The Island's radio station BRFM is moving.

It has announced it will be moving to the Pavilion, the former
Coast Study Centre, off Beachfields Park, Sheerness.

The building has been empty for several years and needs to be
completely refurbished before station staff can call it home.

They hope to be broadcasting from there by September.

Work started on Monday and apprentices from Carillion will be
helping with the brickwork, carpentry, painting and decorating as
part of their NVQs.

BRFM, which is run by volunteers, is currently based in Oak Lane
in Minster.

Although this station will be kept up and running as a back-up,
the volunteers believe the new base will be great for the station
and the Island.

The move has been funded by various organisations and will cost
around £30,000.

The building in Sheerness will have three rooms including a
studio big enough to have bands in so the station will be able to
broadcast live sessions. There will also be a reception area which
will be a point of information for visitors to Sheppey as well as a
BRFM merchandise shop.

Once the station has moved, they will be focusing on training
local people and the building will have a suite dedicated to
this.

It will be for school and college children, community groups and
unemployed people to come and learn about broadcasting.

It is also hoped they will be running broadcasting courses for
visually impaired people, as well as taking on more volunteers and
work experience pupils.

Julie Nicholls, BRFM's development manager, said: "It's going to
make a huge difference to us. The future looks very bright. We are
very excited and it will be greatly beneficial to the
community."

n Readers can follow BRFM's progress during the move on their
website or Facebook page.

Visit www.brfm.net and visit The Move section, or log onto Facebook and search BRFM.

BRFM's move will be funded by Kent County Council, Sheppey Round
Table, The Rotary Club of Minster-on-Sea, The Swale Lions and the
Media Trust.

Julie wishes to thank Maylow Construction, Carillion, H and L
Graphics, Evergreen Builders, KRS Interiors Ltd, Knauf Dry Wall,
Howdens Joinery and Jewsons for offers of labour, materials and
equipment.

She also wishes to mention all the individuals who have offered
paint and other tools and Swale council which has been instrumental
in making the move happen and has fixed the roof of the
building.

Caleb Watson of the Round Table has also dedicated his time as
project officer.