Pan-European community radio

Credit: Reader sid saucer

Radio Orla is community-based but professionally run. It is grateful to those who wish to support it with donations and to those who give up their time to help the station.

When we decided to launch a new radio station last May, much thought had to go into a name that would work for Poles, Britons and the Irish. It was not easy. We needed a name that was easy to say and easy to remember. Something that would be an instant brand, but one that would also appeal to Polish identity.

There is a greatly growing fascination amongst English-speakers in the British Isles to learn about Europe’s largest new Member State. People from the UK and Eire are keen to visit Poland as tourists, for business, or for personal reasons. We want to make it easier for them to learn about the culture, the developments in Poland and make Poland’s heritage part of theirs in the expanded Europe. We also want to help Poles in the UK and Ireland with their pronunciation of English, helping them at school or work.

Meanwhile, we want to publicise the needs and pressures faced by the growing Polish community in the UK and Ireland to government and other decision-makers. That's why Radio Orla, or "Orwa" as Poles would say it, is the answer. Broadcasting 24/7, Radio Orla is the freshest Polish community radio station in the UK and Ireland. We deliver 40 percent of our output in English and 60 percent in Polish. We even have some Czech and Slovak programming for other "new" Europeans.

Several streams are available from this Ealing-based station which offers many advertising opportunities. These cater for dial-up users as well as listeners with broadband. Give it a listen at http://www.radio-orla.com/en/index.php