Since 2008, social entrepreneur and broadcaster, Dom Chambers, has been driving a unique and contemporary media agenda that aims to improve the lives of people and their communities.
The resulting award-winning work benefits key groups through building communication skills, creativity and confidence in inclusive and non-judgmental skills-based learning environments. Outcomes include reducing the pressure on public services and helping some of the most disadvantaged young people in our communities to become contributing and fulfilled citizens.
In 2008, Dom set up the community radio station Somer Valley FM, which he ran as Station Manager in Somerset for 12 years. This forward-thinking local radio station brought together educational purposes and community development with grassroots media. It was one of 48 businesses in the UK to receive the Princess Royal Award for Training and this honour came with an additional commendation for Diversity and Inclusion.
In 2017, he launched the Somer Valley Education Trust CIO an evolution of his work at Somer Valley FM. The charity later rebranded to Sound Vision and was conceived to build the capacity of his innovative approach to local and regional training programmes. In tandem with this Dom's Media Education, Training & Skills (METS) programme was awarded Community Development Project of the Year at the 2018 Community Radio Awards. Since then Dom has refined approaches from METS based on trainee feedback and used these as the building blocks of the Sound Academy programmes. They are designed to help meet significant societal challenges around wellbeing and employability whilst empowering voices less heard.
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As a former Art College student, I feel encouraging and nurturing the creative process is the key foundation to building self-belief. I work to ensure we have safe and inclusive spaces across all of Sound Vision’s training programmes where people will not be laughed at for making an effort or when trying new things. That is the starting point for opening up new opportunities and finding the best way forward.
Dom Chambers, Sound Vision CEO
Dom also furthers the charity's aims to build resilience in the not-for-profit media sector by serving on the boards of The Radio Academy and The Community Media Association, the latter he chaired twice. As a Radio Academy trustee, he chaired the Audio & Radio Emergency Fund during the Covid-19 pandemic. This aided those in the radio and audio sector who were facing hardship or needing help to continue working from home.
Dom has extensive experience in the media sector as a radio broadcast professional for 25 years. He uses this rich expertise to personally support the creation of podcasts as part of Sound Production, including working with DHI and Well Wessex. He explores the educational and community value of local radio as well as themes around mental health.
In his spare time, Dom voluntarily presents a weekly conversational interview, Life Stories, on Care Radio. Launched in 2021 Care Radio is a national station aimed at supporting the estimated 9 million people working in care in the UK. He also regularly presents his video Dom's Diary which documents his global adventures in search of awesome personal stories of triumph over adversity.
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Ultimately for me, Sound Vision is about people and the impact of being truly inclusive. Nothing is more meaningful than seeing a young person with autism land a good job, seeing a teenager with an eating disorder find a fulfilling life or an ex-offender progress into employment. These are the stories and hundreds like them, that drive me forward.
Dom Chambers, Sound Vision CEO
