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Hyperfast GB is the home for information on the progress of our network build contract under Project Gigabit – the UK government’s £5 billion programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access full fibre broadband.

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband services to almost 60,000 homes and businesses.

As part of this, we are reaching out to communities across Cumbria, hosting events that give us an opportunity to engage with local residents and answer questions about the rollout. The next event will take place in Hawkshead.

We are hosting two drop-in information sessions for residents:

Friday 18^th September 2026

• Midday session: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
• Evening session: 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Both sessions will take place at:
Distington Community Centre, Church Road, Distington, Workington, CA14 5TE

No booking is required – simply call in at a time that suits you and speak to the Hyperfast GB team about the rollout of Full Fibre broadband and whether your home or business could be connected.

A youth charity in Penrith has received nearly £10,000 in funding from full fibre broadband provider Fibrus to help hundreds of young people enjoy one of the great pleasures of childhood – playing outside. 

 The Outside Club has held free weekly outdoor sessions on the Pategill estate in Penrith since it began post-pandemic in 2022. 

 Founder and lead youth worker Caitlin Nugent said it had filled a big need in the area and had a major impact. 

 “There were no youth clubs that aren’t religiously affiliated or focused on skills and sport. There was nothing that was just open access youth work for anyone to drop into and the park in Pategill had been closed since Covid and not reopened. 

 “There were regular complaints of anti-social behaviour because there was nowhere for young people to go and so the Tenants and Residents Association expressed that they wanted something there.  

 “So we started building a relationship and getting to know the area, and we had such a strong response from the very beginning.  

 “We took one activity and sat with the young people, and then as the demand grew and they built their own culture, they and us together created a club that now is such a strong part of their community and weekly activities.”  

 What began with 12 children attending now regularly has more than 40 each week, with over 260 aged nine to 15 seen since the start of the year. Caitlin says they are driven by what the children want to do – a suggestion of mountain biking led to instructors being invited in and then a mountain biking session in Whinlatter Forest, for some of the children the first time they had been to the Lake District.  

 “Our main focus is to be non-judgmental adults for young people,” said Caitlin. “We are there to be a listening ear and to follow young people’s leads on that. That is the baseline of everything we do.” 

 Since The Outside Club started anti-social behaviour in Pategill has fallen by 86 per cent. While it’s hard to make a direct link, Caitlin is convinced the project has played a major part in this – the children see the play park as theirs and treat it as such.  

 “There’s a real sense of stewardship for the club and for the park now,” she said. “There’s significantly less vandalism at the park even when we’re not there.” 

 The club, which became a charity at the start of the year, last year started sessions at Hammond’s Pond in Carlisle which has also seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour. The aim is to take it to more places across the county. 

 Caitlin said: “There’s not a week that goes by where someone doesn’t see the impact of what we’re doing and ask us to expand to a different place. 

 “Anyone that comes along to one of our sessions is blown away by how magical it feels to see 40 kids on a play park of different ages all playing together and interacting together in different ways, because it’s just not something you see anymore. 

 “There’s no reason why that shouldn’t exist across the county.” 

 The funding of £9,775 came from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund, delivered by Fibrus. It was approved before The Outside Club became a charity, helping it to secure that status. It will help pay for 32 out of the 49 sessions it hosts each year.  

 “It’s completely vital,” added Caitlin. “Having someone that believed in us at that stage actually got us across the line. Now we’re at the start of something massive and so it’s really fundamental to that process.” 

 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, including this grant awarded to the Outsiders Club. This investment is proof that Project Gigabit is doing more than improving digital connectivity, it is also unlocking new opportunities for young people across the UK. 

 The Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund has already supported more than 35 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, said: “We are delighted to support The Outside Club and the incredible work it is doing to create opportunities for young people across Cumbria. The charity has shown how something as simple as providing a safe, welcoming place to meet, play and have their say can have such an impact on both young people and the wider community. 

“At Fibrus, we are committed to investing in the communities where we are building our network, and this project is a fantastic example of the positive difference local organisations can make when they are given the support to grow.” 

To find out if you’re connectable through Hyperfast GB’s Full Fibre broadband rollout, please visit www.hyperfastgb.com/ check-availability/ 

When holiday makers head off to escape the daily grind there’s one thing they increasingly consider essential – to stay connected.

The Quiet Site, the award-winning eco-friendly holiday park and glamping site near Ullswater has that covered not only with superfast broadband but also with plans for a new dedicated work café.

Owner and managing director Daniel Holder said: “More and more we get people who say, we are coming on holiday, and we are really looking forward to it, but we have to work, what’s the broadband like?

“It is an expectation of visitors now. They expect to have what they have at home and that can be incredibly fast connections.”

