YYFM: Hospital radio station sounding out more listeners after donation

For more than three years, YYFM has been entertaining hospital patients and bringing people together. Now, it is hoping a recent donation can help it reach out to even more listeners.

YYFM, or Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr FM, was created by Steven Davies in February 2021, as a free and accessible hospital radio station for patients in Ystrad Mynach.

Now, thanks to a donation from Gelligaer Community Council, accessing the award-winning station just got easier.

More than 1,000 QR code labels, at a cost of £320, have been donated to hospitals to help patients access YYFM.

Steven, who works for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, previously told Caerphilly Observer: “One of the beautiful things about it is that you can access it at any time.”

YYFM has a wide range of programmes, including music shows, interviews, and stories – and it can be listened to anywhere in the world. Patients at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr can access the radio station anytime of day and listen using the hospital’s free Wi-Fi. 

Councillor Teresa Parry, who chairs Gelligaer Community Council, praised the radio station and said: “It’s a fantastic resource for the patients. You can tune in from anywhere with the code and they can save it to their phones and use it at any time.”

When Steven first reached out to the community council for support, it was suggested that QR codes should be displayed throughout the hospital and on each ward.

The QR codes were printed as large stickers to be more visible and accessible for patients.

Cllr Parry said: “We wanted to make sure they were visible for everyone. It will help provide entertainment when patients feel lonely, especially in one-person wards. 

“Steven is a remarkable person and so passionate about it – you can feel his passion. It’s inspiring.

“He’s always looking to include more people and their stories. We are very pleased with him and the station.”

Steven thanked Gelligaer Community Council for its support and said: “We have definitely noticed a rise in people listening.

“We want people to listen in and get involved from anywhere in the world. We want to get YYFM’s name out to a wider audience.” 

YYFM has won a number of awards, and has worked with the University of South Wales (USW), Caerphilly County Borough Council, communities and local schools – with both Hengoed and Ystrad Mynach primary schools having set up their own radio stations. 

Cllr Parry said: “We plan to involve more schools, it’s a worthwhile endeavour.”

Steven continued: “We want to get involved with more local schools for kids who have an interest in journalism. Lots of people who have been involved with YYFM have gone on to do great things.” 

Journalism students from USW have created content for YYFM, while the university’s radio tutor, Steve Johnson, helped Steven set up the station.

Mr Johnson previously told Caerphilly Observer that projects like YYFM are “massively important” in 2024.

“It’s about bringing people together and rather than living in silence,” Mr Johnson said. “We live in communities which communicate with each other.”

The donation of QR codes to promote YYFM has been so successful that Steven plans to get more codes printed and spread more widely. The Grange University hospital is among those interested in displaying the codes for their patients, as well as Ebbw Vale’s Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan.