Community groups across Cumbria are being urged to follow the lead of air cadets who have seen their online training take off thanks to a £2,000 grant.
Kendal’s 1127 Air Cadets Squadron now has a 75” touchscreen with computer and speakers thanks to the grant from Fibrus.
They are among nearly 70 Cumbrian groups who have already benefited from the £60,000 Fibrus Community Fund, which is now open for another round of applications.
It is run in collaboration with Cumbria Community Foundation and since launching in 2021, Fibrus has donated £120,000 to 68 local groups across Cumbria, with a focus on addressing digital poverty and fostering inclusivity within rural communities.
Grants have gone to organisations from Scout groups in Carlisle and Maryport to village halls in Lowca and Grasmere. Brampton Film Club, Vision Support in Barrow and community centres in Carlisle and Longtown have also benefited.
1127 Air Cadets Squadron applied for support via the fund last year. Before acquiring the touchscreen, they had been relying on an ancient overhead projector and screen when they sat down for presentations.
The group, based at the Old TA Centre in Queen Katherine Street, also bought four Chromebook laptops so all cadets have equal opportunities to learn.
Flight Lieutenant Simon Barker, 33, who leads the group, said: “The new touchscreen is great, we turn it on and it’s ready to go.
“Our old projector screen would fall down, there were wires everywhere and it wasn’t a good learning environment.
“The cadets will spend an hour of a two-hour session learning in front of the screen, so it’s made our lives much easier.”
Mr Barker, a volunteer who works in commercial sales, said the Royal Air Force Air Cadets was a brilliant leveller because the organisation’s uniform means all youngsters look the same.
He added: “Cadets can leave any social or economic challenges at the door. We never want to ask what people have or don’t have at home. So being able to provide laptops means cadets aren’t expected to use their own kit.
“Everything we do has moved from paper to online. Air Cadets wants to be a cyber-first organisation because that’s the way the world is going.
“We will still teach using a map and compass, but we use GPS too.
“The kids all have XBoxes or PlayStations at home, so we need to make sure what we’re offering is engaging. That’s why we were so pleased to get this grant from Fibrus and present the new tools to them.”
Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus, said: “We are pleased Kendal Squadron are making great use of their touchscreen and computers.
“We fully support the Air Cadets’ mission to provide equal access to new technology – that’s very much what the Fibrus Community Fund is all about.
“The local community is at the heart of everything we do at Fibrus, from our day-to-day work to our sponsorships and community engagement. The Fibrus Community Fund 2025 will see £60,000 go to deserving organisations, helping us bridge the gap in becoming a fully digital inclusive society.”
The next round of the Fibrus Community Fund is now open and will close on Friday May 9.
To learn more about how to apply to the Fibrus Community Fund, visit https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/fibrus-community-fund-cumbria/
