A COMMUNITY radio station could go permanently off-air in as little as three months, unless further funding is found.

Swindon 105.5FM, which has broadcast across town airwaves since 2008, needs to raise £40,000 each year to operate and is embarking on its seventh year of finding the funds to stay on the air.

But with just three months of funds left, the Bentley centre-based station could lose signal for good unless donations are found.

Since 2008 station manager and former BBC Wiltshire presenter Shirley Ludford has been tasked with at the helm of reeling in new supporters.

She said: “It’s a good time for us to celebrate seven years as a radio station. Now’s the time to secure our future for the next few years.

“We have enough funding to last until the end of July but we desperately need support from the community.”

Shirley said the station has strong support from the community but it is the work the team do away from the recording booth that really makes a difference.

“It’s about people seeing the work that we do behind the radio shows, there’s so much more than that,” she said.

“It’s the programmes we run, the courses, and the work we do in the community. It means a great deal to us and the people who come here.

“It can change their lives.”

In recent years, the station has met its their costs through grant-funded projects, and donations and friends of the station.

Over the seven years 105.5FM has been notable for welcoming volunteers and trainees with a wide range of disabilities such as visual impairment, learning difficulties and victims of physical abuse.

Station manager Shirley is also known for delivering a range of projects, including a classroom anti-bullying scheme and a Media Savvy course to help community representatives promote their organisations more effectively.

Shirley now has several events planned with the station’s 120 volunteers joining together to come up with new fundraising ideas.

“It shows how much it means to the volunteers and they are really rallying together to help out. It means a lot to them and to the community,” Shirley said.

The station will hold a 60s-themed celebration event at the New Century Club, Gorse Hill on April 24 – headlined by by Locarno Beat featuring Locomotion’s Pete Townsend, female duo The Decibelles and Danny D’s disco – created by a three-year station volunteer who had his life turned around by 105.5FM.

“I’m really looking forward to the event,” Shirley said. “With so many volunteers and trainees they don’t often get the chance to meet so it will be a good chance for them to get to know one another. Businesses will be coming as well, so it’s set to be a good night.”

And community stalwart Shirley is now encouraging loyal listeners to come forward and become friends of the station. “Now’s the time for people to get involved., this is it now, Help us so we can continue serving the community in the years to come,” she added.

Tickets for the event are £5 with all funds raised going towards the station’s costs. For more information or to support the station visit www.swindon1055.com