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KCOM Funding to Boost Charities Online
Welcome to the next round of funds, brought about by the game-changing partnership between KCOM and the HEY Smile Foundation.
The KCOM Digital Inclusion Grant Programme is a powerful initiative to connect communities and boost digital inclusion across the region. Community groups have already started to see and receive the benefits of the digital inclusion grants.
The telecoms giant pledged to provide individual grants of up to £15,000 as part of a three-year grant funding programme, to play a pivotal role in their mission to promote online inclusion, create stronger communities, bridge generational gaps, and enhance digital skills and awareness within Hull, the East Riding and North Lincolnshire.
At HEY Smile Foundation, we believe that by empowering individuals with access to digital resources and education, we can create a brighter and more connected future for everyone. We ensure funding goes to organisations that can make change happen and deliver the sort of transformation our partners at KCOM are determined to drive.
Funds are allocated at the discretion of the assessment panel, supporting several projects with grants of up to £15,000.
This funding window to apply for the grants is now open until 31st March 2025.
The grant winners will be announced end of April.
Applications to the fund can be made through Beecan – HEY Smile Foundation’s online grant-giving platform, which brings funders, community groups and charities together.
Previous KCOM Digital Inclusion Grant winners
Claire Crosbie, KIDS Yorkshire
“We have never had equipment like this ever – we always have kind of cobbled what we could together. It is going to make such a difference to expand our digital reach and delivery – allowing us to reach so many more young people remotely now we have this technology to do so.
Bob Beautyman, City of Hull Sport & Community Group
“The Digital Grant we received, has allowed us to provide the local community access to digital devices. The support we give, has had a positive impact on their lives. Daily tasks like, paying a bill, sending an email or applying for a job, have been made less stressful. Offering a quiet and dedicated space, where children can come and use the laptops, has made doing homework easier.
This has all been made possible, thanks to the digital grant.”
Rebecca Shipham, Creative Briefs Director, said:
“Through this grant we will inspire children and families across Hull by introducing them to a range of attainable and exciting career paths in the creative and digital sectors. This project doesn’t just focus on young people, we’re also bridging the digital divide for parents, grandparents, and carers through shared learning family workshops. Through this project we will open children’s eyes to careers in the creative industries, which make up six per cent of the UK economy, and maybe we’ll inspire a future Disney animator, a groundbreaking game designer, or a future digital architect who shapes virtual worlds.”
How to register on behalf of yourself and your organisation
- Go to BEECAN
- Click on ‘Register/Login’
- Click on ‘Sign Up’
- Enter your details
- Agree to T&Cs and Privacy Policy
- Click on ‘Create a New Organisation’
- Confirm your role in the organisation
- Add your organisation details
- Submit the form and click on ‘Return to Beecan’
