Community Radio for Dunfermline and the West Fife Area
Radio West Fife (SCIO) – SCIO number: SC048378
Radio West Fife is the online community radio station for Dunfermline and the West Fife area. We started our online broadcasts in 2012, although we have been serving the West Fife community for many years as the hospital radio station broadcasting to Dunfermline’s hospitals.
Way back in 1953 a group of enthusiastic Pars fans started providing commentary on home games to patients in the old West Fife Hospital. In the 1970s music programming on Radio West Fife started providing a hospital radio service to patients in Dunfermline’s hospitals. In 2012, with changes to hospital in-patient provision in Fife Radio West Fife became on online station broadcasting to the wider Dunfermline and West Fife communities. We have continued to adapt in that period and have been pursuing options to bring a wider community radio service to Dunfermline and West Fife.
With OFCOM (which regulates broadcasting in the UK) developing opportunities for new community radio stations we are actively looking forward to delivering a broader based, more widely accessible community radio station for Dunfermline and the West Fife area. We hope to be making announcements on these plans in the coming months. Dunfermline is both a distinct and vibrant community and we want to be at the heart of West Fife life providing both opportunities for community groups and individuals to showcase what they’re doing as well as the opportunity to let the people from Dunfermline and West Fife be part of creating a distinctive, locally based radio station.
We are also looking at how we can work with other organisations in West Fife to create a positive hub for media and broadcasting based in Dunfermline. It’s an exciting time and if you or your organisation want to be part of this then please get in touch. Oh! And stay tuned for more announcements as we progress our exciting plans.
Let us know about your events, gigs, groups and interests.
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Send us links or contact details about local music.
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If you are interested in being part of the Radio West Fife story whether as a presenter, producer or helping behind the scenes:
Contact us: info@radiowestfife.scot Telephone 01383 435988
Radio West Fife offers professionally produced, low cost advertising packages that could be helping your business grow in West Fife and beyond. If your business is interested in advertising on Radio West Fife:
Contact us: business@radiowestfife.scot Telephone 01383 435988
You can also find out more about how you get get involved with Radio West Fife here.
Past and Present
Radio West Fife is one of Scotland’s oldest hospital radio stations and continues to broadcast to the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year alongside our online service and mobile through the TuneIn app for your smartphone or tablet.
Like many hospital radio stations we can trace our origins to volunteers who provided football commentary from East End Park to patients in the West Fife Hospital. This continued for many years. Like many hospital radio stations in the late 1960s and early 1970s the station started regular programming of music and chat. From our humble first studio in little more than a cupboard in West Fife hospital to broadcasting from a shed in the grounds of the West Fife Hospital, the station has grown considerably. This has been due to the tremendous amount of support we have received from our local community both in time and generous donations.
Following a spell of broadcasting from a caravan at Milesmark Hospital, the station moved to the Lodge at the Dunfermline Maternity Hospital in Izatt Avanue. There we had two studios, a lounge, toilet and kitchen as well as record library. Then we moved to Lynebank Hospital in 1993. These studios were recently demolished due to redevelopment at Lynebank Hospital.
In 2009 the station moved into Queen Margaret Hospital, and a new, purpose-built computerised facility, with state-of-the-art digital equipment equal to many professional broadcasters.
Our most recent and significant development launched on 23rd March 2012 when we started broadcasting as an online community radio station available on the internet and on mobile devices through TuneIn. Our listening figures have continued to grow since then as has our involvement in the local community. The Radio West Fife roadshow can be seen (and heard) throughout the year supporting local gala days and community events.
We have been grateful for the support we have received from local councillors and NHS Fife as well as generous donations from organisations such as Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Constabulary Charity Committee. Most of all we are grateful for the support and donations received from individuals and organisations across West Fife.
In October 2019, due to re-development in Queen Margaret Hospital we had to move out our studio home for the last 10 years. After an exhaustive search we found a new home in Rosyth Business Centre and, after work to build our new studio,we launched broadcasting from our new home on 1st February 2020.
As we move into our next phase of development we will look to play an even bigger part in the life of Dunfermline and West Fife through our continued community involvement and the support of our listeners and supporters. Stay tuned to hear what we’re up to!