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What's On

Fri 4th Jul 2008
	22:10	It's What I Do
	22:30	North by North East
	23:00	Bene n' Burnley
	23:25	Volunteer Films 2008
	23:30	Together We Can

full schedule

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What people say about us!

Find out what people say about Community Channel. And if you've watched a programme or have a comment about the Channel, please fill in our form.

General Comments
Broadcasters
Charities/Voluntary Groups
Comments about Freeview

Programmes
BBC Ground Force Africa Garden: The Volunteers’ Story
Bein’ Bri’ish
Black History Month
Charlie’s Garden Army
Children of the Rubble
First Up
Gorilla Gorilla
Hard to Believe
Jon Snow Interviews
Life and Debt
Lunar Girl
MadforArts
Mental Health Season
Show Racism the Red Card
Stigma
Supershorts Season
10 Weeks in Costa Rica
The Dying Rooms
The Mosque

General Comments

I am just writing to tell you that I came across your channel while child-sitting the other night and was VERY impressed. The simple but moving stories of people's lives and the careful selecting of 'good cause' commercials was refreshing to say the least. I wish you continued success. Grant

I have only recently 'discovered' Community Channel & now I bore the pants off everyone I know, telling them about individual progs that they MUST see, (there are SOME advantages to numerous repeats!) & encouraging them to become regular viewers. I find it so refreshing to be able to watch well-made, courageously creative work that has not had to fulfil the usual cash-register criteria of commercial programme-making. Jakki

Just decided to drop you an email to say that I love the channel! Really enjoyed Coast to Coast with Janet Street Porter, plus before that Charlie's Garden Army. Keep up the good work. Phil

May I first congratulate you on a fantastic website, its very informative and full of useful articles. I thoroughly enjoy watching the Community Channel for new ideas on how I can help local communities. Lisa

What a fab idea to have this Community Channel. A voice for people wishing to make positive change within the community. I set up a local ‘mum run’ organisation four years ago. My first mission has been accomplished, but truly: sweat, blood and tears! It would have been fab to register with you, to make connections with other like minded souls. Daniela

Cool site! I'll be back. Nicholas

The digital channel is an excellent way of hearing about charities that you wouldn't otherwise hear about. Clare

Having seen your channel on sky and visited your web site, I am pleased to learn that there is actually someone out there that actually cares. Graham Hughes

hi i love the community channel i only found it about two months ago and loved it very much it just talks to you about things that matter to your life and the lives of people around the world. since whatching i have started to do a little charity work and would like to get involved with more, the area i focus on at the moment is the homeless but i would love to get involved with something in the third world may main aim is to understand what these people are going through, quite selfishly to make me feel better about the opportunities i've had and maybe to learn some strength from these people who have had to endure so much. Mr Cook

I recorded your programme last night and was V impressed! Alex

Good programs! Jerry
Keep up the good work people. I'm sure there are loads of people out there who love what you are doing but may not write in so I'll thank you on their behalf as well. Good Luck. Ibrahim

The Community Channel is a TV channel which everyone must watch occasionally to become more aware of the world around him. It is a pity that such an excellent channel which can do a lot of good is on a transponder which is hard to receive from where I live. The good that can be obtained from your channel is immense. Albert

I think the Community Channel is ace as it opens my eyes to lives of other people who are determined to change things for the better like by taking an active role within there neighbourhood. Mark

I have just come across your channel this morning & I am impressed. David

I think your Channel is wonderful with an excellent mix of short programmes and excellent documentaries, many of which might not get an airing on TV without you. Mike

Broadcasters

There are lots of things that are special about the channel – but the best thing is being able to give a voice to so many participants in the community. James Murdoch, BskyB

I think it does offer a real alternative and a great window onto what the whole of the voluntary sectors does and so I think it’s a good idea for the BBC, C4, Sky and ITV for all the broadcasters to help it in anyway we can. Mark Thompson, BBC

It’s unique, it’s one of those rare places where you can find TV designed to help people to help groups to help themselves… I think its values, its qualities, you know exactly what you’re going to get, it does what it says on the tin, and it delivers every time. Clive Jones, ITV

As television becomes much narrower in focus perhaps with commercial competition it’s important that there are some channels there giving the other side of the coin, featuring activities and event that don’t get covered normally. Paul Corley, GMTV

I think it’s a great forum for charities that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to reach sponsors and volunteers to do so. Luke Johnson Channel 4

