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A leading mental health charity is rolling out vulnerable adult training to staff at full fibre broadband provider Fibrus.

Over 100 Fibrus team members – a third of its workforce – have successfully been trained by Inspire Wellbeing on how to work with vulnerable adults as part of their day-to-day role in customer services.

Covering topics like emotional intelligence and empathy, reflective listening, supportive communication techniques, managing challenging conversations and developing a person-centred approach to customer needs, the training has helped employees identify signs that a person may be vulnerable. It is also designed to improve how staff communicate with vulnerable individuals.

With an emphasis on the importance of breathing space for vulnerable customers, it’s critical for the company to think about an individual’s capacity to make a decision before proceeding with wider conversations about its services, according to Maria Moreno Diez, Senior Specialist in Learning and Development at Fibrus.

“As Fibrus has a high volume of employees who interact with the wider community on a daily basis, we are committed to engaging with the public in an appropriate and compassionate manner,” she said.

“That means it’s important all of our different teams – whether they be customer service, installations or network operation centre engineers – undertake such training. Sometimes it won’t be about making a decision but rather how we handle the interaction with a vulnerable adult, making sure a message is clear and understood.

“We have also undertaken a mental health awareness module and incorporated information about learning disabilities and substance abuse – issues that could impact how a vulnerable person makes a decision.”

Inspire Wellbeing’s Group Director of Care and Support Alex Bunting said it’s encouraging to see Fibrus provide this training to staff.

“Everyone is aware of the rising cost of living and we’re all on the lookout for better deals on utilities that can save us money,” he said.

“A person needs to be in the right frame of mind to make decisions that impact their health, their wellbeing and their finances. Not everyone is able to take in complex information on the doorstep or on the phone and weigh up the pros and cons of a particular course of action.

“It’s encouraging to see companies like Fibrus take their responsibilities as a service provider seriously by taking progressive action to ensure staff are aware of the vulnerabilities that customers, and potential customers, may have.”

Speaking after completing his training, fibre ambassador Daniel McKinless said the training was both vital and worthwhile.

“I am a great believer in treating people as you would like to be treated,” he said.

“The guidance around how to recognise a person who may be vulnerable and to ensure that we are patient and clear in our communication was particularly useful. The training as a whole certainly gave me something to think about when it comes to treating people with dignity and respect.”

At Fibrus, we are always looking for opportunities to make a positive impact in local communities, particularly by supporting participation in sport across Northern Ireland. 

That’s why we are delighted to announce that Fibrus is sponsoring Carryduff GAC’s 50^th Anniversary Golf Tournament which is taking place at Rockmount Golf Club on Thursday 8^th September.

Conor Harrison, Chief Delivery Officer at Fibrus, said: “Fibrus is always looking to engage with and support local communities and clubs in their sporting endeavours and is thrilled to be sponsoring Carryduff GAC’s 50^thAnniversary Golf Tournament.  

“We look forward to witnessing the skills and sportsmanship that will undoubtedly be on display at the tournament. We wish the players the very best of luck and hope that they enjoy celebrating this significant milestone for the club.”

As a manager in the corporate world, Sarah Davies is well aware of the importance of financial muscle.

But it’s muscle power of a different kind that dominates her free time away from the office. 

That’s because the 49-year-old Co Down native also happens to be an award-winning bodybuilder.

And although, in her own words, that often involves standing “on stage in a tiny bikini”, her husband and daughter could not be more proud of her.

It was a personal crossroads four years ago, however, that put Sarah on the road she now travels.

“I’d saved up for Botox but at the last minute I was too scared to go through with it,” said the mum-of-one, who works for local full-fibre broadband provider Fibrus.

“I decided to use my ‘Botox money’ to pay for personal training classes instead.”

The Bangor woman added: “There was a mental aspect to it as well. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety for many years so having this to focus on kept me going, especially during the pandemic.”

In 2019 Sarah competed with the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) and came second in the qualifiers in Belfast, followed by third place in the finals in Perth, Scotland.

