The CSV Action Network is the result of a groundbreaking partnership between CSV and the BBC.
With over 40 years' experience and expertise, our award winning Action Desks work in partnership with BBC English Regions to broadcast campaigns and appeals that inspire people and communities to take action.
How and why they work
The 35 CSV Action Desks are run by a CSV Producer, who works with BBC colleagues to produce great content for Radio, TV and Online. Across the network, we have a potential weekly reach of 10 million.
We use our community links to identify local needs - encouraging the audience to then become part of the solution, either through volunteering or by learning new skills.
CSV also organises outreach events, going into the heart of the community and getting close to the real issues by engaging with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Watch a short film about what we do here: Making a Difference - Celebrating 5 years of partnership with the BBC.
* Please note that this film will open up automatically in Microsoft Windows Media Player.
Don't have Media Player? Download it here for free.
Award Winning Campaigns
CSV celebrated success after sharing gongs with the likes of Chris Evans, Classic FM and John Humphrys at the Sony’s, the equivalent of Oscars for radio.
CSV took top spot in the Community Awards category for The Plot with a separate contribution to BBC Radio Derby’s victory for medium sized station of the year.
Commenting on The Plot, an initiative which saw two derelict Slough allotments turned into thriving community spaces, the judges said: "What set it apart was that they exploited the idea across the output, even managing a drama in the garden shed. It was fun radio which really engaged the community and left a lasting legacy."
The judges specifically commented on two other pieces produced by CSV for Derby’s Islam Awareness Week noting that: "On several occasions the station has explored the challenges facing young Muslims and in doing so has given its audience a chance to listen at length to voices normally reduced to vox pops - or not heard at all.”
Other CSV projects nominated included Paul’s Place, which raised funds for a Bristol charity dedicated to enhancing the lives of physically disabled people and people with dementia, and Cornwall’s Sea Sense, which promoted river and beach safety.
Andy Griffee, BBC Controller of English Regions commented: “It was a very good night of Sony’s success for BBC Local Radio and particularly for our six-year-old partnership with CSV. Our Action Desks help thousands of people volunteer for all kinds of worthwhile causes each year and make a critical contribution to stronger and more effective local communities. But they also help us to deliver real tangible benefits from our broadcasting and it's great that the Sony judges have recognised this so powerfully this year."
Damian Radcliffe, CSV’s National Broadcasting Manager said: "The partnership between CSV and the BBC has a proven track record in motivating and inspiring communities, but it’s great to also have the quality and professionalism of our broadcasting acknowledged too. With lots of great campaigns in the pipeline, we hope to make even more of a splash at the Sony’s in 2008.”
Click this link to read the full press release:
Awards show that community broadcasting isn’t ‘losing The Plot’.
Access For All Broadcast activity is supported by outreach, where we go into the heart of local communities to engage with real people from all ages and backgrounds, enabling us to see issues and problems first hand.
We invest in relationships and build contacts that traditional journalists often do not have the time, or skills, to develop.
This enables us to access communities who are often sceptical of the media and we work with these communities so they can articulate their needs to a wider audience.
To see how we have worked with different local communities in the past click here to download Access For All-CSV Action Desks and collaborative work with Hard to Reach Groups (PDF file, 406kb).