The Merchants House has awarded £2,000 to Jambo! Radio to support its Future Communities project, which works with justice-experienced young people in Glasgow, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage.

Many of the young people involved face multiple barriers, including racial injustice, poverty, social exclusion and disrupted education. They are also among those most likely to come into contact with the justice system. Jambo! Radio’s project provides a strong foundation for helping them rebuild their lives and reconnect with their communities through accessible, culturally relevant opportunities for expression, training and participation.

Through broadcast and creative media activities, participants are given the chance to learn new skills, gain confidence and have their voices heard. Structured training, studio access and opportunities to contribute to live broadcasts help young people develop transferable skills in communication, teamwork and media production, while also creating pathways into volunteering, employability and further opportunities.

A representative said “The £2,000 grant from The Merchants House will make a direct and vital contribution to our Future Communities project, supporting digital inclusion, community storytelling, and employability pathways for people from Black and racially minoritised backgrounds, including refugees and new Scots in Glasgow. This funding will strengthen our ability to provide structured training, studio access, and broadcast opportunities that build confidence, skills, and social belonging. It also enables us to sustain volunteer support and community-led cultural programming, ensuring participants gain real production experience and visibility. With this award, we can widen access, reduce isolation, and empower emerging voices to shape Glasgow’s future communities confidently.”

Jambo! Radio is the only radio station in Scotland dedicated to people of African and Caribbean heritage, serving communities across Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen from its base in Glasgow city centre. The station produces programmes in a range of languages commonly spoken by African and Caribbean communities in Scotland, making information and discussion accessible to people in the languages they know best.

Alongside playing African and Caribbean music, Jambo! Radio brings communities together through regular conversation and discussion-based programmes. The station covers issues that directly affect the community, sharing news, advice and current affairs in multiple African languages and helping listeners stay informed, connected and represented.

Read more of our Grant Stories here.