Urban Voices Community Media Ltd.

Tomorrow, Urban Voices Community Media Ltd turns one year old.

So naturally, the birthday-eve celebrations involved… a bus into town, a trip to the mailbox, a Companies House letter, an authentication code, and me slowly but determinedly doing the glamorous founder walk back through the admin swamp. Rock and roll, pet. 🎂📄

But honestly, it matters.

Today I was able to add Urban Voices Community Media Ltd to my Companies House account properly, using the authentication code that finally arrived at the company mailbox. Tomorrow, when the official PSC verification window opens, I’ll be able to complete the next bit of statutory admin and submit UVCM’s first confirmation statement.

It might sound boring from the outside, but for me this is another proper little milestone.

A year ago, Urban Voices Community Media Ltd became real on paper. Since then, it has slowly grown from an idea into a developing community media organisation with serious plans, real infrastructure, policies, platforms, projects, training ideas, public-interest journalism concepts, and a ridiculous amount of behind-the-scenes graft.

It has not been glamorous. It has not been quick. It has definitely not been easy. Some days it has been more “bold founder energy” and other days it has been “woman with a walking stick, a laptop, and a suspicious amount of determination trying not to fall over in Newcastle city centre.”

But it is still moving.

One year in, Urban Voices is still here. Still building. Still learning. Still finding its voice.

And tomorrow, apparently, it gets birthday paperwork instead of cake.

Very Companies House. Very festive. 🤣

🚨 BREAKING: Under-16 social media ban: Starmer "this ban has to happen and will happen"

Sir Keir Starmer has made one of the strongest commitments yet to banning under-16s from major social media platforms, saying the ban “has to happen and will happen.”

And yes, the irony is not lost on us.

We are posting this breaking update on social media.

The proposed ban is expected to target major platforms used by young people, including apps such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and other large social media services.

The announcement marks a major shift in UK online safety policy, with the government now moving from debate to action on children’s access to social platforms.

But the big questions remain:

How will this be enforced?
What age verification systems will be used?
Which platforms will be included?
What happens to messaging apps, gaming chats, livestreaming and AI tools?
And how will the UK balance child safety, privacy, digital inclusion, free expression and access to support communities?

This is live, unfolding, and potentially one of the biggest changes to young people’s online lives in years.

Urban Voices News will continue following developments as more details are confirmed.

📲 Posted on social media.
Because apparently irony is now government policy.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS: ISS CREW ORDERED TO SHELTER 🚨

It is being reported that astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been ordered by NASA to shelter in their docked spacecraft and prepare for a potential evacuation.

Early reports suggest this is connected to a worsening air leak in the Russian section of the ISS, with Russian crew members understood to be working to address the issue.

At this stage, this should be treated as an emergency precaution — not confirmation that the ISS has been abandoned or that an evacuation is already underway.

Sheltering in docked spacecraft is a serious safety measure. It means the crew are positioned close to their return vehicles so they can leave quickly if flight controllers decide the station is no longer safe.

The ISS has faced recurring concerns around air leaks in parts of its Russian segment for several years, and today’s developments appear to mark a significant escalation in precautionary planning.

This is a developing story, and official updates from NASA and international space agencies will be important in confirming exactly what is happening.

Urban Voices News will continue monitoring the situation.

What a lovely sunny afternoon across the North East of England today - perfect for a spot of gardening with Urban Voices Radio the playing the best hits from across the decades!

Listen to Urban Voices Radio right now here 👇

https://urbanvoices.live

🚨 Big changes for landlords & private renters – effective 1 May 2026.🚨

🔔 Big changes for landlords & private renters – effective 1 May 2026

The Renters’ Rights Act is nearly here, and it’s set to reshape how tenancies work across England. Whether you let property or rent one, these changes matter.

What’s changing?
🔒 End of ‘no‑fault’ evictions – Section 21 is being abolished. Ending a tenancy will require a valid reason.
📆 Monthly rolling tenancies – Fixed terms are out; periodic tenancies become the norm.
💷 Stronger rent controls – Rent increases limited to once a year, with no more than one month’s rent taken in advance.
🐾 More flexibility on pets – Tenants gain the right to request a pet, and refusals must be justified.
⚖️ New Landlord Ombudsman – Faster, fairer dispute resolution through a dedicated service.

