2023 – a year at the heart of local communities for KCOM

KCOM isn’t just the business that delivers broadband to your doorstep – it’s so much more.

Ever since we were founded in 1904 we’ve been at the heart of the communities we serve, providing support and helping out wherever we can.

And the past 12 months have been no exception. So, as 2023 draws to a close it’s worth taking a look back to see everything we’ve been doing across Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to support local people.

It’s certainly been a busy one – from giving away thousands of tickets to watch our community partners Hull City in action, to hosting youngsters from Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University at our Carr Lane Learning Zone, it’s been pretty non-stop.

As KCOM’s Community Impact Partner Louise Babych, says: “2023 has been another full-on year for KCOM in the community where we’ve been out and about helping a wide range of brilliant local groups and charities to do impactful work, improving the lives of people in this region.

"It’s been an honour to help out and be a part of what makes our area such a fantastic place to live. Our commitment to supporting the communities we serve is as strong as ever and, as we enter our 120^th anniversary year in 2024, we’re more determined than ever to remain at the centre of local life.”

Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to:

• We gave away more than 3,000 tickets to Hull City matches to local schools, colleges, charities, and community organisations
• We supported 30 charity and community groups with funding from our Community Grants scheme
• Our staff dedicated 900 volunteer hours to working with local community groups and schools
• KCOM staff donated 60 presents to Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University’s Breakfast With Santa scheme – ensuring local youngsters got a great Christmas gift
• We gave our Learning Zone a full makeover which welcomed over 1,000 children this year and provided a warm space for older people to feel more confident online
• We donated two of our classic K6 phone boxes to Hull College’s campus transformation
• We donated 50 bits of tech to local community groups to help them thrive in a digital world
• We delivered STEM based events and activities that impacted almost 1,000 young people
• We signed a partnership with Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire to support our vulnerable elderly customers during the copper to fibre phoneline switchover
• We nurtured our partnership With Ron Dearing UTC by delivering curriculum-based learning, insight days and regular career engagement events
• We extended our reach within the community through our partnerships with Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University, Cat Zero, Freedom and Hull Pride
• We launched our KCOM Foundation which will connect communities and drive digital inclusion across the Humber
• Our Customer Champions supported monthly IT and Biscuits Session to support Age UK users and Hull City Senior Tigers
• Oh, and we don’t want to brag but we also won a national ISPA Award for our engagement campaign with the community on our digital switchover programme

For more details about KCOM’s work in the community visit here