Shropshire’s new community radio station is offering charities an out-of-this-world chance to reach out to a new audience – by joining it in space for free.

INTune Radio is planning a spectacular Charity Space Odyssey this Spring which it says will give good causes and businesses across the county the chance to give their profiles a stellar boost.

Appropriately, the event – a three hour balloon flight beyond the atmosphere to 100,000ft above the Earth – will be streamed on May 4th, known as Star Wars day because of the movie franchise’s iconic May the Force Be With You slogan.

INTune founding director Wayne Flynn said the station wanted as many charities as possible to join it for free on the trip into space to help raise their profiles and celebrate their brilliant work.

He said businesses were also being offered a range of unique sponsorship and advertising opportunities linked to the flight and he was also keen to hear from any company which could help stage a special event on May 4 to mark the day.

“INTune is the new commercial radio station covering the whole of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin with a mission to support local business, charities and communities.

“As part of that mission we are staging a Charity Space Odyssey on May 4 which will see the first broadcast of the video from our hot air balloon’s trip into space, which will have taken place a few days earlier.

“We want as many charities as possible to join us to help raise awareness of their work. You’ll join a host of other charities highlighted in a special slide show presentation with your slide including your charity logo, contact point and description screened simultaneously next to our journey as we venture into space.

“We also want to stage a big, fun event on May 4 itself to mark the broadcast and are keen to hear from any company which can help out.”

Wayne said businesses were also being offered the chance to sponsor the event.

“You and our charity partners will ascend above the Earth’s surface, arriving in space for around six minutes before descending. The whole event will be captured by on-board 360° video cameras and viewed later through our website and social media.”

Those taking part would benefit from their brands being filmed in space on the balloon – as well as promotional opportunities on INTune itself and its website and social media channels, Wayne said.

“This is a truly unique and exclusive opportunity for any business or charity within the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin area that wants to be part of our breath-taking journey to celebrate the amazing work all our local charities provide.

“Each of these balloon trips to space is typically watched by around 100,000 people so it’s an unmissable opportunity for both businesses and charities.”

INTune was working with specialist brand and marketing company Sent into Space to organise the flight, which would ‘be the most memorable event your organisation will ever be involved with’, Wayne added.

Charities can get involved by simply filling in the form on the INTune website here: https://intune-radio.co.uk/charity-space-odyssey. Applications should be submitted by March 31.

Businesses can find out more about sponsorship opportunities here ITR-CSO-Brochure.pdf (intune-radio.co.uk) or by contacting Wayne at info@intune-radio.co.uk, again before March 31