Why the Renters' Right Act matters:
✔️ Renters gain greater security and stability
✔️ Landlords face new legal responsibilities
✔️ Letting practices will need to adapt to stay compliant

📌 Landlords - now is the time to review how you manage tenancies and prepare for the changes ahead.

📖 Read the official guidance and find out what action you may need to take – 🔗 in the comments.

✅ Staying informed today helps you stay compliant tomorrow.

🎬 Behind the scenes at Urban Voices Community Media…

This is being built from the ground up — step by step.

From radio and news to TV, training and live events,
Urban Voices Community Media isn’t a finished product.

It’s an evolving, working environment where things are being developed in real time.

There’s a lot happening behind the scenes:

— Building platforms
— Developing workflows
— Testing ideas
— Creating content
— Laying the foundations properly

It’s not a big team.
It’s not polished.
It’s not instant.

But it is real — and it’s moving forward.

If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to build something like this…

👉 you’re going to see it.

Media you take part in.

So… what can you actually get involved in at Urban Voices Community Media?

Quite a lot, actually.

This isn’t about sitting on the side-lines — it’s about getting involved and gaining real-world, hands-on experience across multiple areas of media.

🎓 Broadcast & media training
🎙️ Live radio and audio production
📰 Journalism, reporting & storytelling
🎬 TV & video production
🎪 Live events & Urban Voices PopUps
🏙️ Community media projects
🤝 Collaborations with local organisations and creatives

.....and so much more

Everything is built around one idea:

👉 learning by doing

Not just theory. Not just watching. Actually taking part.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or building on what you already know, there’s space to get involved and develop real skills.

📩 Interested? 👇

👉 Drop us a message
👉 Follow the journey
👉 Get involved as things develop

📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://urbanvoicescommunitymedia.org

Media you take part in.

Home - URBAN VOICES COMMUNITY MEDIA Published 4-6 times per year, get your free digital magazine featuring stories from our communities across the Northeast & Cumbria — articles, projects, events, spotlights & more — plus updates on what Urban Voices Community Media is building and learning....

🚨 NEW UK LAW ALERT: SUBSCRIPTIONS, REFUNDS & YOUR RIGHTS 🚨

Something big is changing in the UK—and most people haven’t even heard about it yet.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 is bringing in new rules to stop companies messing people about with subscriptions, refunds, and sneaky tactics.
Here’s what it means for YOU 👇

💳 NO MORE SUBSCRIPTION TRAPS
No more “free trial” that quietly turns into a paid subscription without warning.
Companies will have to remind you before they take your money.

🚪 CANCELLING MUST BE EASY
If you signed up online—you must be able to cancel online.
No more hunting for hidden buttons or being forced to ring up.

❄️ EXTRA REFUND RIGHTS
You’ll have 14 days to cancel even after a subscription renews—and in some cases, get your money back.

💸 CLEAR PRICING ONLY
No more “£5 a month” turning into £12 at checkout.
What you see MUST be what you pay.

⭐ FAKE REVIEWS & HIDDEN ADS – CRACKED DOWN
Businesses MUST be honest about reviews and paid promotions.
No more pretending ads are genuine opinions.

⚖️ STRONGER ENFORCEMENT
The Competition and Markets Authority can now take quick action directly against companies that break the rules.

—

🧠 WHY THIS MATTERS

Too many people have been:

❌ Trapped in subscriptions
❌ Given “account credit” instead of real refunds
❌ Pressured into accepting less than they’re entitled to
This law is designed to change that.

—

📣 OUR TAKE

At Urban Voices Community Media Ltd., we believe in:

✔ Transparency
✔ Fair treatment
✔ No nonsense

This is a step in the right direction—but we’ll be keeping a close eye on how it’s actually enforced.

—

💬 HAVE YOU BEEN CAUGHT OUT?

Ever been:
• Refused a proper refund?
• Stuck with account credit?
• Charged for something you didn’t realise you signed up to?

Drop your experience below 👇

Let’s talk about it.