Category: Uncategorised

• Name:

Jennifer Taylor

• Job title:

Marketing Campaign Specialist

• Where are you from?

I’m originally from Scotland but I’ve lived in Northern Ireland for the past 15 years in Derry-Londonderry.

• What do you like to do in your free time?

I love spending time with kids and husband, going to the beach, and going on vacation to sunnier climates.

• What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about my charity work, in which I endeavour to raise awareness and funds for mental health charities in Northern Ireland. Over the past 3 years I’ve helped raise £35,000 for local charities. I run a Pageant called Miss Shining Light, and hundreds of men and women have taken part and grown in confidence and raised tens of thousands for charity. I’m also passionate about writing (when I get time) and have recently self-published my first book ‘The Blue Boathouse’.

• What’s something you saw recently that made you smile/laugh?

My daughter loves the TV Show ‘Bluey’ and I loved watching the episode called ‘Army’ about a little pup with ADHD who finally found his little place in the world.

• How do you like to wind down from your day?

I love to read and spend a lot of my free time finding new books to read.

• What does your typical day in Fibrus look like?

It’s busy and varies from hour to hour, working on a legacy campaign one hour and the next an upcoming activation, and then working on a promotional offer. No two days are the same and that’s something I really enjoy!

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Being part of a productive and successful marketing team, working to enhance our brand and offer fibrefast broadband to rural communities to lead us on our journey of becoming industry leaders.

• What’s your go-to productivity trick?

Listening to some upbeat atmospheric music while I work and making sure I am clear on my objectives and goals.

• What led you to this career?

When I was younger I wanted to work in Celebrity PR lol which lead me to studying Marketing at University.

• What motivates you at work?

The team around me. The Marketing team and wider company is full of motivated, clever and experienced people who I’m honoured to learn from on a daily basis.

• What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?

From a dear friend who is no longer with us. He said “Know your worth and never settle for less.” That motivates me daily and always makes me push to be the best version of myself.

• What book, movie, music, etc. changed your outlook on life?

I am a massive Harry Potter fan and have been for over 20 years. It made me see the world differently, the magic within in it and to quote Dumbledore; ‘Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’

• If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

The world can be a horrible place, but it’s also full of really lovely selfless people. If I had a superpower, it would be to amplify the goodness in people, so it radiates to all.

• What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?

I’ve always dreamt of visiting Dubai or the Maldives. They are top of my travel bucket list.

Our Mission at Fibrus is to cause Zero Harm to our People, Planet and Communities.

Sustainability is a key pillar within our corporate strategy and aligns to our core values. We are committed to embedding and implementing sustainability practices and driving real change throughout our business and supply chains.

Fibrus are committed to sustainability and to becoming a Carbon Net Zero business by 2040.

Key milestones on our sustainability journey so far:

• Fleet transiting to EV by 2025
• 100% renewable energy tariff for all our operations
• Partnering with Cumbria Wildlife Trust to deliver our pollinator programme ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing Not Buffering’

Rachel Bain, our Environmental & Sustainability Specialist said:

“At Fibrus we are fortunate to have colleagues who are highly invested and motivated in making how we live and work more sustainable and environmentally greener, more inclusive, fairer and more equal for all.”

• Name:
  

Lenny White.

• Job title:
  

Desk Sales Agent.

• Where are you from?
  

Millisle.

• What do you like to do in your free time?
  

I really enjoy eating out, watching box sets and visiting friends.

• When are you at your happiest?19
  

When I’m sitting on a plane that’s about to take off!

• What are you passionate about?
  

I’m really passionate about my charity work and also spending time with family. My kids are my everything. Even though they drive me crazy at times I love to spoil and take good care of them.

I am also a dementia friendly barber and this is such an important part of my life. I get to meet the most amazing people. I love to help people and hate to see anyone struggling in life. I was once told I was a ‘peace maker’ so I’ll take that.

• How do you like to wind down from your day?
  

At the end of the day, I look forward to something nice to eat and then chilling on the sofa.

• What does your typical day in Fibrus look like?
  

My day is really busy and I get to speak to a lot of lovely people daily and enjoy being able to help them with their internet issues by offering them our services. We are a very close team which I love.

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
  

Last year I won an award for my dementia work. I love that Fibrus understand and support me in my role as the dementia barber.

• What’s your go-to productivity trick?
  

