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Scouts in Cumbria have been enjoying late summer evenings on the water in their new canoes thanks to funding from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund.
The 3rd Wigton Sea Scouts tested out the Canadian canoes during a regular evening session on Bassenthwaite Lake. Their group secured over £1,400 from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund (delivered by Fibrus) which contributed towards the cost of the Scout’s new canoes, buoyancy blocks and paddles.
The new equipment means the long-established group, which has been offering young people activities such as kayaking, sailing, climbing, camping and fell walking since 1957, can now introduce a new generation to canoeing.
Assistant Scout Leader Chris Hewitt, who supports the group of around 80 members from Squirrels to Explorers, said many children rarely get the chance to go out on the water. The Canadian canoes, he explained, are a safe way to get them started.
“This funding means we’ll have more opportunities to get children out onto the water and make the most of living in Cumbria. It’s a wonderful way to help them strike a balance between their online activities and being outdoors, enjoying time away from screens and phones.”
“Getting outdoors like this enables us leaders to build up better relationships with our young people. It’s easier to break down the barriers when you’re out on the water than it is on the shore. They tend to listen to you more, interact with you more, and you do tend to get smiles on their faces.”
Chris, a scout leader for 30 years, said the Sea Scouts teach traditional skills such as knot tying and support community activities, while offering distinctive water-based adventures that go far beyond a typical youth club.
The group welcomes both boys and girls. Among those canoeing on Bassenthwaite was 12-year-old Hollie Bysouth-Sloan, who joined when she moved to Cumbria three years ago.
“I never knew how to kayak or canoe and now I’m a good kayaker and a good canoeist,” she said. “The new canoes are better than the other ones.
“The group is really good, and I’ve made a lot of friends here. We do other activities at different camps. We did axe throwing, archery and backwoods cooking – cooking things on a fire like baked potatoes.”
Hyperfast GB, delivered by Fibrus, is working to connect communities across Cumbria through Project Gigabit, the UK Government’s rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband. As part of Fibrus’s delivery of Project Gigabit, it has committed to various social value initiatives that will bring wider benefits to local communities. The Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund has already supported more than 30 local causes across Cumbria, ranging from youth groups and busy village halls to small grassroots projects.
Ross Jackson, Senior Associate Stakeholder Engagement at Hyperfast GB, joined the scouts in testing out the canoes and said: “It shows that we’re giving back to those communities in as many different ways as we can.
“It’s great that we can help an organisation like this get the kids out on a Wednesday evening in September to experience the lakes and these picturesque surroundings.”
If you’re involved with a local initiative that could use a helping hand, Fibrus invites you to apply for funding support by submitting a short form via this page. Simply, provide a short description of your project and its impact, explain how you would use the funding, and share your goals or community feedback.
To find out if you’re connectable through Hyperfast GB’s Full Fibre broadband rollout, please visit here.