bring us all together and support our local community.”

In the coming weeks, residents can look forward to special broadcasts including a virtual live-streamed carol service from a Banbury Church, and a selection of festive content.