Diversity in Barrier-Breaking Communications (DBBC) to close

Award-winning broadcasting charity Diversity in Barrier-Breaking Communications (DBBC) is struggling for funding.

The group, which was set up in 1999 by Dorothy Martland MBE, helped to inspire people into further education or into new careers.

Former teacher Mrs Martland and her small group of volunteers set up DBBC to use radio broadcasting techniques to train and inspire people of all ages and abilities. The group relied on the support of a number of national and local organisations but made the difficult decision to close after funding dried up.

Over the last 16-years, 2,500 local people – from schoolchildren to adults – have been helped by the DBBC. Many have gained accredited qualifications and went on to volunteer with the town centre-based organisation.

Mrs Martland said: “We retire with many very happy memories of the success of our students. Their achievements and their sense of worth as they realised their potential are an abiding source of satisfaction to myself and the team at DBBC. We have to pay tribute to the members of DBBC —– Anne Wilson, Martin Ellison, Jamie Blatchley and Alan Martland, who have been with the charity from the early years. There are many ex-students in the Bolton area who we are sure would like to wish them well.”

DBBC specialised in improving the lives of students from secondary schools who lacked confidence and needed one-to-one coaching. The group also worked with older students who needed employability skills to help their careers.

The charity's committee said that often the students would face “many barriers to employment” including low confidence, poor communication skills and low motivation, with some suffering depression and feelings of isolation. Their time at DBBC changed all that.

The DBBC's radio training techniques have been emulated by many other organisations — and today many communities, schools and organisations have a radio station. In 2002, it was awarded a National Training Award at the Guild Hall in London

As well as developing their skills, young people at the DBBC have taken part in specialist projects, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, including “How Granny Won The War” where they interviewed senior citizens about their experiences in World War II.

More recently they completed a project based on the First World War and the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915, in which they remember the local men who died in the campaign. A commemorative book was produced and available from Bolton Library.

In 2005 DBBC made a bid for a community radio broadcasting licence for Bolton, instigating the development of Bolton FM. In 2012, DBBC was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and the same year Mrs Martland was awarded the MBE for “for services to education”.

The organisation was also mentioned in Parliament by the former MP Brian Iddon.

The charity had hoped to find a partner organisation to ensure the work DBBC was doing would continue, but despite hopes this did not materialise and say trustees, closure is inevitable.

All students enrolled with the organisation will complete their course before the DBBC broadcasts for the last time.

Those who need to pick up their certificates are asked to do so as soon as possible.