Sarah, who’s married to IT engineer Clifford (53), with whom she has a 13-year-old daughter, Evie, adhered to a strict training regime during the Covid lockdown, entered the Belfast qualifiers of the BNBF in June and finished first in her category – Master’s Figure (for women over 40).

She also won the Overall Female for the Day prize and will compete in this weekend’s finals in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Getting competition-ready isn’t cheap, which is why Sarah is grateful that Fibrus, which is bringing hyperfast broadband across rural communities in Northern Ireland, has agreed to sponsor her.

“Fibrus has been amazingly supportive,” said Sarah.

“The flexibility I get working there means I can fit in my training and my family life without feeling compromised or short changed.

“My colleagues at Fibrus also love to support me and have been on this fitness journey with me.”

Daughter Evie is another big supporter and sees her mother as a role model – much to mum’s relief.

“I was worried that Evie would be embarrassed by the whole thing,” she said.

“But she was sitting in the front row at my last show and I could see her face beaming with pride.

“When they announced that I was the Overall Female winner I looked down and she was crying.”

Getting – not to mention staying – in shape for body building is probably as hard as it looks.

At the moment, I’m dropping calories so I can drop body fat to get as lean as possible on the stage,” said Sarah, who works from home.

“I’m still eating five or six times a day, which is quite a lot in comparison to some people.”

She also follows a strict timetable which starts with her getting up at 6am.

“I walk Evie round to the bus stop and then the dog and I go for an hour’s walk,” she said.

“That gets me back home at 8.45am and I’m ready to start my work with Fibrus.”

She trains every evening from 6.30 until 8, leaving “family time” for Saturdays and Sundays.

Her immediate goal is first place in the next competition, so that she can get her pro card and be classified as a professional bodybuilder.

Apart from the physique, strength of character is clearly something Sarah also has in abundance.

And she’ll always be “eternally grateful” to everyone who’s helped her along the way, including Mark O’Kane, who made her three bespoke sets of Fibrus-branded dumbbells for her journey to the finals.

Everything’s been going swimmingly for Buffy the Bufferfish since she first made a splash earlier this year.

So much so, Buffy is now fishing for compliments after being nominated for a prestigious creative award.

The Shark Awards, part of the international creative Kinsale Sharks Festival, highlight outstanding work in the fields of advertising, design, digital, short films, music, video and more.

Year after year, it is a huge draw for Irish and global talent, with creative people from all over the world descending on the Cork town for the festival.

Buffy has been nominated in the Film Craft – Animation (character animation) category.

Dominic Kearns, Chief Executive of Fibrus, said he was delighted with the nomination and wished Buffy the best of luck.

“This is a fantastic achievement for the Fibrus team and our creative partners at Genesis,” he said.

“Research shows there is a strong link between creativity and brand success, so to be nominated for such a prestigious award is testament to the strength of Buffy the Bufferfish. She truly has become an integral part of the Fibrus brand experience.

“When she sees consumers in troubled water and witnesses the trauma that is brought into households that have buffering broadband, meaning online gaming doesn’t work or movies can’t be streamed, she ‘buffs up’ in response.

“Buffy is at home when she’s going fibrefast. It’s that sense of creativity that has made her such a compelling character.”

The winners of the awards will be announced later this month.

Full fibre broadband provider Fibrus offers the fastest broadband speeds in most of Northern Ireland, according to new data.

Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence report, published yesterday, also said smaller providers, such as Fibrus, are sometimes fastest across cities and counties.

Similarly, the findings have revealed that local customers benefit from an improved broadband experience in comparison to their other UK counterparts.

The market insights survey showed that fixed broadband internet reached 86% of UK households at the end of 2021, with most customers having access to at least 30Mbps.

Local firm Fibrus, which is bringing hyperfast broadband to rural communities across Northern Ireland and Great Britain, has been hailed in the study for having “the fastest median download speed in four counties” when compared to a selection of the leading UK Fixed Broadband providers.

