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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.

 

Hyperfast GB is the home for information on the progress of our network build contract under Project Gigabit – the UK government’s rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK.

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast, realiable 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 6^th February 2025

• Midday session: 12:00 – 14:00
• Evening session: 16:00 – 18:00

Both sessions will take place at:
Upper Hall, Hawkshead Market Hall, The Square, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0NZ

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.

Parking: Parking is available at Hawkshead Car Park.

Nestled deep in a Lake District valley and encircled by nine Wainwright fells, the village of Kentmere is about as remote as it gets. With fewer than 70 houses and accessible only by a single winding track, it feels like the end of the road – because it is.

“The road only goes to Kentmere and then finishes – you could say we were well off the beaten track,” says retired teacher Sheila Hirst.

Sheila and husband Stephen moved from Lancaster seven years ago, drawn to the valley during previous walking trips.

“We just fell in love with the area the minute we saw it,” she says. “We can roll out the door, climb mountains with the dog and picnic at the reservoir. We have an idyllic life up here.”

But living in such isolation came with challenges, most notably, patchy and unreliable connectivity.

“We’d always been with [another provider], and the line coming up the valley was a copper line,” says Sheila.

“Occasionally, a lorry would come up the valley and damage the line, which ran through the trees and was extremely vulnerable. Eventually, the company told us they would no longer be repairing it. Plus, we had a lot of trouble with the phone line. A tree was knocking the line out and we had a lot of difficulties with communication.”

However, that all changed when Fibrus brought Full Fibre broadband to the area in January this year.

Bringing Full Fibre to such a remote community was no easy task. With complex terrain, restricted access and little existing infrastructure to build on, delivering connectivity required significant planning, engineering expertise and collaboration with the local community.

Kieran Martin, Operations Director at Viberoptix, Fibrus’ network delivery arm , said: “The Kentmere rollout was one of the most technically challenging locations we’ve worked in. Our teams overcame rugged terrain and narrow access, working closely with local landowners to bring reliable Full Fibre to homes and community spaces. This means residents and visitors now have fast, dependable broadband where it was previously limited or unavailable, making a real difference to their daily lives.”

This work meant the Kentmere valley could access Full Fibre broadband to Cumbria along with the 100,000 homes and businesses that Fibrus has now connected in the county.

This achievement includes premises reached through both Fibrus’ commercial rollout and the UK Government-funded Project Gigabit. Fibrus was awarded an extension to its Project Gigabit contract in January 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.

Sheila praises the positive impact that Full Fibre has had on her family’s life.

For the Hirsts, the upgrade with its 500Mb connection and VOIP calls hasn’t just meant a      dramatic improvement to their phone service, but it has given them peace of mind for their internet connection going forward.

“It’s futureproofing for us,” says Stephen. “In this day and age, having fast, dependable broadband is essential, and it’s brilliant to have a new line that’s so much more reliable.”

Although, installation was no small feat, given the challenging landscape.

She adds: “The nature of the land here means it’s very difficult to dig up anything.”

“Fibrus had to get permission from a nearby farmer to lay a line right down to us. Fortunately, he had no problem with that.

“But this meant Fibrus were going over walls and under walls, and they were amazing, just amazing.”

 

Crucially, the installation not only improved connectivity for individual homes but also revitalised the heart of the small community. The village hall in Kentmere, which previously had no Wi-Fi for presentations or visiting theatre groups, now benefits from full access thanks to Fibrus extending its service to the premises.

Sheila describes their vibrant social life despite the isolation – “Sheila frequently needs to meet visiting theatre companies at the village hall, but with no signal neither could contact the other if the company got lost or delayed, which often happened. Now wi-fi calling can help.”

Her husband explained the limitations prior to Fibrus’ arrival, “Previously, we couldn’t get any internet at the village hall at all, not even a mobile connection,” says Stephen. “But now thanks to Fibrus’ connection there’s Wi-Fi available in the hall so everyone can remain connected and contactable.”

Sheila frequently organises theatre trips and used to rely on the village hall as a meeting point. “I had to stay at home in case anyone called to say they were lost,” she explains. “There was no way to contact anyone already at the hall, which made things quite difficult.”

This new service has produced benefits for locals and visitors alike. “Importantly,” adds Stephen, “it has enabled us to offer free Wi-Fi, which means that people can use their mobile phones if they’re near the village hall – walkers or people who’ve got lost and need help, but would previously have had no signal.”

“We’re so grateful to Fibrus,” says Sheila. “It’s fabulous being so remote and yet having good internet.”

To receive updates on whether your home 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 rollout of lightning-fast, reliable broadband across the UK.

Under a £150 million broadband improvement contract for Cumbria, Hyperfast GB will bring lightning-fast, realiable 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 Nenthead.

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

Tuesday 4^th November 2025

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

Both sessions will take place at:
Nenthead Village Hall, Nenthead, Alston, CA9 3PN

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.

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 £108 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 Grizebeck. 

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

Tuesday 16th September 2025 

• Midday session: 12pm – 2pm 

• Evening session: 4pm – 6pm 

Both sessions will take place at:
The Community Hall, Grizebeck, LA17 7XH 

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. 

Please note there will be parking available at the Community Hall and at the nearby Greyhound pub, just a couple of minutes’ walk away.