A volunteer at Caldmore Community Gardens in Walsall has gone from being voted Friend of the Month to being trained as a radio producer at local WCR FM broadcasting online and 101.8 FM.  

Christopher O`Brien (pictured, playing an Irish whistle - photo credit Phil Buckley) ), who helped run the open mic nights at the White Lion pub  in Caldmore, is a regular volunteer at Caldmore Community Gardens in Carless Street in Walsall.  He trained in conservation and care of green spaces and enjoys helping out with the practical Men`s Shed projects on Mondays to help promote positive mental health.  

Before volunteering at Caldmore Community Gardens he volunteered at Walsall Creative Factory in the Butts at the open mic nights where he worked behind a sound desk because of his keen interest in music and sound engineering.  He helped Walsall Creative Factory continue the open mic nights during the COVID lockdown on social media to keep everyone connected and creative in Walsall.  

  "I enjoy volunteering" said Christopher "at Caldmore Community Gardens because it is good for the environment, the local community and cultivating local arts and culture.  When the White Lion was sadly closed down we moved the open mic nights to the Wheatsheaf pub in Birmingham Road in Walsall.  It`s important to support the local community and I was able to bring my skills from Walsall Creative Factory to Caldmore Community Gardens.  Championing a creative Walsall sounds a bit wishy washy but post lockdown, to me, there`s nothing more crucial".  

  Christopher`s hard work and skills came to the attention of community  radio station WCR FM when he was volunteering over the 3 days of the Wolverhampton Literature Festival with Walsall poets, authors and storytellers in February.  Christopher was invited to join the team producing radio programmes to provide a platform for the local community.  

  "It`s not a skill set or vocation that I ever thought about much" he said "or even the potential of radio broadcasts.  However, volunteering I`ve gained the skill sets required and I want to fulfil my own potential and see how far I can take it for the good of the local community."  

Christopher - and his Irish whistle - is a regular on the local open mic scene in Walsall and wants to bring his radio training back to Caldmore Community Gardens to do outside broadcasts.  

  "Christopher has been training with us since we saw his potential as a volunteer at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival" said Stuart Hickman, Programme Controller and Head of Training at WCR FM.  "He works hard, is very keen and wants to have his own shows.  He shows great promise and is a thoroughly nice guy as well."