Fibrus co-founder and chief executive Dominic Kearns welcomed the results of the research.

“This report confirms the speed benefits and reliability our network provides our customers that choose to sign up to our service,” he said.

“Our position on the list – right next to larger competitors – is something we’re immensely proud of, given that we’re a relatively young company that was born during the Covid pandemic.

“We are happy to be rivalling almost all of our direct competitors within Northern Ireland and Great Britain and we will continue to do so because of our commitment to connecting communities and providing world-class broadband to areas that were previously living in digital darkness.

“Our network delivers the highest speeds across most counties while offering a competitive pricing model that rivals our competitors within Northern Ireland and GB.”

Mr Kearns said Fibrus would strive to make excellent broadband a reality for customers at home and further afield.

“While phone and TV companies use slow copper networks from the cabinet to the premises, Fibrus offers ‘full fibre’ all the way to the premises,” he said.

“This method is the global benchmark for providing world class performance and faster network speeds.

“Consumers should no longer accept a service that delivers poor performance.

“People want instant speed and to trust the delivery of their broadband provider, and that’s what they’ll get with a full fibre service from Fibrus.”

For further details on our packages and speeds available, please visit: www.fibrus.com and check your postcode today. 

Fibrus has released an update on its build progress across its commercially funded and subsided programmes in Northern Ireland and the North of England. It also provides an update on the operational capacity it is building across the new territories in which it operates.

The company announced at the end of September 2022, it had passed 190,000 premises and remains on target for a total of 250,000 by the end of this financial year (Mar 23).

On Project Stratum, the company remains ahead of schedule having now delivered over 50% of the contracted premises.  This programme remains on course, to be delivered on time for the Department of the Economy.

Fibrus has also recently completed the build programme for the Full Fibre Northern Ireland (FFNI) Consortium of Councils. FFNI contracted Fibrus to deliver full fibre service to over 950 public sector sites across 10 council areas.

In Northern Ireland, Fibrus is targeting a total build of 350,000, but plans to grow this with ‘infill’ projects in areas contiguous with its network. One such initiative is ‘Project Halo’,  covering the smallest villages and settlements in NI supported by the Project Gigabit voucher scheme, which continues to make these projects commercially viable to build.

In Great Britain, Fibrus alongside its primary delivery partner, Viberoptix, has set up a new strategic site in Penrith, Cumbria, enabling both companies to co-ordinate their localised build in the North of England. This site will act as a training school and centre of excellence for rural fibre delivery and will also provide fully serviced accommodation for employees and subcontractors, who are travelling to the area to deliver the programme.

Having previously announced its commercial build locations in Cumbria, Fibrus is soon to announce its plans for the North East in Northumberland and Durham.

In terms of future plans, Fibrus has said its medium term goal is to deliver 500,000 premises by March 2024 and then look at assisting ‘Scotland’ with its full fibre ambitions. This will see the company developing a build engine that will deliver 250,000 premises per year, an output which it will maintain thereafter.

Speaking on the build and operational update, the company’s Chief Delivery Officer Conor Harrison said:

“Building networks at pace is a resource intensive business and our organisation is continuing to grow to meet the demands of our full fibre network roll out. We are expanding our operational capabilities in the new areas we are now operating and we’re delighted with the quality of talent that are choosing to invest their careers in Fibrus.

“We are completely focused on the task and continue to deliver all our programmes on time and within budget.  Project Stratum as an example, is a highly challenging rural build,  we are rolling out over 12km of network a day.

“With this level of output and the continued growth of our build capacity, we are well placed to deliver over 1 million homes in the future, many of which will be the most rural and remote premises across the UK.”

Rathfriland Football Club has scored a game changing junior team sponsorship deal with leading broadband provider Fibrus.

The Northern Ireland-based company, which is bringing full fibre broadband to homes and businesses across the UK, will be providing financial backing as the club’s junior team sponsor.