It’s a channel for the people, by the people, it’s driven by people that have particular agendas that are not-for-profit orientated and I think that passion comes through. David Abraham, Discovery UK
It’s great to see television used for such a distinct and different position in the market place. Lisa Opie, Flextech

I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your team at the Community Channel for Instigating such a valuable event for the Year of the Volunteer, I am very pleased to be working with media organisations, the Media Trust and the Community Channel on making the most of the Year of the Volunteer to promote and encourage the benefits of voluntary action to all involved. Gordon Brown, Chancellor

The Media Trust and Community Channel are a real resource to the voluntary sector and we recommend that everyone use them. We are most greatful for all they have done for us. David Booker, Barnardos. Speaking at the launch of What’s Your Passion.

Charities/Voluntary Groups

If it hadn't been for Community Channel and its unique leverage with the media industry we would never have dreamt of starting up an interactive TV fundraising function so quickly and without cost. We were already piloting an interactive TV appeal for Sudan with the Channel when the Tsunami happened. We were astounded by the amount of people prepared to give so much through this new technology. We're hoping to continue to work with Community Channel, and through them all broadcasters, to make this the norm for future appeals. Patricia Sanders, Appeals Manager, Disasters Emergency Committee

We were able to get our message and also promote the volunteering side of the charity. MS Society

Parents saw it and now their children are able to play visually impaired cricket with us through the help of the Community Channel. London Community Cricket Association

Thanks to you all the charity is really thriving, I received 800 emails after appearing on the Community Channel. Jeffrey Breslaw, Mencare

50 more people in our community want to become a volunteer care leaver mentor as a result of this film. Mentoring Network

It’s a good way for the Princes Trust to get its message across about what we do, and it’s worked! Princes Trust

I've just had chance to watch the epilepsy piece you broadcast on 'Action!' Last week. It was excellent - thanks very much for helping us to raise awareness and plug for volunteers! Gemma Baxter, Epilepsynse

I watched 'Seeds of Diversity' on Cause Celeb this morning and I just wanted to write and tell you how much we appreciate your support in helping us get this film aired on the Community Channel. Quite a number of our supporters have been in touch already to tell us how pleased they were to see the film. Gila Orkin, Find Your Feet (FYF)

Thank you so much for promoting our IT sale. It was a very successful day - we made over £2000 on the day itself with the promise of more sales to come. Martha Lester-Cribb, Pass IT On

As a result of the film being on the channel we now have another 50 volunteer mentors in the area! Lewisham’s Leaving Care and Mentoring Project

We are a brand new charity, we only opened our doors on 5th Nov 2003 and Princess Anne came down to open the centre and the Community Channel were there for us and they filmed the event for us. That was the first major publicity we’d got so it was just fantastic.” Sue Cole, AHOY

The Community Channel has offered us a huge way in to corporate sponsorship with Sky that’s really going to change the whole face of our charity across the UK. We’ve been very much a London based charity trying to get into the suburbs, out into other areas of the country. Now through Sky and through the Community Channel we’re going to be going out into Manchester and into Liverpool, out into Scotland and across the whole country. Dave Carey, Chicken Shed

We hope to get greater exposure for our charity and what that means for us is greater access to the women who need to know about breast awareness particularly, and about the risks of breast cancer. It’s an audience which we wouldn’t normally get to. Mags Alison, Breast Cancer Care

For the future with the development of the interactive side we see it as a means of reaching out even broader and actually fundraising through the channel. Rob Orme, Action Medical Research

Freeview 6 – 9am

Recently I discovered your channel after I put a spare TV and Freeview box in a bedroom. So some mornings I watch Community Channel until 9am as I have been retired for 13 yrs. Why won't they transmit you after that? Keep up your brilliant programmes. Bernard

I really do like this channel very much because it has so much to offer the communities as a whole but I do wish it was on freeview 24 hours a day because I feel I and the community will be lousing out on the great service that this channel provides. Leslie

Hi there will the Community Channel be extending its times on freeview at all i would like to see it on longer. David

Programmes and Seasons

BBC Ground Force Africa Garden: The Volunteers’ Story

Many thanks to you all at Community Channel. For a heart-warming and beautiful programme on the African garden. It not only looked great, it was a splendid contrast with last night's Ground Force - your emphasis on the volunteers and what they got from it was lovely. Amanda Lennon, Learning Project Manager, BBC Factual and Learning

