Afro*Disiac Live Radio is a vibrant community radio station dedicated to sharing African-Caribbean music and culture. While they already connect with hundreds of listeners, they came to CAN with a big goal: to strengthen their organisation and secure crucial funding for their community-focused mission.
CAN’s initial work focused on governance to ensure the radio station’s structure truly reflected its community purpose:
- Strategic Governance Review: We discussed the governance structure of the organisation, which was operating as a CIC limited by shares. This led to a key strategic decision: considering a transition into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to better align with its non-profit, community mission.
- Essential Planning: After completing an Organisational Health Check, it was clear that a robust business plan was an urgent next step. Working side by side with their CBO, Afro*Disiac successfully completed this plan, providing them with a clear vision for the future.
A major goal for this partnership was to unlock new funding streams. CAN provided focused, strategic support to make this a reality:
- Funding Strategy: Afro*Disiac attended meetings with the CBO and a Funding Adviser to map out a clear funding strategy and explore future opportunities.
- Application Improvement: CAN reviewed a previously rejected ‘Awards for All’ application, identifying specific areas for improvement and refinement. This significantly boosted their confidence in their submission.
- Funding Success:
- The strategic guidance paid off directly! Afro*Disiac secured the National Lottery Awards for All funding.
- Received the DCF Strength and Sustainability Project Fund to boost their long-term viability and capacity further.
Afro*Disiac’s growth is evident in their increased standing within the wider community sector:
- Appointed as a Partnership Board Member, giving them a voice at the top level of local community support.
- They contributed valuable insight to the Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) co-design workshop for the Grants’ Application Process.
- Organised two major community events: Reggae on the Bay (June 2025) and Reggae Weekend (July 2025), showcasing their enhanced organisational capacity and visibility within the community.
- Ray from Afro*Disiac has joined CAN’s EDC Expert directory and will be offering mentoring, peer support and workshop/training delivery.
