A CHARITY which helps keep spirits up on hospital wards has been recognised for its sterling work.

Hospital Radio Basingstoke earned a Bronze award for Station of the Year in the National Hospital Radio Awards held during the annual Hospital Radio Association (HBA) conference in Stoke-on-Trent at the end of March.

The National Hospital Radio Awards is an annual celebration of the standards found in hospital radio stations across the country.

Station of the Year showcases a station's diversity of programming and interaction with listeners, and each entry was asked to give a 15 minute insight to a station's programming, style, content and volunteers.

Assessing Hospital Radio Basingstoke, the awards judges said: "This is a powerful entry demonstrating excellently a real diversity of programming. The station is clearly active on the wards and some elements were surprising and thoroughly endearing. A great listen overall and a well-assembled entry."

Hospital Radio Basingstoke was also nominated in three more of the total of 11 categories - Best Station Promotion, Best Female Presenter and Best Newcomer.

Most of the categories recognise gold, silver, and bronze winners.

Hospital Radio Basingstoke is a registered charity run solely by volunteers, relying entirely on the support of businesses and residents to survive.

The service broadcasts 24 hours a day exclusively to patients and staff of Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and play requests for care homes each month.

A spokesperson said: "We visit the hospital wards daily for our ‘live’ shows and try and play as many requests as we can."

Feel free to check us out on www.hrbasingstoke.co.uk or if you are keen on volunteering for our station, then please contact Hospital Radio Basingstoke by email or letter with your initial enquiry.