Food LOL

• What led you to this career?
  

A previous work colleague had approached me asking did I know anyone looking a job in sales.  At the time it was during covid and my barbering business was very slow so it seemed a perfect time to apply.  3 years later I am so glad my friend contacted me about the job.

• What motivates you at work?
  

Honestly the banter within our brilliant sales team really motivates me. We work hard but have some great laughs together.

• What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
  

My grandmother Lila said to me, keep on keeping on and keep smiling Leonard.

• What book, movie, music, etc. changed your outlook on life?
  

The bible when I read it really helps me in my own personal  life. I just don’t read it enough!!

• If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
  

My superpower would be to fly. I don’t want to be superman I’d just like to fly like him.

• What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?
  

My top destination was Iceland. I have already done that. Next on the list would have to somewhere like Nashville. 

We are delighted to have partnered with Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS) who are  delivering carbon literacy training for 150 Fibrus staff and contractors in Cumbria.

CAfS hold the prestigious title of Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation and the training covers carbon footprints, the impact of everyday actions on the environment, and the urgency of taking collective action to restore the delicate balance of our planet.

The goal of the partnership is to foster a greener, more sustainable community, alongside building partnerships, and extending the training to project partners.

Hazel Graham, Carbon Literacy Training Manager said: “Carbon literate employees understand the scale of the climate crisis and what to do about it – how it relates to them, at home or at work.

“They understand the need for, and the benefits of, an organisation’s climate strategy and how they can drive it forward in their role.

“They can confidently talk about the problem and the solutions and the benefits of taking action. They will tackle the climate crisis through informed decisions and practical actions, helping their organisation to truly have an impact on their carbon footprint.

Empowered with knowledge, staff have felt ‘motivated to take tangible steps towards emission reduction’.  Fibrus employee Libby Bates who attended the training said:

“Before completing the above training, I would have been very aware of what I needed to do but not very good at it.

“We’re pretty good at recycling in our house but haven’t previously thought much about how we can introduce other interventions to reduce our carbon footprint within the family. After completing the training, I feel that I am a lot more aware of my contribution to the bigger picture, and that we cannot delay in making the change.”

Upon completion of the training, each staff member pledged to take specific actions to reduce their carbon footprint, both in their own lives and within the Fibrus family. Suggestions were investigating recycling of fibre cable and planting four new trees for every telecom pole planted.

Environmental and Sustainability Specialist at Fibrus, Rachel Bain enthused:

“Everyone who has attended the training so far has been enlightened and motivated to make changes, big and small, and I can’t wait to see how this will cascade through Fibrus and help us do more to reach our net zero goals. Not to mention the wider reach of our staff taking this knowledge home to their families and friends, everyone making a small change can make a big difference.”

Now Fibrus is encouraging others to undertake the course, and has committed to putting 150 Fibrus employees through the training, with scope to expand this figure in due course.

“CAfs are the perfect partner to deliver this training, with their knowledgeable and friendly staff, not to mention being base in Cumbria, helping Fibrus contribute to Zero Carbon Cumbria reaching its net zero target of 2037.”

We are delighted to support Killicomaine Residents Group through the Fibrus Community Fund Northern Ireland.

HYPE Learning has been going since last September and currently offers 12 young people access to digital devices one day per week.

Keith McCann, project coordinator at Killicomaine Residents Group, said the free service was open to children of all abilities from P5 to P7 at the local primary school.

Children who attend have said it has helped them learn on a different level as most of them do not have access to computers or tablets in their home environment.

Killicomaine Homework Club has received £2k worth of funding from the Fibrus Community Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation Northern Ireland.

The money has allowed six iPads to be purchased, helping children involved in the homework club have access to the internet and digital services after school.

The homework club runs for two hours from 3pm to 5pm, and Mr McCann said that what it offers “could not be done without external support, from companies like Fibrus”.

Sophie, who attends, said she enjoyed going and doing her homework in “a really friendly environment”.

She added: “It’s really good to work with people, instead of having to do it at home. It’s much easier to research subjects online.”

Mr McCann said there was a huge demand for the service.

“Children in the area may not have internet or computers at home so at least we can now lend devices to do some homework in the short term.”

HYPE, which is the umbrella term for the Killicomaine Residents’ project, stands for ‘helping young people excel’.