Fibrus is connecting homes and businesses across Cumbria, both through commercial rollout and the UK Government-funded Project Gigabit. Fibrus was awarded an extension to its Project Gigabit contract in April 2025, enabling an additional 21,000 homes in Cumbria to benefit from gigabit-capable broadband.

Once the expanded rollout is complete, and alongside other commercial plans, an estimated 99 per cent of homes and businesses in Cumbria will have access to next-generation broadband – paving the way for a digitally connected future across the region.

The Quiet Site recently switched to Fibrus’ super-fast full-fibre broadband as part of its mission to meet the needs of modern holiday makers.

Daniel said: “We are putting in a workers’ café where people can go and work. We’ll have desks and points to plug in and fast  Wifi.

“If people don’t want to work in their accommodation, this will be available for them to do a couple of hours or whatever they need.”

The Quiet Site has had broadband for 10 years, but Daniel says Fibrus has increased their capacity to 500Mb.

“Ninety-seven per cent of our bookings come in online, so if we were not connected, we would be in trouble. No broadband, no business,” says Daniel.

Since taking over the business in 1985 Daniel – a Londoner who started out as a jockey and then became an engineer, and his wife Anne, who hails from Clifton near Penrith – have turned the site into a trail blazer for sustainability.

As well as their 50,000 visitors a year, they host two or three business owners a week who want to learn from the many sustainability innovations on site.

After 25 years’ hard work and around £2m investment, the park site itself is carbon neutral and has transitioned away from fossil fuels.

Inefficient static caravans have been replaced with the business’s own design of highly sustainable accommodation units.

Eighty per cent of the site’s energy needs are generated from renewables; solar, biomass – using wood all grown within 10 miles of the site – and geothermal. They have Britain’s first and only Zero Waste Shop on a holiday park and you won’t find a plastic coffee cup anywhere. Not to mention the wildflower meadows, 10,000 trees planted and many more initiatives.

The park has received numerous awards, including the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in 2024.

Ross Jackson, Senior Associate Stakeholder Engagement from Hyperfast Networks said, “We are proud to be able to help the team at The Quiet Site to provide the very best connectivity for visitors who want to take a sustainable holiday in the Lakes.

“Helping to look after the beautiful Cumbrian landscape and the environment is very much a part of our ethos and it’s great to be able to add our expertise to a business blazing a trail in sustainable hospitality.”

Daniel says using hot water for heating was one of the most important steps in their journey to sustainability, and having a reliable internet connection to monitor this system also plays a part.

“The transformational thing was the district heat main, which is a highly insulated underground pipe which links all the accommodation units to a heat source,” said Daniel.

“We have our heat source in hot water; we have 30,000 litres of hot water. Eighty per cent of the energy you use in a house is hot water, so it makes sense to move it around. Over the last 15 – 20 years we’ve been installing that system.

“We heat all the water sustainably and then we store it and move it around the park to each of our glamping units and cottages and bars instead of having 100 gas boilers.”

Daniel said, “We monitor our biomass boiler and Solar PV panels predominantly online. Any problems with the system are flagged immediately by email, so we rely on being able to access our emails and the online system regularly. Before we had Fibrus, we used to have internet drop-outs, but now it’s so much more reliable.”

Hyperfast Networks GB, delivered by Fibrus, is working to connect communities across Cumbria through Project Gigabit, the UK Government’s rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband.

To receive updates on whether your home or business can be connected to the Fibrus network, you can check your postcode and register your interest at: https://hyperfastgb.com/

Hyperfast GB is the home for information on the progress of our network build contract under Project Gigabit – the UK government’s £5 billion programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access full fibre broadband.

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband services to almost 60,000 homes and businesses.

As part of this, we are reaching out to communities across Cumbria, hosting events that give us an opportunity to engage with local residents and answer questions about the rollout. The next event will take place in Gleaston.

We are hosting two drop-in information sessions for residents:

Monday 22nd June 2026

• Midday session: 12pm – 2pm
• Evening session: 4pm – 6pm

Both sessions will take place at:
Gleaston Village Hall, Gleaston, Ulverston, LA12 0QQ

Cars can be parked on the green next to the village hall, please park close to the fence when doing so.

No booking is required – simply call in at a time that suits you and speak to the Hyperfast GB team about the rollout of Full Fibre broadband and whether your home or business could be connected.

A grant from full fibre broadband provider Fibrus has given Happy Hooves Riding Centre a welcome leg-up, helping the centre clear a new hurdle in its work with young people by funding two new show jumps.

The new equipment is already proving to be a boost for sessions at the centre near Penrith, which supports children and young people who struggle in mainstream education. Owned and run by Alison Noble, Happy Hooves uses horses to help children and young people build confidence, resilience and skills for life through practical, hands-on learning. The centre is part of the British Horse Society’s national Changing Lives programme, supporting children who may have ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, education and care plans, or those excluded from school.

