Health and wellbeing groups around Highland Perthshire are being encouraged to share their knowledge on a local radio show.
Heartland FM in Pitlochry now runs a weekly hour-long segment on health and wellbeing issues in the local area.
Running every Wednesday lunchtime, the show’s presenters are now keen to hear about what groups in the area are getting up to.
A spokesperson said: “Living in a rural setting has many and obvious advantages but equally there are also disadvantages.
“One area that is always flagged up during any community consultations is the access to information and advice about the new integrated health and social care plans.
“Heartland FM identified the need for better dissemination of facts, service providers, eligibility, and consistency in delivery of crucial information.
“We set up a weekly radio show which lasts an hour on Wednesdays at noon, to feature at least three interviewees each week on related health and wellbeing topics.
“The topics can vary widely, as would be expected given the enormity of the subject matter.
“From very local transport issues which create difficulties for employment, hospital visits, access to doctors and dentists and befriending schemes in very rural areas, to national charities and campaigns, we cover as much as is available.”
The spokesperson continued: “The programme is repeated on a Saturday morning at 9am, the interviews are uploaded as podcasts and accessed through our website as a listen again service on SoundCloud, and can also be sent out to participants and third parties to be distributed via their networks.
“Heartland FM also promotes them via social media and feeds them into our new online magazine IRIS.
“Here the audio or video links are embedded into the pages and copy written given further details and contact information along with photographs.
“The information they contain is important to our community and using numerous platforms to complement the traditional FM broadcast helps us achieve that.
“The show has gained a big following with our social media figures and podcast downloads giving very positive feedback.
“We are delighted that this show won second place for the best community radio programme at the 2019 Community Radio Awards.
“To be in the top five in the UK is a great achievement as the show only began regular transmission in early 2019.
“We would like to encourage as many groups who have health and wellbeing services, beneficial to the Highland Perthshire area, to get in touch to discuss the options available to bring your topic or service to air.”
Those interested can contact Alistair Smith, the station’s manager, on 01796 474040 or email station.manager@heartlandfm.co.uk
