Kiri realises her radio dream

Saturday 18 September 2021

Ron Short Centre member Kiri Knight has fulfilled a long-standing dream, with charitable funding and community support allowing her to work as a radio DJ.

The centre is designed to help ensure that all islanders with physical or sensory disabilities have the opportunity of meaningful work.

It offers members a variety of different job opportunities, ranging from making products to sell, to working in the shop at the centre.

A £5,000 donation from the Sure Community Foundation has allowed The Ron Short Centre to purchase height-adjustable tables, making work accessible to wheelchair users and people with back problems.

Ron Short Centre Member Kiri Knight, who is blind, has also been offered the opportunity to work as a radio DJ, which has completed a dream she has held for many years. 

After receiving training from well-known Island FM journalist Jim Delbridge and former BBC Radio Guernsey presenter Kay Langlois, she has started conducting her own interviews for the centre’s forthcoming Disability Confidence Training programme, a new social enterprise.

"We are extremely grateful to the Sure Community Foundation for helping us to help others," said Ron Short Centre Managing Director Rob Harnish.

"Kiri has started with an in-house show, ‘Kiri's Happy Hour’. With professional equipment bought with our grant from the Foundation, she is now working towards putting it online. And from there, we are aiming for Jubilee radio at the PEH. After that … let’s see!"

Lucienne De La Mare of the Community Foundation said charities that promote inclusivity have a vital role to play in the community.

“We are pleased to support the great work being done at the Ron Short Centre. 18% of the Guernsey population is disabled and they reflect an important, often underrepresented segment of our community.

"We were particularly excited to support Kiri’s experience on the radio, and I can’t wait to hear her show for myself once it goes live.”

Any and all proceeds raised by it will go back into the Ron Short Centre.

Pictured top: Lucienne De La Mare and Tim Stonebridge of the Sure Community Foundation, Carl Ward of Island FM, Ron Short Centre Managing Director Rob Harnish, Kiri Knight, and Island FM’s Jim Delbridge.