Patrick McManus, Delivery Manager at Fibrus, said it was a “real honour” to partner with the Co Down club, who’s clubhouse has recently been connected by Fibrus’ hyperfast full fibre broadband.

“At Fibrus, we are extremely proud to officially launch our sponsorship of Rathfriland Football Club’s Junior team,” he said.

“We very much look forward to facilitating with the progression of the young players and helping the club develop even further within the sport.

“We are inspired by their incredible and unfaltering commitment and dedication to their sport.”

Bobby McDowell, Vice Chairman at Rathfriland FC, said: “We are a rural community club here in Rathfriland, continually aiming to develop both on the pitch and off it through our facilities.

“We recently opened our new clubhouse extension and since having Fibrus installed we have seen a dramatic improvement in our broadband speeds.”

He added: “Every weekend our clubhouse is a hive of activity with both juniors and seniors and with patchy mobile coverage, our wi-fi plays a key role in our clubhouse. It is great to see a local broadband company investing back into our local communities; we really appreciate the support we have received from Fibrus.”

James Costello, Youth Development Officer at Rathfriland FC, said: “We want to say a sincere thank you to Fibrus for their much-appreciated support to our club for the sponsorship provided.

“As a local youth football club, with a growing population of both players and teams each year it is imperative we continue to provide opportunities for kids to play football.

“We thank Fibrus for allowing our 2016 team to play this year, in a cool looking kit! We look forward to proudly promoting the Fibrus name through some silky skills on the football pitch from all our boys and girls!”

Fibrus said the sponsorship deal with the Co Down team is a good fit for the company which recently installed its full fibre broadband in the local area.   

The broadband infrastructure was rolled out by Fibrus Networks Ltd, the region’s fastest growing telecoms provider, specialising in full fibre solutions for rural and regional communities.

Why is rural internet slow and how can it be improved?

If you live or work in a rural area, it can be difficult to secure a strong and reliable internet connection.

With the internet becoming an essential aspect of more and more people’s lives, slow internet can have effects that are much more detrimental than the general headache of a slow-loading page.

For businesses or people who work from remote areas, fast rural internet is essential for many aspects of the modern workplace, such as streaming, downloading and video calls. Regardless of where you work from, your internet access shouldn’t hinder the work-day.

But for those still struggling with endless lagging, slow downloads and pixelated video calls, we’ve compiled some helpful tips on how to fix slow rural internet.

What can cause slow rural internet?

Across the UK, Northern Ireland and Scotland suffer from slower rural internet speeds than England. Some areas struggle to get a 2Mb download speed.

There are several reasons internet speed may be slower in these areas:

• Poor infrastructure: Rural areas are more likely to use outdated technology and the rollout of fibre optic cables has been much slower in more remote areas.
• Hard to reach: Remote areas may be further away from the telephone exchanges that deliver broadband. As a result, it can be difficult for a strong broadband signal to reach rural homes and offices, resulting in slower speeds.
• Expensive to install: With rural areas being less densely populated, it becomes expensive for providers to set up and maintain rural internet connections. 

How can I get faster rural internet?

When it comes to securing faster rural internet, a few measures can be taken to ensure your working day is not interrupted by the frustrations of slow broadband:

• A temporary 4G solution: Although 4G is most used on mobiles, it can also be used to get other devices online. However, 4G is much less reliable than broadband, and can prove expensive for data intensive tasks like video calling, streaming or downloading large files. As a result, it’s not recommend that it replaces broadband within homes or businesses.
• Use managed internet access: A method for providing connectivity for businesses, a managed internet access connection is delivered directly to the internet, exclusively for your business. It is not always faster than fibre broadband and is more expensive due to its dedicated connectivity. Installation lead times can take months

Although these methods may prove to be the answer to fuelling your home with the necessity of faster broadband, they each have significant shortcomings.

For home and living in rural areas, the solution may lie in changing to a more reliable broadband provider.

