The Charity Commission - Failing in it's duties
Setting up a new charity is expected to be a precise and well regulated process, such things take time, that is only to be expected. What used to apparently take around 4 weeks is now expected to take 16 - 20 weeks. Quite a difference - but tolerable to a point.
Incompetent or under funded?
At the time of writing we have just reached the 20 week anniversary of our application being submitted. The C.C. makes it very clear that they won't offer updates on progress or receive requests for information or expected dates of completion of any application at any stage. But, imagine our frustration when, so frustrated at no news at all for months, we finally insisted the agency handling our application should push for news on our position.
Not good news
Our agents were told that our application had not yet even been allocated to anyone in the C.C. office for processing, after 20 weeks of patient waiting that is just unacceptable. By now we should be receiving notice of our registration and thus able to start our fund raising campaigns to enable our studio development and live broadcasts to begin.
Further action
Rest assured we are not going to sit back and just wait in the dark for someone to process our now urgent application. The C.C. blame under funding and low staff levels for the delays, but that's not our problem, we expect and want a much better service. Rest assured we are taking steps to pursue that with immediate effect.
Be a part of the Big Ear Radio Team
Have you ever wanted to get into Radio?
Especially a station that is different, globally reaching and with an important mission?
Big Ear Radio is looking for bright and enthusiastic volunteers to help us as we build the world's most important unifying platform dedicated to influencing the social integration of those living with a disability or disadvantage, into society.
We want to build a truly equal society
To do that, we need more creative passionate people who really want to be a part of a the change in global attitudes, setting the pace of improvement, sharing information, news, achievements, initiatives, successes and challenges.
Could that be you?
You can work remotely from wherever you are in the World, all you need is to be connected online and have something to bring to the table! As a global station aiming to reach in excess of a billion people around the world we need many hands to share the work and deliver interesting and important content our listeners will love.
What are we looking for?
We can always use input from - Musicians, Writers, Experts, Medics, Life Guru's, Presenters, Reporters, Charities, Campaigners, Achievers, Scientists, Educators, Enterprise Coaches and so much more. Our listeners are hungry for great listening... and that's why we need you on board!
Contact Trevor Krueger now and tell him why you think you deserve a place on the Big Ear Radio Team?
So what are you waiting for? Go to our contact page and send a message that will impress us and - let's talk!
And... if you have a disability that doesn't hold you back from being a real advocate for equality... we especially want to hear from you!
We're so sorry!
Our Emails had a glitch!
We only just discovered that we've been having a problem with incoming messages.
Basically they've been ending up in a SPAM folder and not reaching our desk.
We are so sorry about that and we will be checking on every message awaiting a reply and getting back to you ASAP!
Needless to say, as soon as we realised there was a problem we set our best operative on the case to resolve it. As you can see there are plenty of tools to use but the best one in the box is "common sense"... we'll be using a lot more of that in future!
We only employ the best!
This little chap is a Doozer. You might remember them from Fraggle Rock. Well, when the TV series ended they were all looking for work, so we took on a few here at Big Ear Radio.
When they are not in the canteen drinking hot chocolate and comparing their problem solving brilliance, they actually do a very good job of keeping us going.
Thank you Doozers, there will be extra Jelly Babies in your pay packet this week.
DISABILITY PRIDE
Roland Chesters writes...
I have a confession to make. I was asked to write a piece to mark Disability Pride about a month ago. And I sat on it. I prevaricated. Because I didn’t know what to write. The concept of ‘disability’ and ‘pride’ was an alien one to me. July is Disability Pride month. But, for me, the two words sit very oddly together. I am not ‘proud’ of the fact that I live with a number of non-visible disabilities. It’s just who I am – or, more accurately, who I have become, as I was only first diagnosed 16 years ago. And please don’t give me all of that ‘you’re so courageous’, ‘you’re so brave’ – do I (did I) have a choice? In the disability world this is described as ‘inspirational porn’ - the idea that disabled people's otherwise ordinary activities should be considered extraordinary solely because of disability.
So, what do I have to be proud of?
