BREAKING into the radio industry is a competitive game. But scores of people in Wolverhampton have taken the first steps into the business by volunteering on the air­waves at the city's own community radio station.

Former volunteers at Wolverhampton Community Radio (WCR) include BBC MidlandsToday's Satnam Rana and people working on national radio stations including Radio 1 Extra.

Now the student station is set to become Wolverhampton's first full-time community station  on  the FM frequency  after  being I awarded a licence.

This means that instead of broadcasting only in certain areas of the city coverage will be city-wide. In April the station is set to relaunch on 101.8FM and will be renamed Wolverhampton City Radio. For more than 20 years, radio and media enthusiasts have started successful careers in the business at WCR, which offers training to volunteers.

In April Wolverhampton Community Radio (WCR) is set to launch on 101.8FM and will be called WCR FM. Currently a student radio station (WCR AM) broadcasts from the studios based at Newhampton Arts Centre in Whitmore Reans. The airwaves are filled with a diverse range of shows; from Indie to Indian, African to RnB as well as giving much-needed exposure to unsigned local bands.

Programmes appeal to all members of the community, from a chat and discussion show aimed at Asian people, to a headbang-ing rock session and even a show presented in French. In 2006, comedian Phill Jupitus broadcast his BBC 6 music show from the studios while in town to play with the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah band.

Julie Wall, aged 24, from Merridale, presents the drivetime show twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays."I love volunteering at WCR," she said. "I'm passionate about radio and music and would like to be involved in the media industry in the | future, so it's a great way to get a foot in the door. I'm really excited I that my show will be heard across the city when we go on FM." Last summer, Julie went to Radio 1's One Big Weekend in Dundee to report on the events for WCR."Getting involved with the station has really opened up opportunities for me," she said.

BBC Midlands Today presenter Satnam Rana, from Wolverhampton, started her media career at WCR. She is now a senior reporter and presenter on Midlands Today, as well as presenting her own radio show called Midlands Masala on Radio WM.

Another presenter who started off volunteering on the RnB show is now a sound producer on the national digital station BBC 1 Extra. Volunteers at WCR collaborate with BBC station WM for a Sunday evening show highlighting events and entertainment in the city.

The show is called Wolverhampton Community Radio Magazine and includes items such as interviews with community groups and councillors as well as events and reviews. And the station's sports show is able to cover smaller teams in the city that often do not receive coverage from larger media organisations. The station is hoping to set up its own news team and trains up volunteers in its well equipped studios.

Chairman of the radio station Pete Whitehouse said: "It has been our campaign to establish a community radio station since we were set up in April 1986, so this is the start of the realisation of thatvision. "Since those days in the 1980s, we have spent the time establishing a reputation as both a broadcasting and training organisa-tion.We have broadcast a programme for BBC WM on a weekly basis since September 1989. In terms of training, we are an accred­ited centre and train dozens of people every year," he added.

For more information about the station, or to get involved, call 01902 57 22 60 or email training@wcrfm.com WCR can also be accessed online at www.wcr1350.co.uk

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