Voices for Good: Terence Starr’s New Channel Radio Show Puts Community Heroes On Air

The stories that hold our communities together deserve to be heard. That is the idea behind Voices for Good, a new Monday show from Channel Radio hosted by Terence Starr.

The show will give airtime to the people working quietly, consistently and often tirelessly to improve life for others across Kent and beyond. These are the charity workers, volunteers, fundraisers, Community Interest Company founders and community project leaders who do the work without always receiving the recognition they deserve.

The first episode airs LIVE on Monday 21 September 2026 from 1:00–2:00 PM, with guests arriving at 12:30 PM for soundcheck at Channel Radio’s Ashford studio. The first guests will be 21 Together CEO Kevan Hodges and Julie Stichbury, and the recording will be available instantly afterwards on the Channel Radio Listen Again autopod.

This is not a formal press interview. It is a relaxed, human conversation about real people, real challenges and practical ways listeners can make a difference.

A new platform for Kent’s community heroes

Good work is happening everywhere, but too much of it remains invisible. A local volunteer gives up their evenings to run a community group. A charity worker supports families through difficult circumstances. A fundraiser turns an idea into vital income. A CIC founder creates opportunities where other services cannot.

These people may not be household names. They may not have large marketing budgets or communications teams. But their work matters.

Voices for Good exists to help those stories travel further.

Terence Starr will invite guests to talk openly about:

• Their personal story and what brought them to their cause
• The charity, CIC, group or project they represent
• The people and communities they support
• The challenges they face behind the scenes
• The difference their work makes locally
• How listeners can get involved, donate, volunteer or show support

You do not need to be a celebrity to have a story worth hearing. You need a genuine connection to your community and a willingness to explain what you are doing and why it matters.

This new show builds on the concept introduced in our earlier live blog post, Introducing Voices for Good: Giving the Unsung Heroes of Our Community the Air Time They Deserve.

The first guests: 21 Together

The first episode begins with an organisation doing important work for children, young people and families.

21 Together is a Kent charity supporting families of people with Down’s syndrome. Its work includes social, educational, wellbeing and community support programmes, alongside advocacy, empowerment and practical support for families and professionals.

For the opening conversation, Terence will be joined by Kevan Hodges, CEO of 21 Together, and Julie Stichbury.

Their appearance will offer listeners the opportunity to understand more about the charity’s purpose, the experiences of the families it supports and the work involved in creating better educational, social and emotional opportunities for children and young people with Down’s syndrome.

You can learn more about 21 Together through its official website, including its Our Impact information and its work around Communicate Together.

This is exactly the kind of conversation Voices for Good was created to make possible: informative, personal and connected to the needs of real families.

What should guests expect?

You do not need to prepare a polished speech. You do not need to sound like a professional broadcaster. You simply need to bring your experience, your perspective and your willingness to have an honest conversation.

Each live show will run from 1:00–2:00 PM and will follow around six relaxed questions. Terence’s role is to guide the discussion, make guests feel comfortable and give listeners a clear understanding of the work being done.

The format is deliberately friendly and accessible. We want guests to feel they are joining a conversation, not facing an interrogation.

Here is what you should expect:

1. Arrive at the studio at 12:30 PM for a welcome, preparation and soundcheck.
2. Meet Terence and the Channel Radio team before the live broadcast begins.
3. Take part in a relaxed live conversation from 1:00–2:00 PM on Monday.
4. Share useful details, including your website, social media pages, donation links or volunteering information.
5. Have the episode made available instantly afterwards on the Channel Radio Listen Again autopod so you can share it with your supporters, members and wider community.
6. Enjoy 90 days of availability on Channel Radio’s Listen Again page, allowing people to hear the conversation back at their convenience.

The show airs live every Monday from 1:00–2:00 PM, and the recording is available instantly afterwards on Channel Radio’s Listen Again autopod.

Recording at Channel Radio’s Ashford studio

The recording takes place at:

Studio 21
Storage King
Wotton Road
Kingsnorth Industrial Estate
Ashford
TN23 6LN

Our aim is to create an environment that feels professional without becoming intimidating. You will have time to settle in, ask questions and raise anything you need before the microphones are switched on.

Accessibility matters. If you have access requirements, communication needs, mobility considerations or anything else that would help you feel comfortable, please tell us when you get in touch. We welcome that information and will do our best to make suitable arrangements.

You are also welcome to provide:

• A headshot
• Your organisation’s logo
• Website and social media links
• Donation or fundraising pages
• Details of volunteering opportunities
• Any accessibility information we should know in advance

Who should apply for a place?

If your work strengthens your community, you could be right for the show.

We are inviting:

• Registered charities
• Community Interest Companies
• Volunteer-led groups
• Fundraisers
• Community project leaders
• People running local support initiatives
• Organisations helping families, young people or vulnerable people
• Individuals creating positive change in Kent communities

You may be supporting health and wellbeing, inclusion, education, the environment, older people, young people, families, arts and culture, local connection or social justice.

The point is not how large your organisation is. The point is the difference you are making.

Book your place on Voices for Good

Participation is free. To get involved or book a spot, email:

voicesforgood@channelradio.co.uk

Please include:

• Your name
• Your organisation or project
• What you do
• Where you work
• Why your story should be heard
• Any headshots or social links you would like us to use
• Any accessibility needs

Places will be arranged around the recording schedule, so do not leave it until the last minute. If you are waiting for the perfect time, the perfect website or the perfect press release, stop waiting. A clear email is enough to begin the conversation.

Listeners can nominate a community hero

You do not have to run an organisation to help bring a story to the studio. Listeners can nominate a local charity, volunteer, fundraiser or community group they believe deserves recognition.

Think about the people who rarely ask for attention but consistently show up. Who organises the food bank collection? Who runs the youth project? Who checks in on isolated neighbours? Who has spent years raising funds for families, animals, health services or local facilities?

Send their details to voicesforgood@channelradio.co.uk, with a short explanation of what they do and why you think listeners should hear from them.

A nomination can open a door. It can help a small group reach new volunteers, find supporters, connect with donors or simply remind exhausted community workers that their efforts are valued.

Why this matters to our community

Radio creates trust through conversation. You hear a voice, an experience and a story unfold in real time. That human connection can make a local cause feel immediate and personal in a way that a poster or social media announcement sometimes cannot.

At Channel Radio, we understand the importance of local connection. Our music and chat programming brings listeners together through familiar voices, personal messages, interviews and shared interests. Voices for Good extends that community approach by making room for the people who are helping others.

There is also a wider opportunity here for local businesses and responsible sponsors. Businesses that want to support Kent communities can explore sponsorship, promotional partnerships and combined radio-and-digital campaigns with Channel Radio. Radio builds familiarity and trust; digital content gives listeners a clear next step, whether that means visiting a website, signing up, donating or getting in touch.

If your business wants to support community storytelling while reaching a local audience, visit Channel Radio and ask for our Advertise With Us information and media kit. A well-planned sponsorship package can support meaningful local work while putting your business in front of engaged listeners.

Be part of the first conversation

The first episode starts with 21 Together, but the wider mission starts with all of us.

Charities, CICs, volunteers, fundraisers and community leaders: this is your invitation to step forward. Listeners: this is your opportunity to nominate the people who make your area stronger. Local businesses: this is your chance to support community voices through trusted radio and digital storytelling.

The microphone is ready. The studio is waiting. The stories are already happening.

Email voicesforgood@channelradio.co.uk to book a free place or nominate a community group for a future episode.

Focus on getting the missing voices on air. Help us give community heroes the airtime they deserve.