History and 'urban haven' get helping hand from KCOM

Two more community groups have been announced as the latest winners of a KCOM Community Grant.

Kingston Bowling Club and the Stamford Bridge Heritage Society will both receive a grant for the East Yorkshire-based broadband provider helping them to boost digital inclusion across the region.

Volunteer-run Kingston Bowling Club offers members the opportunity to meet with friends while keeping active, improving physical and mental health and also helping to prevent loneliness and social isolation. The group, which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, will use its £800 grant, alongside some additional help from KCOM engineers, to enhance its Beverley Road site.

Louise Babych, KCOM’s Community Impact Partner, said: “Our employee panel chose two very strong applicants in this penultimate round of the year. Both groups are working hard in their communities to bring people together, connect generations and keep our heritage alive. Our engineers are also looking forward to using their KCOM volunteering hours to volunteer at the Bowling Club which shows how our funding can open up wider opportunities to help improve lives across our region.”

Di Kirby, of Kingston Bowling Club, said: “To have KCOM, a local company, supporting our local community bowls club, means so much to us. The grant will enable the area surrounding the green to be tidied up, made safer and look more attractive.

“Our club is a haven in an urban area and provides a place for people to come and enjoy a game of bowls and socialise with others. Thank you so much to the KCOM community impact team and the volunteers from KCOM who are coming to help with the project.”

Stamford Bridge Heritage Society will use its £800 grant to enhance its online presence and digital offering – bringing history to life for local groups.

Group Chairman Brian Birkett said: “The new laptop computer purchased with our KCOM Community Grant will make a huge difference to our work; it will enable us to give better presentations at our outreach events and on our school visits; where we teach local people about their rich heritage and help build a better sense of community.

“The new laptop and hard drive will also be used for holding our important digital archive of local archaeological finds and research, which is an essential part of the society’s work. Our previous computer had become very tired and virtually unusable, putting our archive at real risk."

KCOM Community Grants are open to any group, charity or school within the KCOM area which aims to improve local lives and empower local communities.

The next round of KCOM Community Grants is now open for entries. To find out if your group could benefit visit here