Alison said: “I’ve been involved with horses all my life. I sold a large trekking centre in 2014, and while examining for the British Horse Society I saw a riding school working with children who were in care, had been abused or were out of education. They gained confidence through the horses and went on to employment. I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do’.”

Happy Hooves now supports up to 26 young people each week. Sessions at the centre are hands-on and practical, with learning woven naturally into daily tasks. It also has a horse simulator and mechanical horse for those youngsters who are nervous around the real thing.

“They do morning stables, weigh feed (so they are learning maths), check horses for health, groom them, learn about land management, and then they might have a riding lesson or a hack,” Alison explained.

“The outcomes we work towards are communication, confidence, teamwork, responsibility, building relationships and perseverance.”

She added: “The horses don’t judge them. They build a bond, and it’s amazing how the confidence they gain around horses carries back into the classroom.”

The £1800 grant, from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund, delivered by Fibrus, funded the new jumps, but far from being a one-trick pony, the new equipment is used in a variety of ways.

“We use the poles for grid work and pole work as well, so they’re really beneficial for lots of different exercises. They’re multi-use, not just static jumps,” said Alison.

“They’re brilliant. They’re bright and colourful, and the kids think, ‘The horse isn’t going to jump that’, but the horses don’t bother at all. It makes the kids think about how they ride and how they set the horse up.”

Alison has seen first-hand how the programme can indeed change lives.

“We had two lads who came straight out of primary school during the COVID-19 pandemic and couldn’t cope with secondary school because of anxiety. They’re now both 17, have tractor licences, part-time farm jobs, and are more confident and social than they ever were before.

“We’re so proud of them – they’re role models for the younger ones.”

She estimates Happy Hooves has supported at least 45 to 50 young people to date and has ambitions to expand further into care farming and agricultural skills.

“We just want to give them more opportunities,” Alison said. “Otherwise, they would be in bed or on the Xbox; they wouldn’t be going to school. When they come to us, they’re getting fresh air, they’re making friends, and learning to work as a team.”

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 35 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, said: “The work that Happy Hooves do with young people is as inspiring as it is important and we are pleased to be able to support them in this way.

“You could say it’s literally a boost of horsepower to their efforts.”

To find out if you’re connectable through Hyperfast GB’s Full Fibre broadband rollout, please visit www.hyperfastgb.com/ check-availability/

Hyperfast GB is the home for information on the progress of our network build contract under Project Gigabit – the UK government’s £5 billion programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access full fibre broadband. 

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband services to almost 60,000 homes and businesses. 

As part of this, we are reaching out to communities across Cumbria, hosting events that give us an opportunity to engage with local residents and answer questions about the rollout. The next event will take place in Newton Arlosh. 

We are hosting two drop-in information sessions for residents: 

Friday 22nd May 2026 

• Midday session: 12pm – 2pm 

• Evening session: 4pm – 6pm 

Both sessions will take place at:
Newton Arlosh Parish Hall, Newton Arlosh, Wigton, CA7 5ET 

No booking is required – simply call in at a time that suits you and speak to the Hyperfast GB team about the rollout of full fibre broadband and whether your home or business could be connected. 

Thousands of trees have been planted as part of a native hedgerow project in Cumbria’s Ullswater valley thanks to a team of volunteers from local council and broadband provider Fibrus.  

 The volunteer day formed part of the full fibre broadband provider’s wider commitment to supporting communities and environmental initiatives across Cumbria, bringing together volunteers from Hyperfast GB, Westmorland and Furness Council and Connecting Cumbria. 

The planting session was organised in partnership with Ullswater Catchment Management CIC (UCMCIC), which recently received a £2,000 grant from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connection Fund to support tree planting. 

The area was badly affected by Storm Desmond in December 2015 which inspired Danny and Maddy Teasdale to found UCMCIC, with the goal of working with local farmers and communities to restore the landscape and reduce the impact of future floods 

“It just smashed Glenridding to bits,” said Mr Teasdale. “It flooded shops and houses, washed roads away and drowned livestock.  

“We set off as a flood action group. We know this place, so it was very much a case of let’s see what we can do upstream and see if we can build a bit of resilience into our catchment.” 

He explained that the Dockray scheme is part of a much larger vision. 

“This is a hedgerow planting project, so we are planting one and a half kilometres of hedgerow. It’s a scheme funded through the National Trust and Defra called the Species Survival Fund. It’s part of a wider project we are doing throughout the Ullswater and Matterdale catchments. 