Bein’ Bri’ish

I want to tell the producers and the participants ob 'Bein' Bri'ish'. This was the most gripping and watchable programme I have seen on the Community Channel. I am proud to live in today’s multi-cultural mix with all the fine people in the programme. Peace to you all. Mark

Black History Month

I just had to write and say how much my partner and I enjoyed the recent Mr Pink documentary. The man is a genius! Wish there were more people in the world like him. And more houses like his to brighten up our lives! Long live Mr Pink! Btw, where can we buy his records? And also, is there a way we might drop him a line? Lizzie

Dear Community Channel, I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed the programmes showing for Black History Month! Miss P

Charlie’s Garden Army

I think she (Charlie Dimmock) is brilliant in the way she acts on TV. I see my self up before my alarm at 6am just because I know something good coming up. Ben

Children of the Rubble

What David Hayman achieved during his short visit to Afghanistan is amazing. I would like to know how I could become more involved in his charity, perhaps through organising fundraising events. David Hayman suceeded in cutting through the red tape, and through his no nonsense approach was able to make a real difference to the lives of the people he helped. Well done David Hayman! Louise

First Up

While flicking through the many channels on telewest I came across your programme First Up and was impressed to see new talent being given a chance, there is some really great talent that just need some exposure. Simon

I watched a program called Karrot on your channel and I am really interested in getting involved in fashion designing. I am 10 years old and I live in north London. How can I go about it to be involved in your project? Michelle

Hi First up! Let me start by saying keep up the good work giving new acts a chance to be seen and gain valuable experience etc... well done! Paul

Hey I watched first Up and was really impressed with the bands especially Six.Point.Five and Jajuka, although I have been able to find information on Six.Point.Five online other than this website so far I have been unsuccessful in finding anything about Jajuka, do they have a website or anything? Martine

Well don Stu and Tommy at doing First Up! you're doing a gr8 job so far - keep up the good work! good luck and lovin da show. Louise

I just can’t wait for the First Up music competition on 26th July. I’m in it as part of the ROC. The recoding was one of the best experiences of my life. Jamie Morley

I just want to say how good it is that you are doing a talent show without judgment, it makes a nice change to the judges on programmes like Pop Idol and Fame Academy. Rachel

I’ve been watching the Community Channel since I saw my friend on First Up and I really like some of the programmes and ideas that you give. Could I have some information on working in music please? Joanne Gibbons

Gorilla Gorilla

I have watched the doc Gorilla Gorilla and thought it was great will you be showing this again and will there be a follow up to see how they are getting on as I would like to be updated. I think that it is a wonderful thing that they have done. Corinne

Hard to Believe

I watched 'Hard to Believe' last night. It was one of the best things I've seen on TV for ages - inspiring, honest, hopeful, and gave words to things have been on my mind too. I've never seen any other programme that has tackled this important issue. How about a similar programme looking at the place of spirituality in living with physical illness? Brilliant. Keep up the good work! Elizabeth

Jon Snow Interviews

Thank you for the very inspiring interview with Victor Adebowale. I've been respectful of his excellent work for years. I'm impressed and proud to learn of Turning Point's growth and the difference he and his colleagues and their approach has made to so many lives. Here's hoping that he and you the Community Channel get to keep up the great works for another year. Dawna

I have just discovered this channel. It's great. I watched the Jon Snow interviews and was inspired to look on your site. Further on, I feel moved to write by the interview with John Bird and his and Jon Snow's support for volunteering. Maggie

Victor Adebowale is great. We need more reasonable down to earth people like him. Instant fan! Tracey

Life and Debt

I watched Life and Debt and was inspired to do something good with my time. Could you give me information on things happening in my area. Carol

Lunar Girl

I just watched a film called Lunar Girl on your channel and even though men aren't supposed to cry, I'm afraid I did. The way they tackled the social issues was so sensitive and it really struck a chord. I also adored the music. I'm going to watch it next time round and the next. David

I saw Lunar Girl for the first time last night ... it was wonderful .. Charlie Wilson is a most fantastic actress .. and so perfect for the part .. thank you. Steve Duvall

Watched Lunar Girl. A wicked film. Loved it! Oliviea

I watched Lunar Girl by accident, with my mum. We were hooked! It was absolutely BRILLIANT! We were laughing at the bit with the doctor, when she turned evil....LOVED her afro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was this film about? Mental Illness? Jemma

Hi. Just emailing to ask when you are showing Lunar Girl again as I simply loved it. James

