This July, Overton Radio celebrates its third birthday – and we're marking the occasion by giving something back to the community that has supported us from the very beginning.

In just three years, our volunteer-run radio station has grown into a vital part of village life. Despite serving a community of only 4,200 people, we now reach more than 1,000 monthly listeners and have generated over 800,000 Facebook page views this year alone. We've also helped promote more than 350 local events, clubs and community groups, bringing people together and helping village life thrive.

To celebrate our anniversary, we're hosting Carpark Fest over the August Bank Holiday weekend at The Red Lion in Overton. The free family-friendly event will feature live music from local performers, food, drink, entertainment and local traders.

This year, we're proud to be sharing all event proceeds equally between Overton Radio and Test Valley Men's Shed – a wonderful charity that helps tackle loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older men, by providing friendship, practical projects and a welcoming community.

While everything you hear on Overton Radio is created by volunteers, it costs almost £3,000 each year to keep the station on air. We're launching this crowdfunding campaign to help cover our essential running costs and to purchase a new public address (PA) system, allowing us to support even more community events throughout the year.

Since launching in 2023, we've proudly supported or helped organise many of Overton's favourite events, including the Christmas Market, School Fete, Village Fireworks, Rotten Hill Cup, Wheelbarrow Race and Scarecrow Festival. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our 11 volunteers and the generosity of our supporters.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help us continue connecting our community, celebrating local talent, supporting local businesses, and giving charities like Test Valley Men's Shed the platform they deserve.

Thank you for helping us keep Overton connected for many more years to come.