Speaker - Don Chambers– Somer Valley Educational Trust

“Visits from Rustic Somerset and Exotic Papua New Guinea”

Recently we experienced a truly enjoyable evening with visits from fellow Rotarians from both near and far. 

District Governor, Stewart Cursley (Wells) paid us a visit as did our guest speaker, Dom Chambers from Midsomer Norton & Radstock. From much further afield, we were also delighted to welcome President Russel Jackson from the Boroko Rotary Club of Papua New Guinea.  

Dom, who is MD of Somervalley FM gave an entertaining and informative talk on the Somerset Education Trust which he has founded to assist the development of young people who wish to pursue a career in the media.

Our photos show :Vic with ex-DG Tony Quinn, DG Stewart Cursley, President Russel and guest speaker Dom and 3: Vic & Dom.

In June 2017 the trustees appointed Dom Chambers as CEO of the Somer Valley Education Trust CIO.

Dom is driving a contemporary media agenda, which benefits individuals, through building skills, and society by reducing the state burden and helping people into becoming contributing citizens.

Dom has been running award winning community broadcaster Somer Valley FM, in Somerset, since it launched in 2008. He has substantial experience in media training, employability skills, volunteer coordination, social enterprise and non-profit media. A radio professional of 25 years he has developed a strong passion for media with educational purposes. Formerly a chair of the Community Media Association his extensive understanding of the UK community broadcast sector bridges grass roots knowledge with national strategic vision. Dom is a national advocate of the social benefits of communication and media training in building transferable skills that open life opportunities for beneficiaries.

He says, “I am so pleased to have been appointed CEO of this exciting new charity. The vision is in place and we have a strong sense of mission. Ultimately, though, what this is really about, and what is central to my motivation is seeing the very substantial difference our training makes to people’s lives and their opportunities.”

The Somer Valley Education Trust CIO (1172980) is a new charity registered in May 2017. It works alongside Somer Valley FM, an Ofcom licensed community radio station established in 2008 to serve North East Somerset. Serviced by over 100 volunteers, it attracts an audience in excess of 10,000 per week on FM, DAB and online. It has fully equipped studios and training facilities in Midsomer Norton. SVFM has been training children, young people and adults in media skills since its inception.

The CIO is established to significantly build on this training. It is an educational charity aiming to improve local employability, training and skills outcomes. Its ethos is that communications and media training opens life opportunities through the development of transferable skills, which enhance employability and well-being.

The welfare of people and providing opportunities in which they can thrive to fulfil their potential and aspirations is at the heart of what the Somer Valley Education Trust CIO is all about.

Hear the stories of how media training positively impacts on peoples lives:

The trustees are:

Michael Gorman – Has recently retired as Head teacher of Bath & North East Somerset Virtual School for Children in Care. Formerly, as the Head teacher of Somervale School, Michael was an early advocate of encouraging radio training to complement formal education as a way of building confidence and life skills in young people.

Annie Maw – As Lord Lieutenant of Somerset Annie is keen to motivate and encourage all activity that makes the communities and people of Somerset more resilient. She has long been interested in how the development of skills can improve life opportunities.

Chris Watt – An entrepreneur and local politician Chris has energetically supported the educational value of community broadcasting over the last ten years.