Perhaps, like many people who become disabled later in life (I was 46) it meant having to figure out again who I was, what I was, what my goals were. It was a life interrupted. A (long) period of grieving for who I once was followed by excitement and anticipation of building a new me. And then the tedium of day-to-day life resumes. Can I be proud of that? Perhaps not, given that this experience is by no means unique to me. Perhaps I can be proud of speaking up and speaking out about living with a still hugely stigmatized condition: HIV and AIDS. Recent research by the Terrence Higgins Trust shows that just 30% of people say they are comfortable dating someone living with HIV and fewer than two in five (37%) being comfortable kissing someone living with HIV. This comes despite it being clear since the start of the epidemic that HIV can’t be passed on through kissing or any other day-to-day contact including sharing cutlery or holding hands. (https://www.tht.org.uk/news/public-attitudes-hiv-stuck-1980s). Can I be proud of that? Again, I am not the only one.
And so, I delayed. Waiting for inspiration. Hoping that something would happen before the end of July which will give me the spark to write this piece. And two days ago, that did happen.
My bit for the Commonwealth
Earlier this year I was commissioned to deliver disability awareness training to the organisation that is responsible for the recruitment, management and training of volunteers participating in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Commonwealth Games being held in Birmingham, UK. That organisation wanted to make sure that the opportunity to participate as a volunteer in this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity was made available to all. The range of reasonable adjustments presented by those wishing to be selected as volunteers was impressive and so the training I delivered was intensive and exhaustive – but fun!
That made my heart sing
As a result of having delivered this training I was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony at the Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham on Tuesday evening, just two days ago. I had no idea what to expect. By the time this piece is published the Opening Ceremony will have taken place and perhaps you will have been one of the many watching it on television and you too, like I was, will have been amazed and impressed by the spectacle unfolding before you. But for me, in that moment, at that time, I finally, finally, understood what Disability Pride stands for. Amongst the 2000 volunteers participating in that event – dancing, marshalling, moving equipment, selling merchandise – were quite a number of people with visible disabilities, clearly having the time of their lives. Being included. In exactly the same way that all the other volunteers were being included. And that moved me. That made my heart sing. That…that…that made me so very proud. So very Disability Proud.
Martin "The Warrior" Warrillow "Stroke Survivor" to join Big Ear Radio
You always hear about life-changing moments?
Mine was in 2013. Only 49 years old. Husband. 30 years in journalism.
I collapsed while crossing a busy road in Tamworth, with half of my body paralysed; I crawled to the kerb, sparing only seconds from being hit by a passing bus...
I'd had a stroke!
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in the UK, attacking one in six people with no warning. I believe I was lucky to have survived!
I personally believe my life-changing stroke was a direct result of working long, unsocial hours in a stressful environment and high-pressure lifestyle.
I am proof that a stroke can happen to anyone at any age...
So what do I do next? Well... I'm on a mission to share my story, educate the importance of a work/life balance and show that my stroke does not define me...
I'll be joining Big Ear Radio to share my ongoing story, "life-change" advice, and insights plus interviews with other Stroke Survivors, top medics and much more.
Monthly features will be added to Big Ear's output in due course along with links to my popular Podcasts.
Introducing: Flutterby the Butterfly
Big Ear Radio is known as "The Station That Listens to You", why? Let me tell you.
Big Ear Radio operates as a Not for Profit Charity. We trade to generate income so we can deliver programs and content to encourage improved social integration, for all living with a disability or a disadvantage.
All profits, above our running costs, are distributed to help as many people as we can, right around the World.
Initially, we are here to entertain everyone, but beyond that, we're here to pass on useful information, celebrate achievements, educate and support our listeners and generally improve life and opportunities for self development - wherever we can.
We aim to provide a unifying platform for all, including the many globally spread charities and NGO's, who also work to support those in need in a wide variety of ways.
In order to do that we need to know what's going on in the World!
How do we encourage information to reach us?
Well, that's where our wonderful Ambassador "Flutterby the Butterfly" comes in.
As you'll see, he's a very beautiful and friendly creature. He's colourful, smiley and equipped with an incredible pair of "Big Ear Wings". He can listen very closely to what's going on, as he flies around the World keeping a caring eye on everyone.
And Flutterby is very much like many of our listeners.
Apart from being very beautiful and kind, he is a creature of colour, is unable to speak and is without arms too. It's just as well his smile is as big as any hug could ever be.
He loves to listen and tell us where the help is needed, so if you see Flutterby, you'll know he's there and listening to you with both Big Ears!
How can you reach Flutterby's Big Ears?
Easy, send him an email, care of: bigearradio1@gmail.com - He's very good at sending replies.