Fibrus is providing hyperfast, reliable rural internet

Switching to a broadband provider that specialises in remote areas can be the most full-proof way of ensuring internet speed that will support your business rather than interrupting it.

At Fibrus, we’re dedicated to making sure that rural areas don’t get left behind in the digital revolution. For people working in the rural areas of Northern Ireland, this means getting access to Fibrefast full fibre cable broadband, regardless of where you work from.

If you’re a home or business in a rural area and your everyday tasks are being impeded by frustratingly slow internet speeds, make the switch to the only broadband company in Northern Ireland bringing full fibre optic connectivity to most remote locations. Find out if you can get Fibrefast Full Fibre Broadband in your area, and then from there, the switch to Fibrus is easy.

What internet does my business need?

If you’re running a business in a rural area, it’s essential to work with fibrefast and hypervalue fibre that is specifically tailored to meet business needs.

Fibrus’ deliver fibre right to your premises to help with all the drawbacks caused by slow internet.

Choose the speed option that suits your needs, and if your needs change, simply upgrade or downgrade.

All of our rural internet business packages include setup, asymmetric speeds, unlimited downloads, support, and the option of add-ons. 

Slow rural internet can have detrimental effects on a company-wide level, from the affected productivity of employees to failed video meetings, to unhappy customers.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Fibrus can support your work in a rural area, get in contact today or call our expert team on 028 9099 3230

Telecommunications and broadband provider Fibrus has announced the latest recipients of its £55,000 community fund. 

The Fibrus Community Fund, which aims to address digital poverty in rural Northern Ireland, is managed in partnership with the Community Foundation Northern Ireland, awarding grants that enable local groups and organisations access to digital technology.  

The fund has a particular focus on supporting grassroots organisations that support older people and young people aged 18 and under. 

19 organisations received funding through the latest tranche. 

Sensory Kids is one of the recipients and will use their £2,000 award to integrate technology into its learning programmes. The Broughshane charity provides children and young adults with a safe and secure environment aimed at reducing anxieties and promoting their development, as well supporting parents to understand and support their children’s needs.  

Sensory Kids Youth worker, Kathryn Davidson, said:  

“Sensory Kids aims to enhance children’s development through play by offering early intervention to those who may or may not have a diagnosis. 

“This a very welcome boost from the Fibrus Community Fund will help enhance our services and resources for the young people we work with. 

“We plan to incorporate technology into our youth group with iPads to help young people learn life skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills, with a view to learning how to cook and boost their own personal care.” 

Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer, Fibrus, said:  

“Fibrus is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. By investing through our Fibrus Community Fund, we are able to give back to some of the organisations like the outstanding Sensory Kids, doing wonderful work to enhance and support our thriving towns and villages across Northern Ireland.  

“It is embedded in our culture that we continue to support projects which are specifically aimed at young people who have a need for increased access to technology or connectivity, as well as initiatives that combat digital exclusion amongst the elderly or those more vulnerable in our society. We wish Sensory Kids, and all of the other successful applicants every best wish for the future.” 

Marcus Cooper, Fund Development Manager at Community Foundation NI, said:  

“We are delighted with the awarding of this funding, growing the ability of rural communities to stay connected.  

“Addressing digital exclusion is a priority for the Community Foundation NI and this fund is tackling this head on.  

“Many groups and charities working directly with isolated or vulnerable members of our communities in rural areas are telling us that strong and sustainable broadband in their area is vital. The access now provided through the Fibrus Community Fund to purchase devices to get online and to build computer skills is an opportunity that will only boost the ability to stay connected.” 

To learn more about the latest round of the Fibrus Community Fund, visit www.communityfoundationni.org.

7 Movies to watch this Halloween

Haunted houses, graveyards, and ghost hunts should be the only things providing horror this Halloween, not the Wi-Fi being down or the cost. That’s why at Fibrus, our ultrafast broadband deals will make sure your scary movies aren’t more terrifying than they need to be with lagging and buffering. 

Ultrafast Broadband Deals and Benefits.

