Helping homeless people 'find a voice' on radio

A community radio programme is aiming give a voice to the homeless by turning them into radio presenters.

Frome FM's Radio Dusthole gives homeless people in the Mendips the chance to be guests on a monthly show.

James Ball, a presenter and service manager at the homeless charity Julian House, said taking part really helped to build peoples' confidence.

Steve, who was homeless for 27 years and has been in Somerset for the past 18 months said: "We thought it was going to be a disaster just me and James, but we had so much laughter and banter, it was just unreal."

Mr Ball said the initiative was aimed at getting people off the streets and into a home they deserved.

He learned how to use the radio desk from Frome FM and said they had been doing it for nearly a year "but famously the first show we didn't press record so no one will ever get to hear that."

Steve said when he first started he thought he could not do it because he "hasn't got a face nor a voice for radio" but he was "always rattling on" and telling jokes.

The Dusthole in Shepton Mallet used to be a well known local pub.

During the Covid pandemic, it started taking in rough sleepers and has since been taken over by the charity Julian House which supports people who are vulnerable and at-risk to move on to permanent, secure accommodation.

Steve said when he was in Crewe the "not so nice people are not so nice " but in Somerset everyone was "very, very friendly."

Mr Ball said Steve liked 50s and 60s music, drum and bass and classical artists so "it really reflects the rich tapestry of life."

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