About

Switch Radio began life under its previous name, Vale FM, when it was formed by residents from the Castle Vale estate in north east Birmingham.

The mid 90s was a period of huge change for Castle Vale. With an ambitious 12 year regeneration project having kicked off in 1993, the residents decided the area needed its own radio station to provide a focal point for all of the changes. Vale fm launched in July 1995, broadcasting on a 28 day restricted service licence from a studio in Concorde Tower, one of 32 high rise blocks in Castle Vale that were eventually demolished as part of the re-development.

The charity was awarded a 5 year Ofcom community radio licence in 2008. With the new station needing to target a much wider geographical area than Castle Vale, Vale fm became Switch Radio and the station launched in April 2010.

Presented and produced by trained volunteers, between 1995 – 2005 the station broadcast over 750 interviews with community members and became a creative hub for volunteers looking to get involved in music and speech radio production. The station even broadcast a message from HM The Queen when she visited Castle Vale in 1998.

262 unemployed people enrolled on level 1 and 2 courses with 187 gaining a recognised qualification.

Over 700 young people participated in radio projects delivered in partnership with a range of schools and youth agencies.

First published in 2000, the charity took over the reins in 2004. From humble origins as an unedited 8 page, half colour publication, Vale Mail is now a 24 page full colour newspaper carrying over 700 articles each year.