Lucas Benjamin, Voluntary Presenter
Voluntary Presenters
Our small community radio station wouldn't be what it is today without the help, dedication and support of all our voluntaries.
Countless numbers of people have passed through Saint FM willing to learn and volunteer their time in producing radio. Since we began in 2005 we have also been heavily involved in getting the youth of the Island interested in radio production. With the youngest voluntaries only 10 years old, the station has attracted the interest and wide-eyed enthusiasm of a number of youth who produce unaided weekly and bi-weekly shows.
Media studies students in the local high school, Prince Andrew School have also used our facilities in the process of their IGCSE courses with advise and guidance from our staff.
In addition to our younger voluntaries and students we also actively take part in 'work >>
x
experience' schemes whereby students in their finial years of study at Prince Andrew School can work alongside our team on a weekly basis to get a feel of the working environment whilst learning the various aspects of radio production, news gathering and writing.
The success of this is shown in the number of students who return on completion of the work scheme to volunteer their time. Donna Crowie and Sinead Green are just two of the stations new staff members who originally came to Saint FM through a work experience scheme and eventually became a part of the team as full time production assistants.
The number of voluntaries working at the station at any given week varies between 30 to 40 dedicated individuals. Catering for a wide range of musical tastes, our voluntary presenters make up the back bone of the stations identity and local flavour. >>
See the face behind the
scene. Here are a few of our
many voluntary & guest presenters past and present. [24photos]
Whilst
arguably country fans rank in high in our listenership, fans of
rock, pop and reggae also contribute and shape the sound of the
station with hundreds of requests and dedications received on a
weekly bases. Changing the way people listen to radio on
St Helena our voluntaries continue to entertain and inform. 
Send in message or request in to the DJ currently in studio.
We welcome stories, news items and articles to Saint FM/St Helena Independent.
Special DJ's
Samara Thomas and Lucas Benjamin (pictured left), two students from the learning support unit at Prince Andrew School did their work experience at Saint FM, for three [half] days a week. A bit shy to start with they soon settled in and got involved as much as possible, which included various activities such as cataloguing CDs and records and typing out invoices and delivering them. For the most part they were popular co-presenters on the morning shows. Where they got to choose the music, and announce LIVE on the show. >>
Samara and Lucas have continue to show a keen interest in radio production and they both appear regularly on day time programmes.
In addition, Sandy Francis, their helper also got the radio bug and was presenting side by side with the two young enthusiasts. Although both Samara and Lucas have speech difficulties, they weren’t letting any of their disabilities hold them back and their enthusiasm proved to be forces to be reckoned with.
All of us at Saint FM thoroughly enjoyed having Samara and Lucas working side by side with us for their seven week work experience scheme. >>
Since the work experience scheme ended, Lucas has gone on to become one of the stations most popular DJ's. An avid country fan, Lucas produces his own country shows on Sundays and bi-Wednesdays. Originally co-presenting alongside other voluntary presenters, Lucas soon learned to handle and operate the equipment on his own. Having overcome nerves and a speech impediment, Lucas continues to entertain us with his wit and love of country music.
Saint FM Today
Today Saint FM currently has four full time radio staff who produce and present between them, roughly 62 hours a week along with a part-time office assistant all ensuring the station runs smoothly on a daily basis.
In addition we presently have 45 dedicated Voluntary Presenters who produce some 50 hours a week along with countless youth members visiting us each weekend. >>
In addition to great music varying from everything from rock, pop, country and the classics throughout each day, we strive to bring you all the advertisements, entertainment news, and vacancies as and when we receive them. >>
News (in the form of local bulletins, international news bulletins and local and international sports bulletins) is broadcast everyday on the hour every hour starting at 7am through to 2pm, 4:15pm, 7pm, 9:30 and 11:30pm - being updated all the time and refreshed to ensure little as possible is repeated. Weekend news currently airs at 3pm and 7pm.
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