“We are trying to link habitats up through planting hedgerows. We have a bigger goal of planting 100km of hedgerows – that’s 600,000 trees over the next 10 to 15 years. There’s quite a lot to go at.” 

Mr Teasdale added: “We are planting a new native hedgerow that is going to join this woodland, right over the top, down into Dockray and eventually it will connect all the other hedgerows up in Matterdale valley. What we want to do is put all the hedgerows back that we’ve had around here.” 

The trees being planted are carefully selected native species suited to the exposed upland environment. 

“Everything that we plant is a native hedgerow mix that is tough enough to live up here – hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, crabapple. The sort of things that should be here and that will actually thrive around here.” 

Mr Teasdale stressed that they are working closely with local farmers, particularly with regards to choosing the land for planting. 

“My family have been farmers for generations, so we absolutely respect that. There’s any amount of bits of land that you can plant trees on that don’t impact on the food production side of the farm business.” 

He emphasised that the initiative aims to balance environmental goals with working landscapes. 

“One of the big drivers for Ullswater Catchment is to show that we can have farming, we can have conservation, natural flood management.  

“It’s a win-win; hedges are just a great thing, they are great for wildlife, they connect the habitats up, they slow the flow of water off, they are a physical barrier.” 

Commenting on the project, Libby Bateman, Hyperfast GB Stakeholder Engagement Manager said: “This site is creating a wildlife corridor, joining up with a nearby forest so animals can move around in the safety of a hedgerow.  

“As part of our delivery of Project Gigabit, we are proud to support community and environmental initiatives across Cumbria. We have invested in Ullswater Catchment Management CIC so we can get more trees into the land.” 

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’ delivery of Project Gigabit, it has committed to various social value initiatives that will bring wider benefits to local communities.

Elise Bayliffe, an undergraduate placement student with Hyperfast GB, added: “The event is really vital to bring Cumbria to net zero, bringing back sustainability, nature and wildlife.  

“It’s a great opportunity to get people outside, plant some trees and do something good.” 

To find out if you’re connectable through Hyperfast GB’s full fibre broadband rollout, please visit www.hyperfastgb.com/ check-availability/ 

Hyperfast GB is the home for information on the progress of our network build contract under Project Gigabit – the UK government’s £5 billion programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access full fibre broadband.

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband services to almost 60,000 homes and businesses.

As part of this, we are reaching out to communities across Cumbria, hosting events that give us an opportunity to engage with local residents and answer questions about the rollout. The next event will take place in Cartmel.

We are hosting two drop-in information sessions for residents:

Monday 27^th April 2026

• Midday session: 12pm – 2pm
• Evening session: 4pm – 6pm

Both sessions will take place at:
Cartmel Village Hall, Grange-Over-Sands, LA11 6QB

No booking is required – simply call in at a time that suits you and speak to the Hyperfast GB team about the rollout of Full Fibre broadband and whether your home or business could be connected.

Broughton-in-Furness has welcomed the opening of a new community-run Post Office and shop, made possible thanks to support from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund, delivered by Fibrus.

The Community Post Office officially opened last week and will provide essential services for local residents and businesses, while also acting as a vital hub at the heart of the village. Funding from the Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund helped cover travel, accommodation and expenses, enabling Post Office Manager Siobhan Rawlins to attend specialist training in Warrington – training that would otherwise have been inaccessible.

The support ensured Siobhan could focus fully on learning best practice and gaining the confidence needed to deliver a high-quality, professional service for the community.

Siobhan, who has been a branch manager for 14 years, said the opportunity made a significant difference:

“I have been a branch manager for 14 years, but when I started, the training was lacking. Thanks to the funding, the training was made accessible for me. Attending it was very beneficial – I could focus on learning best practice without the pressure of a customer queue, and I now feel confident to provide a professional service to customers.”

The new community-run Post Office and shop will play an important role in supporting everyday needs, reducing the need for residents to travel further afield, and strengthening the long-term sustainability of services in Broughton-in-Furness.

The opening event was attended by Ross Jackson, Senior Associate Stakeholder Engagement at Hyperfast GB, who joined Andrew Gittins, Director of Broughton Community Services CIC, to mark the milestone.

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 its delivery of Project Gigabit, Fibrus has committed to a range of social value initiatives designed to bring wider benefits to local communities.

The Hyperfast Cumbria Connections Fund has already supported more than 30 local causes across the county, helping community groups, village services and grassroots projects deliver lasting impact.

Ross Jackson said:

“This project is a great example of how targeted support can make a real difference at a local level. By helping to make training accessible, we’re supporting not just a service, but the people and communities who rely on it every day.”

Thanks were also extended to Annette Carmichael for the invitation to attend the opening, and congratulations to everyone involved in bringing the Community Post Office and shop to life.

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, visit here.

 

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.