A number of community groups in the South Lakes have received funding to take advantage of digital technology.
This grant is provided courtesy of full fiber broadband company Fibrus. Fibrus partnered with the Cumbria Community Foundation and in April 2023 he launched the Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria.
The company’s charity work over the past year has seen it donate a total of £60,000.
The fund was established with a focus on alleviating digital poverty and primarily targets people under 18 or over 60.
Among the winners is Sight Advice South Lakes, a charity dedicated to supporting people with vision loss.
The organization plans to use the funding to install a digital home demonstration suite at its Kendall office.
The suite gives visually impaired people the opportunity to try out smart home devices such as Amazon’s Alexa and voice-activated smart locks for lights, doors and window blinds.
Chief executive Claire Park said: “Voice devices have been a success story for many customers who already use them to listen to music, radio and audiobooks, but the next step is to “We want to ensure that we can carry out our work safely using the following.” their home.
“These devices can be expensive, so some of our customers say, ‘I want to try before I buy.’ So by installing a smart suite in our South Lakes office, you’ll be able to experience the benefits in home style. environment. “
Age UK South Lakeland was also a patron and received a grant that will be used to deliver free digital workshops and events to older people in the area.
These efforts will help you feel more confident when using online services for things like shopping, banking, and attending digital meetups and fitness classes.
Deputy CEO Hannah Kitching said: “Contrary to popular belief, many older people are actively embracing digital technology, but they often feel anxious about it.”
“This grant will enable us to provide them with the right support and guidance they need to use digital technology more confidently and reap all the benefits that come with it.”
Fibrus is investing more than £700m to bring full-fibre broadband to towns and villages across the North of England and Northern Ireland, driving the transformation of digital infrastructure forward.
The company has recently launched two new connected locations locally in Ambleside and Workington, adding to the homes in Aspatria and Staveley that were connected under the government’s Project Gigabit contract last year.
Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus, said: “We know how beneficial Fiber Fast broadband is for local communities, but we are acutely aware that digital poverty is a huge issue. That’s why this fund aims to help everyone get the most out of broadband.” Being connected.
“That’s why we’re excited to support so many great initiatives across the county.”
Jenny Benson, Director of Programs and Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Grants provided by the Fibbles Community Foundation can be life-changing.
“For example, young people can pay for devices that help them with their schoolwork or apply for their first job, and older people can access online services and stay connected with family and friends through Skype or Zoom. You can do it.”
Fibles opened the current grant application on April 22nd, with a deadline set for May 17th.
More information about the application process can be found on the Cumbria Community Foundation website.