Mr McCann added that it was about giving local children support that they otherwise wouldn’t have.

“These kids deserve the best chance that we can give them,” he said.

“Our concept is learning through play, you don’t have to encourage kids to play, so that’s what you want them to do, while ensuring the work they do ties back to the national curriculum.”

The homework club has not only had a transformational impact on the group as a collective but also on an individual basis as well, according to the project coordinator.

“If you’re a parent trying to get a child to do homework that they don’t want to do it can be very difficult,” said Mr McCann.

“But if there’s another feasible option – namely, of coming here and having fun whilst doing it – it means they’re getting it done and that’s also helping to reduce tension in the home as well.”

Catriona Henry from Fibrus said its Community Fund, with the support of the Community Foundation NI, was created to help local people like those in the Killicomaine area.

“Ensuring that children like those at the Killicomaine Homework Club have the same opportunities as their peers is why we created the Fibrus Community Fund. It’s fantastic to see how these iPads enhance the children’s learning experience, while they’re having fun with their friends.”

“We partnered with the Community Foundation NI to help level the playing field for those who need more digital support, and we’re proud to be involved in enhancing young people’s lives in Northern Ireland through improved digital literacy and access.”

Fibrus recently announced that it had allocated the entirety of its annual £60k Community Fund in Northern Ireland ahead of schedule due to overwhelming demand. More than 70 projects have received grants to tackle digital poverty, benefitting nearly 14,000 people living in Northern Ireland, since the fund was launched in 2021.

Water sports, swimming and boxing clubs are among the beneficiaries of a new grassroots sports fund established by Fibrus. 

Fibrus had originally set aside £30k for the initiative but an additional almost £20k was added to the initial pot after applications flooded in this Spring, meaning more local communities have benefitted from funding in Northern Ireland. 

Nearly 50 grants of up to £1,000 have now been given to a range of grassroots sports, including football, Gaelic games and cricket among others across Northern Ireland and Cumbria, as Fibrus continues to roll out in these regions. 

The  ‘Play it Forward’ fund will be used to support clubs in a variety of different ways, such as purchasing new kits, subsidising training fees, purchasing new equipment or enhancing existing facilities.   

Dominic Kearns, Chief Executive of Fibrus, said the “Play it Forward” fund reflects the company’s commitment to invest in communities beyond broadband. 

“Our promise to connect communities on a local level also means encouraging children to go outside, make friends and have fun,” he said. 

“The decision to increase the fund this summer will help nearly 50 grassroots clubs to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities, empowering young people to excel in sport, while enjoying themselves. 

After an overwhelming response from the community, we felt compelled to extend the fund to make a positive impact in the lives of kids. 

“If the ‘Play it Forward’ sports fund helps young people in local clubs to pursue their sporting passions and fulfil their potential, then it will have done its job both here in Northern Ireland and in Cumbria.” 

One of the clubs that has benefited from the sports fund is Coleraine Alumni Rowing Association. They expressed their gratitude and excitement about the grant: 

“Receiving a ‘Play it Forward’ grant from Fibrus has been a game-changer for the club and the funding has allowed us to purchase new oars for the club’s youth section. It has not only bolstered our club’s capabilities but has also strengthened the bond within our community, enabling us to continue providing opportunities for our young athletes to participate in sports and build lasting friendships,” said club chair Jamie Gibson. 

Appleby Football and Squash Club in Cumbria will be able to allow more young people to take part in their activities thanks to their grant which will pay for additional goalposts for their junior teams.  

Martin Smith, Chairman of the club, said: “Our juniors have doubled over the past few years’ and we’ve now got ten teams so this grant will provide us with the facilities and equipment to support that.” 

“We’re in a rural community so that means we have kids from the town but also from the nearby villages and that makes us a real asset to local people.” 

The first cohort of Cumbrian apprentices are being trained for telecoms jobs at facilities which are breathing new life into the site of the former Newton Rigg College near Penrith.

The 125-year-old agricultural college closed in 2021, but in a huge boost for jobs and skills across Cumbria, broadband provider Fibrus, along with their network build partner Viberoptix, has committed to creating at least 90 apprenticeships covering a range of roles from underground and overhead cabling to surveying.

Eight local people have now commenced their apprenticeships at the brand new Viberoptix Training Academy following an extensive refit that includes offices, training rooms and around 30 poles in a practice field. The facility is also being used for training courses for Viberoptix staff, providing a further boost to the local economy through hotel bookings.

