Community Radio Fund Panel

About Ofcom Structure and leadership
Published: 2 November 2023
Last updated: 2 June 2026

The Community Radio Fund Panel meets as required to examine applications and make awards from the Community Radio Fund.

Section 359 of the Communications Act 2003 makes it possible for a fund for community radio operators to be set up, and for Ofcom to administer it and “make such grants as they consider appropriate” to community radio licensees.

Government (specifically, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) provides some funding to be distributed to community radio stations through such a fund. Only holders of a community radio licence can seek a grant from this Fund.

Terms of reference for the Community Radio Fund Panel (PDF, 155.3 KB)

The Community Radio Fund Panel comprises two Non-Executive Members and one Executive Member. Its members are:

Alan Stewart (Chair)

Alan has considerable experience of broadcasting regulation and more recently of running community-based charities. He was Head of the Independent Television Commission in Scotland before moving into the Office of Communications at the end of 2003 as Head of Broadcasting for Scotland. He was responsible for relations with broadcasters, including community radio licensees. After leaving full time employment with Ofcom in 2018, he served a term as an independent director of his local community trust and is currently Chair of an environmental charity. He also has an interest in minority language provision having taken forward Ofcom’s statutory responsibilities for Gaelic broadcasting then later carrying out consultancy work in a related area. Alan is also a Commissioner of Boundaries Scotland.

Hannah Bryant 

Hannah has over 25 years’ experience in procurement, evaluation and funding assessment across the public, private and charitable sectors. She has worked in consultancy and corporate sourcing roles, supporting organisations to make transparent and accountable funding decisions. She began her career leading tender evaluations for charities, local authorities and commercial organisations, before managing complex public sector procurement and evaluation programmes across multiple government departments. She later led a European strategic sourcing function, overseeing high-value evaluations across multiple countries and advising senior leadership teams on robust, value-for-money decisions.

Since 2017, Hannah has run an organisation, working with innovative SMEs, social enterprises, accelerators and academic partners to help organisations navigate public sector procurement and Innovate UK grant funding.

Hannah joined the Panel as an observer on 1 January 2026 until 31 March 2026 following her appointment, before formally taking up the role as Panel Member on 1 April 2026. Her appointment runs until 31 March 2029.

Clare McNally-Luke

Clare is Head of Audio Research & Insight in the Strategy & Research Group at Ofcom. She began her career working in Commercial Radio at Metro Radio Group / Emap plc. Clare then moved to the BBC where she was based in the Radio & Music HQ working with the Director of BBC Radio and the management team on overall strategy and performance. Clare is keen to be involved in this important sector of the radio industry focused on close engagement with the community.

Clare joined the Panel on 1 April 2024. Her appointment runs until 31 March 2027.

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