GoFibre Marks Get Online Week with Bell View Partnership

To mark Get Online Week (20–26 October), independent broadband provider GoFibre has announced it is teaming up Northumberland-based charity Bell View (Belford) to help support local people with their IT issues.  

GoFibre has come on board as the key partner for the charity’s ‘Tea, Tech and Talk’ sessions, which are weekly community-based workshops that help to solve attendees’ technology problems. Bell View is an independent charity that offers a range of health, wellbeing and social activities, both from its Resource Centre in Belford and within a wide surrounding area in North Northumberland. It provides support services to thousands of people in the region every year. 

GoFibre will provide investment that will be used to run and promote the sessions held in the broadband company’s build areas in North Northumberland.   

GoFibre has invested in the Tea, Tech and Talk sessions through its social impact strategy which aims to make a positive, long-term difference for its customers and their communities. Tackling digital inclusion is a key part of the strategy. GoFibre has also previously supported Hospice Care North Northumberland, Border Links, Inky Fingers Art Club and Berwick Rangers Juniors Youth Development Trust from its community-focused grant initiative, the GoFurther Fund.  

GoFibre’s key partnership with the charity follows a significant period of growth for the company in North Northumberland. In September, GoFibre was announced as the first broadband supplier in the UK to complete a Project Gigabit build – in North Northumberland. Thousands of homes and businesses across the area can now stream, shop and work online without buffering thanks to GoFibre building a brand-new full fibre network in the area. Project Gigabit is the government-funded programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband. 

Neil Conaghan, Chief Executive at GoFibre, said: “What better way to mark Get Online Week than to help make that real difference for local people in and around Belford? Helping to reduce the digital divide in the areas where we build is very important to GoFibre, so we’re delighted to be partnering with Bell View’s Tea, Tech and Talk sessions. These workshops not only help local people with their tech issues but also support their wellbeing through providing an opportunity to interact with others at the same time.” 

Juliet Short, Head of Operations at Bell View, said: “In rural North Northumberland, many people struggle not only with broadband connectivity but also with the confidence and skills to use rapidly evolving digital technology effectively. Our Tea, Tech and Talk sessions bridge this gap by providing patient, friendly support in a relaxed social setting. 

“GoFibre's partnership demonstrates real commitment to the communities it serves. Its investment will help us reach more isolated residents, ensuring that improved broadband infrastructure is matched by the skills and support people need to benefit from it.  

“We're thrilled to work with a company that understands connectivity is about more than just cables – it's about connecting people. This investment from GoFibre will help to bring our vital Tea, Tech and Talk sessions to more local people.”