Over the autumn, the trainees, all from the local area, will acquire formal telecoms qualifications, alongside in-class training specific to telecoms and field-based experience, equipping them with the skills and expertise necessary to commence long-term careers in the industry. Upon completion all will be offered permanent employment with Viberoptix, working on Fibrus build projects.

The reopening of Newton Rigg was made possible following the award in November 2022 of a £108 million Project Gigabit contract to supplier Fibrus, which will deliver lightning-fast gigabit connections to around 60,000 rural premises across rural parts of Cumbria.

Project Gigabit is the UK government’s £5 billion mission to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband to people across the UK, working with broadband suppliers to achieve 85% gigabit coverage of the UK by 2025, and then to nationwide coverage by 2030. It is levelling up the UK, making sure that people have the same access to fast and reliable connectivity wherever they live, work and study.

More than 77% of homes and businesses can now access a gigabit-capable broadband connection, a huge increase from just 6% in 2019. In Cumbria, the rollout of the Project Gigabit contract continues to make good progress, with residents and businesses in communities from Aspatria to Staveley now able to access and enjoy lightning-fast connections through Fibrus networks.

Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, said:

“Ultra-fast, reliable broadband is transforming the way we connect with each other and do business, and creating exciting opportunities in the UK’s growing telecoms industry. These apprentices kick-starting their careers here at Newton Rigg are just the first who will be gaining the skills and expertise to take up good jobs and help accelerate the rollout of high-speed broadband in Cumbria.

“Our partnerships with businesses like Fibrus and Viberoptix are spurring investment in local communities and securing a pipeline of talent for years to come, backed by £108 million in Government funding to deliver lightning-fast broadband connectivity across Cumbria and level up the county’s digital infrastructure.”

Project Gigabit will also help grow the economy, with new digital infrastructure delivering better-paid jobs and creating opportunities right across the country. At Newton Rigg, Tom Balcombe, a 32-year-old from nearby Penrith, explained that he is excited to start his training:

“During Covid I got a job in security, working at a supermarket in Penrith. But I had been looking for a new career path, and I already knew a little about working in telecoms. At the end of this programme I want to go out and do overhead cabling and splicing fibre. I am looking forward to gaining a trade – you can never go wrong if you have a trade. This training has piqued my interest massively and it’s a huge gamechanger.”

Tom added that he was pleased to see the transformation at Newton Rigg, having seen the impact of its closure close at hand. “I used to come past here when I was training for a marathon. My route would take me right by Newton Rigg and I thought it would fall into disrepair, but now everything is looking really good after all the investment into the site.”

Will Norendal, a 22-year-old from Penrith hopes to enjoy a long career in the industry, as he explained:

“I have wanted to make a career out of something and telecoms sounds good – I have always been a computer nerd and think this could be quite fun. I am only 22 so have only ever done odd jobs. I want a career now and everyone wants to move up in the world, don’t they? This training is very interesting – I want to go into telecoms, it is what my mind is set on now, especially now I am gaining this experience. It is something I want to pursue for the rest of my life.”

Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer at Fibrus said:

“Broadband connectivity is more important than ever and is crucial to levelling up rural communities to give those in rural areas the same opportunities as those in bigger cities. We are proud of how our full fibre broadband rollout is progressing in Cumbria, and when we invest in a region, we ensure we go beyond providing much needed affordable high-speed broadband.
The enrolment of the first apprentices at Newton Rigg this summer is a testament to our commitment to local communities. Alongside offering people in Cumbria essential full fibre broadband connections, we’re committed to supporting the region with community grants, job creation and training opportunities. I am delighted that we’re creating new career pathways for local apprentices this year through our trusted partner Viberoptix.”

Claire McCay, HR Director at Viberoptix said:

“We are delighted to welcome our first cohort of apprentices to our purpose-built Training Academy in Penrith. We know the history of Newton Rigg college and we’re proud to be able to bring a training facility back to the site, offering training and development and job opportunities to the local community.

Our aim is to build for the future, not just building a fibre network, but helping people build their careers and futures in the telecoms industry. We recognise the importance and the impact that this UK government project will have on Cumbria, and we’re proud to be a part of it alongside Fibrus.”

