John White

The money will help pay for Synergy's proposed second 28-day broadcasting licences. The Bedlington-based station has received £1000 from the Co-op's Community Fund and £3000 from the Sir James Knott Trust of Newcastle. The organisation behind the broadcasting project is the South Northumberland Radio Group which organised the successful four weeks of live programming "“ which included contributions from numerous community groups - on air for listeners in south east Northumberland in March 2012. Its chairman Colin Heathcote said: "Receiving the two grants just before Christmas was a real tonic. Fund-raising in the current difficult financial climate is very hard with so many voluntary groups and charities chasing an ever-diminishing pot of money. "We have built a tremendous support base which is reflected by the wide variety of local and regional funders, and listeners here and overseas, who believe in what we are trying to achieve: a genuinely accessible community radio station that will provide the type of broadcasting service the area's residents deserve." He added: "We look forward to adding to our funding total in 2013 when we hope to achieve not only a second successful Ofcom-approved restricted service licence broadcast on FM and on-line, but also progress on plans for a five-year full-time licence."