And keep listening to Big Ear Radio, there's always something great to listen to!
Annette Caster our virtual voice with the news
Radio stations need a lot of voices and we are lucky to have so many great volunteer presenters to host our shows, but we always need more.
It's also important to have the right voice for each task, not everyone is suited to everything.
So, we had to think of a way we could increase our portfolio of voices quickly and efficiently and, at the same time, demonstrate how we can help anyone present a show, even if they are not naturally blessed with a "radio Voice".
Virtual reality saves the day...
We searched for a solution and found just what we needed. Virtual voice software that enables us to turn any text into the spoken word - quickly and efficiently.
The result is "Annette Caster" our lovely News Presenter. Equipped with a great voice, perfect diction and - she works cheap!
With Annette's help we are able to quickly turn any written news text into audio and relay it to listeners on our station. Currently Annette has presented over 60 five minute news bulletins, each containing 3-4 items and these are included on our program loop and updated every Saturday evening.
What we need is more news - from you
If you would like to submit news items for Annette to present, we would love to hear from you.
Simply send us your written copy that will ideally take no more than 2 minutes to read out. We will edit and convert it into a bulletin for Annette to read-out on her show.
If you'd like to send an item in for consideration, contact: Trevor Krueger c/o Email: bigearradio1@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from - and then you can hear from Annette.
Here's how Annette sounds:
Jesse Kinch Beats Brain Cancer
Jesse Kinch is a young man with immense talent. His performance on TV Talent Show "Rising Stars" in the U.S. Just a few years ago, saw him win the contest and a recording contract. But, suddenly and from nowhere, he was struck down by Brain Cancer, a large tumour not only threatened his career, but his life.
Survival - the strongest instinct
Now, just 2 years later, after major surgery, dedicated nursing and intense rehabilitation therapy, he has shown exactly the sort of true life heroism we love here at Big Ear Radio.
The Big Comeback
A man with a great talent, intense love of music and a ferocious zest for life - could simply NOT be beaten by Brain Cancer.
He fought back, won and is planning his first of many live shows as he aims to rebuild his career.
This weekend - Superstar Josh Groban kept a promise to Jessie, upon his recovery. A guest spot sharing his stage in New York. We can't all beat the big "C" but when some do, and with such zeal, we must celebrate them and give much needed hope to others. Well done Jesse!
Practicing what we preach
The entire reasoning behind Big Ear Radio is to encourage real social progress for our listeners living with disabilities and disadvantage. This is as much of a pleasure for us as it is for the people we support.
Just recently we have been working with Piers and his P.A. Leah, providing work experience in a Wool and Needlecraft shop. We assisted Piers to complete his college course, with essential work experience in the community, designed to improve his motor skills, social communication, patience and care within the working environment.
Piers loved the experience and was always first to offer help to customers, locate what they needed and serve them across the counter.
Overcoming challenges
His Cerebral Palsy presents quite a few challenges, but by learning to be patient and to allow himself the time he needs, he has come-on leaps and bounds. Not only did he assist with the general upkeep of the shop, replenishing stock, bagging items etc, he also processed cash and credit card payments and operated the Till.
We have such a lot of fun and sometimes we laugh so much we actually forget about doing any work!
Piers loves to talk "Politics" and is no fan of Boris Johnson, so when Boris resigned as Prime Minister, he could barely contain his delight!
It has to be said that the experience has benefited everyone, Piers, the Shop Staff, Customers and me! To see his progress and delight at being able to work in the community is priceless.
Piers was especially suited to this sort of environment, a needlecraft shop, because he is also a great knitter!
Hidden benefits
One of the important spin-off benefits we witness when Piers is working in the shop, is the experience our customers also gain through encountering someone with Cerebral Palsy. They also learn patience, respect and a greater understanding of the condition. Realising that behind the physical challenges there is a whip-smart mind, ready to challenge and argue any opinion on any subject and give good advice on knitting.
Just recently, Piers wrote to the Prime Minister to tell him he should do the right thing and "stand down"... and he obviously listened!
The most important progress we have made, it seems, is that he now has the confidence to consider an opportunity to leave home and move into assisted accommodation, fulfilling his determination to achieve true independence.
I have to confess that we genuinely love Piers and are so proud of him and the progress he is making, that we get as much as he does out of the whole experience.
He's quite a star!