MadforArts

It has been my anchor and continues to be so through very scary times in my life. Seeing and reading how other people cope and produce very positive art from negative times has given me hope that one day I will be back to the real me again....... I miss me. I would also like to thank all of you for your help during these times. Anon

It has given me a focus and the room to think about art, and what it means to me. Before Mad for arts I never thought art had anything to do with me and my life - But now I really do think there is a place for it and an important one. Anon

Mental Health Season

I chanced across your channel on TV last week in time to watch a programme about 2 people with MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder). Wow, what a relief to actually hear other people talking about their inners, about life with MPD. I have never met another person who is multi. It made me feel so 'normal', so heard. I want to thank you for showing the programme from the bottom of my heart. Josie

I watched a programme yesterday morning on your channel about different people talking about their depression. I am a mother to 6, 8 and 10 year old boys and I suffer from depression. I was so pleased to listen to other people who suffer aswell. It made me feel that I am not the only person who feels like this. Donna

Show Racism the Red Card

I have recently been viewing your programs on racism in football. Firstly I would like to say thank you and well done on them programs because being a 16 year old Asian crazy about football I have had to cope with racism all my life. I hope your efforts and programs make a difference. Z. Khan

I actually personally think racism is the worst thing in the world. And basically there is a lot of racism going in our school between the kids. I am a year nine student and I would really like my school to stick Football Against Racism Week (show Racism the Red Card) posters on the walls to help stop racism. Bye. A person who feels strongly about racism.

I think more young people should do volunteering. I have just started helping at a children’s football group and I get a lot out of helping the kids. Jonathan

Stigma

Stigma...saw it. Though whoever wrote that knows me inside out. I am totally scared to go near the front door, really can't cope with the post and the endless bills. I'm looking at a massive pile of post that I haven't opened for weeks right now. The postman scares me. I'm scared to go outside. The film said it all. Good to know that I'm not the only one freaking out over post I can't deal with. Kinda makes me feel a little better, in that I'm not the only one feeling this way. Kevin

Spooky masks, man! That's so me, I am wearing different masks all the time. No one at work knows how bad I feel, scared of what they might think. Stigma really does make me feel oppressed. Everyone said I should have stopped grieving after my dad died, but I couldn't so now I'm on anti depressants. And too embarrassed to tell anyone why. So I wear invisible masks just like the film. Most of time I look ok, but inside I am crying. R.A.

First time I've watched a programme and felt moved to send an email. The programme was called Stigma, the effect of it was immense. For years I've been hiding my mental ill health. I only leave my house when I feel ok, which is rare. My friends don't know I'm being treated for mental illness. I won't get into relationships because I am ashamed to admit that I tried to kill myself twice, and although I am better now I still suffer bad bouts of depression. My friends just think I'm moody or don't like them, because I won't return their calls or see them when I'm ill. But I'm too ashamed to tell them it's because I have a mental illness, just like what the film stigma said. I think the film really said it all, stigma really is about other people being prejudiced and putting others down. I wish I could show the film to all my friends, if stigma is on again please let me know I would like to get as many friends as possible to switch on their box and watch it. And just maybe I'll be able to have the courage to tell them what's wrong with me. Anon

Supershorts Season

The shorts programme, whether it be supershorts or otherwise, has been brilliant this November, and shows that the Community Channel has been forward thinking in showing the short film medium, which is an important form of expression. The films were clever, original and highly entertaining, covering many aspects of our lives. Shehzad

10 Weeks in Costa Rica

I have been watching your series about volunteering in Costa Rica I thought I’d let you know that because of it I’ve decided to sign up to volunteer abroad next year in my year out. Maybe you’ll be filming me next year! Paul

The Dying Rooms

I saw a programme called the Dying Rooms about Chinese orphans and I would like to find out about maybe raising money for them. Colin

Thank you all so much for all dedication and personal risk for highlighting the most barbaric and cruellest treatment to the most vulnerable people, conceived to die or to live and loose their very soul.. I strongly believe this programme should be repeated again. Karen

The Mosque

When is this fascinating programme going to be repeated, all my friends missed it. Abdulkarim

I would like to congratulate you and the rest of the team on a well presented documentary on the aspects of Islam and what it is all about. Being a Muslim I found the documentary very fulfilling and enjoyable when seeing real examples of Islam nature being broadcasted to many who view the program. Rashed

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 March 2008 )