As the only broadband company in Northern Ireland that exclusively uses fibre optic cable to connect our customers homes, Fibrus delivers all the perks of ultrafast broadband straight to customers’ homes. Here are the benefits that you’ll get as Fibrus customer:

• As a Fibrefast and Hypervalue  local broadband provider, you’ll get full fibre broadband delivered straight to your door. Once installed, we’re on hand to provide expert and local customer support, whenever you need it. 
• Video on demand, which means you can stream HD or 4K TV, watch catch-up services, YouTube videos & live events without any buffering. 
• Social networking with no interruptions thanks to fast upload speeds. 
• An unrivalled gaming experience with reduced lag time. 
• Seamless remote working capabilities and ensured productivity with no interruptions to your connection. 
• HD video calling without any lags or pixelation.
• All customers benefit from free installation, no line rental, and a free router with Wi-Fi. 

So with the assurance of fibrefast speed at an affordable price, relax as best you can, turn the lights off and get into the spooky spirit with a film. Here are our top picks…

1. Hocus Pocus (PG)

When three outlandishly wild witches are accidentally resurrected by some unassuming teenagers, chaos expectedly ensues. Now, all that stands between the 300-year-old trio casting a spell on the entire town is three teenagers and a talking cat. Full of many fun and bewitching comedy, Hocus Pocus is a guaranteed family favourite. 

2. Casper (PG)

Seeing is believing in this family comedy about Casper, the friendly spirit who wants nothing more than a friend, and his less friendly uncles who are determined to drive all the living out of the home. Once Casper manages to befriend Cat, the daughter of an afterlife therapist hired to exorcise the mansion, it’s up to the three to help the ghosts cross over to the other side. Heart-warming and humorous, this is another one for the family. 

3. Ghost Busters (12)

Who you gonna call? This 80s classic follows the adventures of oddball scientists Venkman, Stantz, and co. as they battle against ghouls, goblins, and ghosts of all sizes. Will they manage to save the Big Apple from untold evil? The infectiously funny blend of comedy, a pitch-perfect cast and sci-fi has earned its status as a Halloween classic for a reason. 

4. The Addams Family (PG-13)

Creepy, kooky and all-together ooky, the film sees long-last Uncle Fester reappear after twenty-five years in the Bermuda Triangle. However, suspicion over Fester’s sincerity soon arises when no one can recall details of his life. This film mixes slick wittiness with a macabre sentiment, making it perfect for Halloween with the family.  

5. Halloween (18)

This list would be incomplete without the film that namechecks the holiday in its title. Halloween starts on a cold Halloween night in 1963, when six-year-old Michael Myers brutally murders with teenage sister. After being locked away for years, he escapes and starts looking for his next victims, exactly 15 years after his first murder. Terrifying, suspenseful and nothing short of nerve-frying, this isn’t just another scary film, it set the standard for all horror films that follows.

6. The Exorcist (18)

Five decades later, this Oscar-winning flick still holds the title of one of the most terrifying movies of all time. The thriller follows a young mother who tries to exorcise her daughter after she becomes possessed by the devil. With remarkable special effects, gruesome scenes and a chilling realisticness, it’s no wonder people had to be escorted out of the cinema while watching. A landmark of a film but not for the faint-hearted. 

7. Paranormal Activity (18)

Indie horror flick made on an incredibly tiny budget, Paranormal Activity turns a simple haunted house story into 90 minutes of torturous stress. The film follows a young couple who set up a camera in their home after witnessing strange phenomena throughout the night. What ensues is frightening suspense that doesn’t rely on monsters or blood, but your own imagination filling in the blanks. 

Now that you have a list of Halloween flicks sorted, all you need is a ultrafast broadband deal to watch without the fear of interruptions. Check out our Fibrefast Broadband Postcode checker for our spooktacular deals and see if we’re available in your area, or contact Fibrus where our dedicated team can talk you through our Ultrafast Broadband Deals. 

Ts&Cs apply, subject to availability.