Media regulator Ofcom has handed out just over £225,000 in Community Radio Fund grants.
The second and final round of funding for the 2009/10 financial year saw 39 stations apply for over £800,000 in grants but just 14 handed money.
The largest grant went to a group of Greater Manchester-based community radio stations led by Stockport's Pure 107.8 – just under £40,000 for a Regional Account Manager for 12 stations including ALL FM, Gaydio and Bolton FM which between them serve around two million people.
Other significant awards were given to Bishop FM and Belfast's Blast 106 for Station Managers along with three smaller grants to newly-launched Christian station Flame CCR on the Wirral.
However, the regulator noted the low quality of a number of funding applications, saying that several failed to include basic information such as job descriptions or follow the notes of guidance on the application form. Ofcom has said that further joint applications such as that from Manchester would be welcomed in the future.
Earlier in 2009, the fund was criticised in a Twitter campaign by organisations including the Community Media Association for being under-resourced. A petition to the Prime Minister in support of an increase in the fund's resources received almost 3,500 signatures.