The BBC Three Counties Radio Cuts is Devastating to ‘For Men To Talk’

by ‘For Men To Talk’ founder/director Luke Newman

I’ve been a huge fan of BBC Three Counties Radio for a long, long time. I like that they focus on local communities through a mixture of speech, music, sport and debates. The station serves the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The station has been a huge supporter of my initiatives, such as my humanitarian trips to Kenya and obviously ‘For Men To Talk’ for many years. I’ve been in their Dunstable studio a few times, as well as talking via telephone, to presenters such as Nick Coffer, Roberto Perrone and Babs Michel.

In November 2022, it was announced that all BBC local radio stations will have a significant number of programmes cut under new plans. All 39 networks in England will keep their current schedule from 6am to 2pm, but after that shows will be shared.

There will be 10 local programmes between 6-10pm on weekdays, across the day on Saturday, as well as on Sunday mornings. There will be one ‘all-England’ show from 10pm across the week, and on Sunday afternoons.

As the founder of ‘For Men To Talk’ that relies on publicity to promote the group, this is simply terrible news for us and the hundreds of local charities, groups and community interest companies that needs BBC Three Counties Radio as a voice to inform the public of what they offer. 

They often face a challenge with people not engaging with for example social media, newsletters and emails where people can just scroll past posts or delete without looking. On radio an audience has to listen to interviews if they are listening to the channel. By limiting the time that the station is broadcasted, it also limits the time for those groups to be heard.

In 2021, 5219 suicides were registered in England and men aged 50-54 were found to have the highest suicide rate. Around 5.8 million adults in England tune in to BBC Local Radio with 58 per cent of listeners over the age of 55. It shows that specific range is extremely important for a mens mental group like ‘For Men To Talk’ to be publicised over a radio station.

Back in September 2022, I was stunned, humbled and emotional to have been awarded a ‘Make A Difference’ Award from BBC Three Counties Radio. It was an honour to be awarded this, but also it was a huge opportunity for publicity of ‘For Men To Talk’.

As mentioned earlier, I’ve been able to talk about the group to many presenters and that was any day during the week, from mornings, afternoons and evenings. Those opportunities will soon be limited, fighting with more and more of those charities, groups and community interest companies for valuable time.

I formed ‘For Men To Talk’ back in December 2019 and for almost three years, I’ve worked extremely hard to publicise the group in what I am trying to achieve. For men not to feel alone in their mental health journeys and that the meetings are a safe and comfortable environment for them to be open and talk about how they are feeling. With these BBC Three Counties Radio cuts, I’m extremely worried that men will not know we are here for them.

I’d like to thank the presenters on BBC Three Counties Radio who have taken the time to allow me on their shows. If this is the last time I get to speak to you, I also thank you for allowing listeners to know about ‘For Men To Talk’ and I know that some of the men are still talking in our physical and virtual meetings after hearing me on the station. You have potentially saved lives. I wish you all the best in your future.