About CREN

In November 2023, over 50 community radio stations took part in a unique venture, a climate and nature themed event called Our Earth Week. The relationships that were formed in the months leading up to that event led to the formation of the Community Radio Environment Network (CREN).

Our network is for radio stations, radio producers and presenters and content
creators, for sound artists and collectives and also for anyone who is interested in working in community radio in some way, in the climate and nature sphere.

The aim of CREN is to increase the amount of climate and nature content on UK community radio stations, by helping stations to create eco shows, include more climate and nature content in their non eco-shows, and also to embed climate and nature news into their regular news bulletins. CREN will also help non-radio climate campaigners make connections with their local radio stations, so that they can sign up to be occasional or regular contributors or creators for the station.

CREN will act as a bridge between community radio stations and more alternative sound-producers and sound networks.

The ultimate aim is to help raise awareness and understanding amongst the general public about the huge existential climate and biodiversity crisis that we face, and what we as communities can do to help slow global heating down, how we can mitigate against it, and adapt to it. Furthermore we aim to raise awareness of the very complex and intersectional nature of this crisis in a way that is accessible and friendly and welcoming.

The other long-term aim of CREN is to help stations become equipped to be a source of vital and possibly life-saving information during times of crisis or
emergency, such as flooding, heatwaves, food shortages or storm damage.
CREN is currently in the process of applying for charitable status as a CIO. This will enable us to apply for grant-funding to help us do this work more effectively. Our Trustees have years of experience between them in radio and other media, as well as media law and climate activism and campaigning.

In the meantime this new website will serve as a hub for stations and creators to gather around, to connect up with each other and to find links to lots of ideas, information and support. There is a whole section on Our Earth Week, what it is and how to sign up, and links to loads of resources, including the Our Earth Week Audio Library.