Food parcels and other essential items delivery programme:

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, Diverse FM has set up an initiative providing weekly food parcels containing healthy and nutritious meals, as well as providing other essential items including PPE.

As of 29 January 2021, Diverse FM has supported nearly 3000 vulnerable people with providing over 60,000 healthy and nutritious meals, as well as other essential items including Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to individuals and families shielding at home due to tested positive for Covid-19 or due to old age or underline health issues, as well as those experiencing financial hardships, food poverty and other socio-economic inequalities.

In addition to providing food parcels directly to individual and families homes, Diverse FM is working in partnership with Community Interest Luton (CIL) to support other local food parcels distributors in Luton. In the last 4 weeks partnership has received 17 pallets of ambient food items from Fair Share Trust, funded by DEFRA. Local organisations supported are Age Concern Luton, Discover Islam, Mary Seacole Housing Association, Signpost, TOKKO Youth Space, Go Dharmic, All Saints Church, A Squared Housing, Dallow Primary School, Chiltern Learning Trust, Chantry Primary School, Putteridge High school, Shri Guru Ravidas Sangat Luton, Love in a Bag Luton and many others.

Gift pack for elderly and vulnerable people:

After it was brought to Diverse FM attention that many elderly people in the local community are shielding at home due to Covid-19 pandemic and experiencing loneliness. As a result, the management committee agreed to provide over 100 elderly and vulnerable with a Christmas giftpack containing a radio, box of chocolate, biscuits, hand sanitiser, gloves, various stationary and other items.

Public Information:

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Diverse FM is working in partnership with local NHS Trusts, Hospital, Luton Council, Lord Lieutenant Office and other agencies to offer free airtime to broadcast a range of public information and awareness raising messages.

Tuition Services:

Due to Covid-19 pandemic many children are missing important mainstream education at schools. Poorer children are unable to afford private tuitions, hence likely to experience much wider education gap between the children from the affluent and poorer backgrounds. In order to close the educational gap and address the digital divide Diverse FM partnered with JM Teaching Services and offering a weekend tuition provision with qualified volunteer tutors providing  three hours of tuition on every Saturday covering the three main subject of English, Maths and Science withing a Covid safety environment.

Supporting local voluntary and community sector agencies:

• Awareness, bullying, drug awareness, money management, forced marriages, domestic violence, youth & identity, BME women in politics, unemployment, education etc, especially targeting those members of the community who are often socially excluded from accessing mainstream services.

• Education and Learning:

  Diverse FM offers a range of accredited, non-accredited and vocational training, including Radio Broadcasting & Presenting, IAG and other advice and support mainly to local residents experiencing unemployment, socio-economic disadvantages and other inequalities. Through this provision we can enable people to develop confidence, gain lifelong, employability and other key skills, leading to progression into employment or further education and training.

• In the last 12 months, despite many challenges and barriers with the Covid-19 pandemic, Diverse FM has successfully delivered a range of training to 270 individuals and helped 13 long-term unemployed individuals to progress into employment and 16 more into further education (College/Universities).