Fibrus has announced it has now over 50,000 customers on its network in Northern Ireland and Northern England. This exciting announcement comes as the company continues to invest heavily in building its brand presence in these regions.

The company has also released its network coverage data to the end of August confirming it has reached 300,000 homes of which 273,000 are ready to be connected to Full Fibre broadband. Fibrus announced reaching a quarter of a million homes back in March.

Colin Hutchinson, Financial Officer & Chief Revenue Officer said that growth in customer numbers has been driven by growing confidence and increasing momentum in the Fibrus brand:

Connecting 50,000 customers is an important milestone in our mission to bring Full Fibre broadband to homes and businesses to rural and regional areas of the UK. It shows the momentum we are building in the market, having tripled our customer base in just one year. Our journey has become synonymous with bringing Full Fibre broadband to every corner of Northern Ireland, and our growth is accelerating as we continue our rollout and build our brand in northern England.

Hutchinson continued,

We recently launched a new Total Home Wi-Fi product, teaming up with eero, an Amazon company to guarantee customers coverage in every room of the house. A new brand campaign features the Total Home Wi-Fi guarantee as one of three pillars of our value proposition, along with guaranteed speeds and our promise to never raise prices mid-contract.

Teamed with increasing brand awareness, innovative broadband packages and Fibrus’ cutting-edge technology, the company’s impressive growth can also be attributed to the high speed of network delivery. Earlier this year, the first homes in the UK’s first regional Project Gigabit procurement in Cumbria were connected in Aspatria with customer penetration exceeding 20% within one month of launch.

To fund this continued growth, the company this week received an additional £35m tranche of equity funding from its shareholder Infracapital bringing its total investment in Fibrus to £150m. Fibrus’ network roll out is also financed by its existing £220 million loan facility and in excess of £300m in government funding.

Fibrus has also confirmed that it is planning to raise further equity and debt to fund its #R21M (road to one million) plan which also includes more Project Gigabit contracts.

 

• Name:

Charlotte Kirkpatrick

• Job title:

Customer Experience Specialist

• Where are you from?

 I am originally from Maghera, but I live in Coleraine

• What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I love nothing more than heading out for a family meal.  We live near the coast and are fortunate to have so many lovely restaurants to choose from.  I also love a day out shopping with my mum and sisters and we always try to do something fun for the kids on the weekend.

• What are you passionate about?

I would say my children in a nut shell.  I am very much focused on ensuring they are raised with good morals so they know right from wrong and hope they look back when they are older and can see they were raised with their future in mind.  I feel it’s important to lay down good foundations.

• What’s something you saw recently that made you smile/laugh?

I am lucky enough that my kids make me laugh every day.  However, we recently were at a circus and my husband was chosen to go into the ring with the clown (he had to wear a funny outfit) – that was a Propper belly laugh moment for us all!

• How do you like to wind down from your day?

After the kids go to bed and the house is back in order, I will either listen to an audible – usually a mindset book or something in relation to affirmations/manifesting or binge watch something on Netflix – usually a Documentary about unsolved crimes.

• What does your typical day in Fibrus look like?

Well, in our team there is no such thing! Every day is different and presents a new challenge which is what I love!  We are a small team of two who evaluate and improve the experiences of our customers.  This industry is ever changing and it’s important to be ahead of the curve if we want to bring the best customer service to our customers.

• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re proud of?

There is a few.  I am so proud of the growth in our department within the business and the talent we are seeing come through.  However, I was really proud to win the Unsung Hero award for customer focus at our Fibrus Ball.  I am very passionate about turning a negative experience for a customer into a great one and in my first year at Fibrus this is what I focused on the most.  It was lovely to be recognised for this.

• What’s your go-to productivity trick?

 This is something I have actually learned over the past couple of years… we all need tricks to improve productivity.  My go to is getting rid of any distractions and prioritising my tasks in order of importance.  Sometimes I need a little motivation as my role can be challenging and sometimes it’s difficult to find solutions (we always get there in the end).  I have my go to people within the business who always brighten my day and give me the words of wisdom I sometimes need.

• What led you to this career?

 My background is in Sales, and I have worked in lots of industries in a variety of roles.  I felt my time with Sales had come to an end.  I had been lucky enough to win awards and achieve personal and business goals within the sales environment. However, I wanted a change and to challenge myself,  and that led me to customer service and the customer experience.  I absolutely love my Job! The people within Fibrus are what makes it such a great place to work and especially those who mentor me and have helped shape my role within Fibrus.  It’s a very encouraging place to work which makes a delightful change.

