CMA Docs

These pages feature a collection of information and guidance from a range of sources on responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak for our members and the wider community media sector. We will endeavour to keep these pages updated as the situation develops.

The Community Media Association has published the support that we can offer to people and organisations within our sector – that information can be found below.

The Government’s latest advice on the coronavirus outbreak is published here as to the personal steps that we each can take to help combat the epidemic.

We have collated lots of useful links on fundraising here.

Go to this page here for information on business continuity.

Links to useful techical advice can be found here.

We will post general information links here.

Our number one priority for the foreseeable future is to support people who work in the community media sector and their projects and organisations. We want as strong a sector as possible for when we emerge on the other side of this crisis.

These are the first steps that we are taking to help community radio stations and other community media projects:

• We will liaise with Ofcom and act as an effective conduit of information between the regulator and the sector. We have published information here with regard to fulfilling Key Commitments.
• We will liaise with DCMS and act to convey our sector’s needs and requirements to the Department.
• We will liaise with Public Health England, NHS England, and the other equivalent health bodies to ensure that our sector has up-to-date information on the current situation for broadcast.
• For Ofcom-licensed community radio stations and other funded projects, a priority is to stay in business. We advise that all current contracts are fulfilled with funding bodies and other third parties.
• We ask that our sector thinks about what help they can offer their communities with regard to the current health crisis.

Community media projects can consider contacting their local councils who will have an emergency team in place and will have a coordinating contact. Community radio stations and other community media organisations might decide to liaise with their local council offices to see if they can assist with any local information and press releases.

We intend to collect intelligence from across the sector so that we can understand what is needed and we will do our best to communicate to the DCMS and Ofcom about the short and long-term financial implications for the sector.

The government announced its budget for 2020-21 on Wednesday 12 March. This included a pledge of £12 billion worth of support for public services, individuals and businesses that may experience economic disruption due to Coronavirus. This includes a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. More information on this can be found here.

If you represent an Ofcom-licensed community radio station then please contact the Broadcast Licensing Team at Ofcom in the event of any possible change to your station’s ability to meet its Key Commitments.

We have also set up a central email address for enquiries on this matter – you may email the CMA using covid19@commedia.org.uk.

We will be collating queries on a central basis. This will make it easier for us to feedback to DCMS on where our sector requires further help and guidance.

The best way to keep abreast of the latest news can be found at: www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

In addition, more information on specific areas can be found here:

• Guidance for employers and businesses
• FCO travel advice
• Coronavirus (Covid-19) – advice for BBC staff (could be useful for community media projects)
• Public Health England has published a Q&A about the virus on their blog
• Advice for patients is available on NHS Choices regarding symptoms

We will endeavour to keep these pages updated as and when guidance and information changes.