Tel: 01443 406111

Fax: 01443 492744

PRESS RELEASE - IMMEDIATE

Community Radio Station GTFM 107.9 is helping to boost take-up of the Welsh language in the SouthWalesValleys by increasing the number of shows it broadcasts in Welsh.

GTFM, a registered charity based in Pontypridd and serving RCT County Borough, is bringing Welsh to more Valleys listeners by increasing the number of hours it devotes to the language from 4 to 5 each week, an increase of 25%.

Station Manager Terry Mann says: “We are delighted to be able to reflect growing interest in Welsh by introducing a new Saturday breakfast programme”.

‘Brecwast Cymraeg’ is on air from 7-8am and is presented by Kate Griffiths and Aled Humphreys and is part of the station’s new Spring programme schedule, designed by Programme Co-ordinator, Rebecca Francis-Jones. The new Saturday show is presented in Welsh with English paraphrasing and features a mixture of Welsh and English language music. Among its regular features are ‘the artist of the week’ and a run-down of local Menter Iaith (learning Welsh) events.

Ioan Dyer, who heads up GTFM’s Welsh language team says: ‘It’s great we’ve been able toincrease Welsh language output on GTFM and to offer different styles of programming through the week.GTFM is very involved in the community so is able to promote events, including local opportunities to learn the language’

The station’s Welsh speaking volunteers have won Interlink Volunteering Awards two years running for their efforts to promote the Welsh language. One of these was for an entertaining weekday morning ‘Learning Welsh’ in which Chris Mason teaches breakfast presenter Becci some useful words and phrases. The station also broadcasts a Welsh language news bulletin on weekday afternoons at 3pm, courtesy of BBC Radio Cymru.

GTFM’s other dedicated Welsh shows are: ‘Y Clwb Cymraeg’, a live magazine programme on Tuesdays from 7-10pm featuring Welsh language music, local and national sport, regular features on what’s new on S4C and a comprehensive run down of the local menter iaith events and: ‘Yr Awr Fawr’, presented by Gary Ellis on Sundays from 7-8pm, playing ‘chilled-out’ Welsh language music as well as promoting local events.

For more information or to organise follow-up interviews contact Angharad Welsh by emailing or phoning 01443 406111

Notes to Editors

GTFM pioneered Community Radio in Walesin 2002. The station provides the only full-time ‘on-air’ local radio service specifically for Pontypridd and RCT residents and operates the only radio newsroom in the County Borough. The station has five staff and around 100 volunteers and is supported by a combination of grant funding, donations and commercial advertising revenue.

Gtfm (South Wales) Ltd. Registered Charity Number 1111030

Registration Number 4874619 Registered Office and Postal Address:

Pinewood Studios, Pinewood Avenue,Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd CF37 5EA.