The Rusty Haggis

We are a Child-led, non-profit community radio for all of Leicestershire.
We amplify young voices, celebrate local culture, and bring the county together through music, stories and community programming.

What we do

• Daytimes (8am–7pm): a steady flow of feel-good favourites and new discoveries—spanning soul, Motown, rock, pop, dance and indie—plus local updates, gig guides and community notices.
• Evenings: genre-focused specialist shows where presenters bring their own flavour—smooth soul, country, dance, classic rock and more.
• Weekends: family-friendly features, live sessions with local artists, youth round-tables, community takeovers and outside broadcasts from events across Leicestershire.
• Education & Community: we work with schools, colleges and youth groups to deliver hands-on radio skills, student takeovers, term-time projects and outside broadcasts from school and community events.

How we’re run

We’re child-led and volunteer-powered. Young people help shape the schedule, pick the music, present shows and co-produce features—supported by trained adult mentors in a safeguarding-first environment. We provide free training in presenting, production and media skills, and collaborate with teachers, youth workers and group leaders to create meaningful, supervised learning experiences.

Our values

• Youth at the centre: young voices lead; adults enable.
• Community first: programming reflects the people, places and stories of Leicestershire.
• Safe & responsible: clear safeguarding practices and age-appropriate content standards.
• Inclusive & welcoming: open to all backgrounds and abilities; respectful, positive air.
• Education & skills: practical learning with schools, colleges and youth groups through workshops, clubs and projects.
• Local culture: space for regional artists, venues, schools and community organisations.

Standards & responsibility

The Rusty Haggis operates independently and is not licensed by Ofcom. However, we commit to the principles expected of licensed UK community radio—accuracy, fairness, avoiding harm and offence, and due impartiality where relevant. We welcome feedback and take complaints seriously; every message is reviewed and helps us improve.

How to listen

Tune in online and catch us at pop-up and outside broadcasts around the county. Keep an eye on our socials and “What’s On” for live dates and streams.

Get involved

• Present or produce: pitch a show, join a youth production team, or learn the ropes behind the desk.
• Volunteer: mentoring, tech ops, editing, events, socials—no experience needed.
• Schools, colleges & youth groups: book a workshop, schedule a student takeover, or run a term-time radio project with us.
• Submit music: especially from Leicestershire artists, schools and youth groups (clean radio edits welcome).
• Partner with us: community organisations, venues and educators—let’s collaborate.

Contact

• Email: studio@therustyhaggis.co.uk
• Education & group bookings: email with “Schools/Youth” in the subject and a few dates/objectives.
• Music submissions: include WAV/MP3, a clean edit, credits and lyrics.