• What motivates you at work?

There are few things that motivate me.  The first one being my children.  I want them to see that if we choose a job we love it won’t feel like work and that mums can be more than just mums.  Secondly, the results we produce for our customers can be very rewarding.  I love nothing more than resolving complex issues either internally or for our customers.  That keeps me going!

• What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?

I remember my granny told me years ago when I was complaining about something as a child, “Comparison is the thief of Joy!” As a youngster it took me a while to figure this out.  But once the penny dropped, I found it so powerful.  I try to go through life in my own Lane – everyone’s journey is different, and we should only be comparing ourselves to who we were yesterday!

• What book, movie, music, etc. changed your outlook on life?

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne – once I read this, I read her three books that followed this.  It completely changes my outlook on life… I would highly recommend!

• If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

I would love to be able to click my fingers like Mary Poppins and have the laundry done and dusted, the dishes done, and the ironing complete! The never-ending joys of a busy household!

• What’s the top destination on your must-visit list?

Jamaica! – I can’t wait to go there someday.

Ten community groups in Cumbria have received grants to help vulnerable people access the internet and digital technology, thanks to the Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria, which launched in April, in partnership with Cumbria Community Foundation.

Fibrus is donating £60,000 this year, across Cumbria, to tackle digital poverty, with a particular focus on those aged 18 and under and the over-60s. This comes at a time as Fibrus rollouts out high-speed broadband connections to homes across Cumbria.

Carlisle Sight Support is a charity supporting the visually impaired across north Cumbria with satellite groups in Brampton, Dalston and Longtown. The group received funding to buy Echo Dot smart speakers and run training and awareness-raising sessions helping the visually impaired make the most of the technology.

Manager Mark Costello said: “We were looking at technological solutions and the Fibrus Community Fund gave us the impetus and the money to go ahead and purchase the items.

“These speakers make such a difference. Visually impaired people can use them to listen to music, turn lights and appliances on and off and to access talking books and newspapers and it can be vital in helping them stay connected to family and friends.”

Dean Jooste, Stakeholder Director at Fibrus, visited the group for its monthly lunchtime social get together and helped demonstrate the smart speakers. They soon got the knack of asking questions and were quizzing Alexa about the weekend’s weather, Carlisle United and rugby internationals.

Michelle Lynam enjoyed her first chat with Alexa. “It was quite daunting at first but I’ll get used to it. I like rugby so it was good to be able to get information quickly about the world cup.”

Michelle Lynam enjoyed her first chat with Alexa. “It was quite daunting at first but I’ll get used to it. I like rugby so it was good to be able to get information quickly about the world cup.”

Dean Jooste, Stakeholder Director at Fibrus, said: “We saw a real need in Cumbria to address digital poverty, and through the Fibrus Community Fund, we heard from some fantastic organisations.  By enabling those in need to access computers and online services, we can boost the opportunities of youngsters and improve the quality of life for older people. It is important to us that while we’re bringing the people of Cumbria high speed connections, we continue to invest money to support our communities.”

Jenny Benson, director of programmes and partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, added: “The grants provided by the Fibrus Community Fund can be life changing.

“They can pay for devices that help young people with schoolwork or to apply for their first job, for example, and enable older people to access online services and stay connected with family and friends through Skype or Zoom.”

The Fibrus Fund has given to ten organisations in its first round of grants including: Friends of Shap School; Drop Zone Youth Projects in Barrow; Hallbankgate Hub and the Carnegie Theatre Trust.

Fibrus has demonstrated its support for Cumbrian communities this year by launching a fund for grassroots clubs across the regions it serves, which invests over £30,000 in boys’ and girls’ sport. The company also sponsored the new Fibrus 100 girls’ cricket league in partnership with Cumbria Cricket and announced a sponsorship with Workington Town Rugby League in July, with the team’s home ground renamed to the Fibrus Community Stadium.

The second round of funding for the Fibrus Community Fund has opened for applications on Monday 21 August, closing on 10 November 2023, and organisations from across Cumbria are encouraged to apply.

The maximum grant is £2,000. Details of eligibility criteria and how to apply are on the Cumbria Community Foundation website.