Both young and old benefit from latest KCOM grants

Everyone from youngsters seeking a sporting chance to older people closing the digital divide have been named as the latest beneficiaries of KCOM’s Community Grants.

The four winners of the broadband provider’s November community grants are: Little Victories In The Community CIC, Techy Tea CIC, The Shed On The Isle and The Hull Parent Carer Forum.

Louise Babych, Community Impact Partner at KCOM, said: “It’s been another bumper round of entries for our KCOM Community Grants and we’ve had some brilliant applications, making it as hard as ever to pick four eventual winners.

“But the four groups our judging panel picked do brilliant work in their local communities – empowering older people to get online and combat loneliness and also helping young people to get the best possible start in life.

“I can’t wait to see the lasting changes our winners will create to help improve lives across the Humber region.”

KCOM awards community grants of up to £1,000 to deserving groups every quarter, with organisations from across the region encouraged to make funding applications for projects that help improve local lives.

Humber-wide group Little Victories CIC is a volunteer-led club dedicated to providing sporting opportunities for children with cerebral palsy in the Hull, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire area. Its aim is to change lives through sports, recognizing the importance of physical activity in improving the well-being of children with disabilities

Steph Ako, Project Lead at Little Victories, said: “On behalf of everyone at Little Victories in the Community, I am writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous support of our cerebral palsy football team.

“Your grant will make a tremendous impact, allowing us to provide more resources, training, and opportunities for our players. Your contribution is more than just financial; it’s an investment in our young people, who strive every day to overcome obstacles and inspire others. Together, we’re building an inclusive and encouraging environment where everyone has the chance to enjoy the benefits of sports and teamwork.”

Second winner Techy Tea CIC is dedicated to empowering elderly and vulnerable individuals through inclusive tech support, fostering community connections, and promoting sustainability, where individuals can learn, share a cuppa and embrace the digital age with confidence. At Techy Tea CIC, their mission is to bridge the digital divide between generations and abilities by providing a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Director Katherine Duck, said: “Thanks to KCOM for their ongoing support. With the funding to purchase a PAT machine it will allow us to expand our skill set and support more individuals. It will also allow for additional training for volunteers to improve their knowledge and skill set.”

KCOM is no stranger to another winner, The Shed On The Isle, based in Epworth, north Lincolnshire and has previously supported the group, which helps older people in the community to tackle loneliness and isolation. Their £900 grant will enable them to fund new digital devices for their community.

Jon Clark, Trustee and Secretary to The Shed on The Isle, said: “This grant will enable us to  expand our digital assistance to the older members of our community. Our aim is to remove the barriers and take away the anxiety of engaging in the digital world. We provide an Open Digital Drop-In Saturday to help our older community engage in the digital world with help with their own devices or by coming and using ours.”

The fourth and final winner is The Hull Parent Carer Forum which is dedicated to improving outcomes for children and young people by empowering parents to engage with Education, Health, and Social Care.

Vanessa Miriasi, HPCF Steering Group Member, said: “We’re grateful for the £600 award from the KCOM Community Fund, which will help us equip our volunteers with technology for outreach and support. We appreciate KCOM’s support.”

If you’d like more information about KCOM Community Grants, or want to apply for the next round, visit here