About Us
A Voice For Bath
What we do
Radio Bath is a volunteer radio station broadcasting online and on DAB across Bath, North East Somerset and West Wiltshire
Our Aims:
- To give a voice to our many local communities, and in particular under-represented and under-served individuals or groups in the city and the surrounding areas
- To provide a local voluntary radio station as a training and recreational facility for individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances
- To promote racial harmony by promoting knowledge and understanding of the diversity of heritage, history and cultures within the community
- To advance public health and prevent or relieve sickness through the promotion of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of maintaining good personal mental and physical health
- To advance education, in particular but not exclusively in vocational education and training in audio and general broadcasting skills
Our Founders
Radio Bath was conceived in 2019 by Steve Fountain and Simon McNeill-Ritchie who were joined by Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE to complete our founding team.
Simon McNeill-Ritchie
Simon is a former British diplomat, corporate finance adviser and two times national award-winning social entrepreneur. He was also previously the Mayor of Bradford-On-Avon.
Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE
Loraine was born in Bath and has lived in the city all of her life. She is passionate about Bath and has devoted many years to its many causes. In 2002 she became the 775th Mayor of Bath. Her business Morgan Brinkhurst Consultancy works with businesses and charities managing events and promotional activities. In 2010 she was awarded an MBE from the Queen for her services to the area of Bath & North East Somerset and for her charity work.
Legal Structure
Radio Bath is registered as a foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The CIO format offers the benefits associated with being both a charity and an incorporated company, but only requires it to register with and report to the Charity Commission. The charity element of the CIO provides organisations with better access to funding and sponsorship, and exemption from certain taxes. It also qualifies for Gift Aid, making them more attractive to individual donors. The company element of the CIO provides ‘limited liability’ protection to trustees, and allows the organisation to enter into contracts, hold assets and conduct business in its own right.
If you have a complaint or concern regarding Radio Bath please contact our Programme Controller Steve Fountain via email at steve@radiobath.com. You can also view information from our regulator Ofcom regarding how to complain here.
Board of Trustees
We currently have three trustees with considerable professional experience of both the radio industry and the charity sector.
Colin Blackburn
Colin started work in Bath in 1985, spent 25 years in an export career, working across the global. Married with two teenage children, Colin relocated back to Bath in 2011. Colin was elected as an Independent councillor to Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2015 and still serves the ward of Westmoreland. A director in 3 companies managing work experience programmes for students, he also coaches Junior Rugby for Bath RFC.
David Hobdey
David has broad experience gained from senior leadership roles (executive and non-executive) in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. He was CEO of St John’s Foundation in Bath, one of the UK’s oldest charities, until July 2024, which followed experience as a finance director in the NHS. David is a chartered accountant and, earlier in his career, specialised in corporate finance. He serves as trustee/director of a small number of other local charities in the Bath region as well as Radio Bath. They are all share aims focused on tackling stark inequalities in our region that impact significantly on the lives of too many members of our communities
Susanna Jones
Susanna had a 17-year career in commercial radio, including News Editor, Breakfast show co-host, Sports Show host and News Project Manager looking after the training and development needs of more than 100 journalists across the country. Susanna also worked for 15 years in the Voluntary Sector, including 9 years as Chief Executive of Swindon Carers Centre, a charity supporting more nearly 6000 unpaid carers.