107 Endeavour FM is celebrating a decade on the airwaves, marking 10 years since it launched on FM on 22 August 2016.
Its roots stretch back to Stump Radio broadcasts in 2006 and the launch of Endeavour Online in 2009, before securing a permanent FM licence in 2016 established Endeavour FM as Boston Borough’s full-time community radio station.
Run entirely by volunteers, the station today has around 35 people and reaches up to 9,500 listeners each week. Its entire programme schedule is created and presented by its own volunteers, with shows broadcast live from its studios in Boston except when broadcasting live from elsewhere, such as its Boston United commentary.
Alongside music and entertainment, Endeavour FM provides local information, daily travel and weather bulletins and its Community Guide, while striving to be a beacon of positivity for the town.
Its work has received wider recognition, with a young presenter shortlisted in the Young Audio Awards, a presenter winning Gold for Sage Person of the Year at the Community Radio Awards, and another taking Bronze for Entertainment Show of the Year. The station and individual volunteers have also received local awards, including recognition for services to the town and wider community.
Endeavour FM has also been a longstanding champion of local music, recording more than 13,000 plays of tracks by local and regional artists since its FM launch, alongside live acoustic performances, support for local gigs and its former regular open mic night.
Its connection with local sport stretches back even further, with volunteers providing live Boston United commentary every season since 2009, initially online before the coverage also moved onto FM in 2016.
Away from the studio, Endeavour FM has become a familiar presence across Boston Borough, providing outside broadcasts, public address and compering at community events, festivals and public celebrations, while working with local charities, businesses, schools and community organisations. Its annual Christmas competition sees dozens of prizes donated by local businesses, while a special 24-hour live broadcast raised more than £1,000 for local charities.
Recent listener research demonstrates the impact of this local focus, with seven in ten listeners saying they have acted on information heard on Endeavour FM, including attending events, supporting businesses and changing travel plans.
One particularly memorable moment came when His Majesty King Charles III, then The Prince of Wales, visited the studios and met volunteers during a visit to Boston.
Far from slowing down as it reaches its milestone, Endeavour FM continues to go from strength to strength, with its tenth year proving a record-breaking year for outside broadcasts, promotion of local events, competitions and social media engagement.
The station has been financially self-sufficient since its FM launch, covering its own operating costs and reinvesting in the service. It has recently invested in new broadcast equipment and a second studio to future-proof the station for the next decade.
A new website and app are also launching as part of the anniversary, while Endeavour FM is exploring opportunities to expand its coverage in the future.
Ten years after first appearing on 107 FM, its mission remains the same: to provide Boston Borough with a genuinely local radio station, run by local people for local people.
