CREN was created in early 2023 as a means of running Our Earth Week, the ground-breaking and unique nature and climate-themed week on UK community radio stations. OEW was a tremendous success, about 50 stations took part, and this year we want it to be even bigger and better! But of course we don’t just want us to talk about these things in one week of the year; there are 51 other weeks to think about as well and for that we need somewhere central for network members to gather and come to for information and support, and for new stations to find and join us.

Last year we managed to function just using emails and zoom calls, but it was clear after a while that we needed somewhere more central and permanent for stations to access information from so… welcome to the CREN website!

This online hub is somewhere that community radio stations and individual presenters and producers can come to join or access the network, to get information on how to run an environmental show, and also to sign up to Our Earth Week and gain access to all the resources provided for that. We hope too that our members will let us know what you would like to see that we don’t currently provide, and to give us your news and tell us about your shows. We may all have our own unique voice on community radio, but what is relevant in one city or village may well be relevant or interesting to hear about in another community. And when it comes to sharing effective solutions and campaigns, it means we won’t be reinventing the wheel, and we will be more effective. This is especially true of any problems which are both national and local. Witness the terrible devastation of our brooks, rivers and local coasts from the water companies, for example, which is happening all over the country. Community radio stations can help to create a much louder and more effective voice because we know our local communities so well, and this will reinforce and strengthen the national campaigns to change legislation etc.

One of the most exciting things that happened last year in the run up to Our Earth Week was that many stations contributed ideas and audio content for other stations to use by uploading them to the OEW Library. You will be able to do the same on this website; and we look forward to seeing all your contributions!

This is just the start of our journey online, and we are so excited to finally have a central gathering place to meet you all! Please do get in touch with us and tell uys what you think about the site, and if you have any suggestions for improvements do let us know.

We look forward to an exciting year!