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KCOM Digital Inclusion Grants Now Open
Welcome to the fifth round of funding, made possible through the transformative 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 are already seeing the positive impact these grants can make.
As part of a three-year funding commitment, telecoms leader KCOM has pledged to provide individual grants of up to £15,000. This support plays a key role in their mission to advance online inclusion, strengthen communities, bridge generational divides, and improve digital skills and awareness across Hull, the East Riding, and North Lincolnshire.
At HEY Smile Foundation, we believe that empowering people with access to digital resources and education can create a brighter, more connected future for everyone. We work to ensure funding reaches organisations best placed to deliver real change, aligned with KCOM’s ambition to drive meaningful transformation.
Grant funding is awarded at the discretion of an assessment panel, with several projects supported through grants of up to £15,000.
The application window for this round is now open and closes on 18th March 2026. Grant winners will be announced shortly after the closing date.
Applications can be made through Beecan – HEY Smile Foundation’s online grant-giving platform, which brings funders, community groups and charities together.
What will be funded?
- Projects should deliver measurable impact against one or more of these priorities:
- Addressing digital challenges (access, affordability, confidence)
- Building stronger communities through digital inclusion
- Connecting generations with intergenerational activities
- Developing digital skills & awareness for those who need it most
Who can apply?
- Registered charities
- Constituted community & voluntary organisations / clubs
- Not-for-profit companies or CICs
- Faith groups & community benefit societies
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations
You’ll need a governing document, a board/committee (min. 3 unrelated), a bank account with two unrelated signatories, and appropriate safeguarding policies.
For more information, please visit the following webpage or simply scan the QR code
Recent charities we have funded:
“We’re delighted to have been awarded £5,000 from the KCOM Digital Inclusion Fund. This means Sight Support HEY can deliver hands‑on technology help via group and personalised tuition to help people with assistive technology support, peer‑led Talking Tech and Audio Book Club sessions—making digital life more accessible and inclusive for our service users.”
Alison Stannard
Sight Support HEY
“This KCOM digital inclusion grant will be transformative for our local social groups and service uses, giving us modern platforms to support our digital inclusion activities, entertainment, education and bridge the digital divide. We will be able to support participants in our wider programmes and expand our portfolio of support and services, helping to prevent loneliness, signpost to appropriate health and wellbeing services, and therefore support the need to reduce the demand on our acute health services. We can support the journey of NHS digital, educate in scam and fraud prevention, and demonstrate how digital can support family connectivity, reduce isolation and be a great source of entertainment.”
Simon Himsworth
Age UK Hull and East Yorkshire
"The KCOM Digital Grant will transform how we deliver care and community support. It enables us to build a dedicated digital training hub, equip our team and the community for ‘train-the-trainer’ programmes, and bring essential digital skills to older adults and carers. This funding helps us tackle digital exclusion head-on, empowering people to stay connected, confident, and independent.”
Chloe Hart
Shores Healthcare Ltd
"Receiving this grant from KCOM means the world to us. It allows us to reach more people, offer more support, and continue building a community where wellbeing and hope are at the heart of everything we do"
Jo Kent, Director and Co-Founder
Humber Wellbeing Hub CIC
“Access to new IT equipment is a game-changer for Run With It. It empowers us to deliver more engaging, interactive learning experiences and ensures our students gain vital digital skills that are essential for success in today’s world. With this technology, we can reach more learners, bridge the digital divide, and continue to inspire confidence, creativity, and opportunity in every session."
Lisa Dawson, CEO
Run With It
“The KCOM digital inclusion grant provides us with a wonderful opportunity to develop a smart enabled flat designed for individuals who are considering a move to independent living. We work hard to support residents at all stages of their life, to live independently and have a high quality of life. This assistive technology not only supports independence, but it also reduces the need for premature moves to residential care and reliance on health and social care services".
Claire Warren, CEO
Pickering and Ferens Homes
“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.”
Rebecca Shipham
Creative Briefs
“The grant is a game changer for Goodwin as now we can employ a digital skills tutor who can work with those who are digital excluded, helping to reduce the national digital divide and support people to develop basic ICT skills. We will also be able to progress them into accredited ICT qualifications that will not only help them connect with people but also help them secure work.”
Lloyd Dobbs
The Goodwin Hub
“This grant from KCOM will empower Reel Creative to run our tech program, providing disadvantaged and SEND kids with hands-on access to cutting-edge digital tools like VR and AI. This funding is a lifeline to bridging the digital divide and nurturing the next generation of creators and innovators.”
Adam Storch
Reel Creative
"The funding from KCOM will enable us to open our Carers' Hub – a dedicated place for carers to meet other carers and find out information from our expert team. The grant will help us to provide digital solutions for carers; whether it’s free Wi-Fi, using a computer or copying documents with support from our digital tutors. All of which supports carers to become independent, feel less isolated and benefit from the company of others."
Rosa Torraca
Service Delivery Manager – Carers Support, North Lincolnshire
“We've never had equipment like this ever – we have always 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."
Claire Crosbie
KIDS Yorkshire
“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.”
Bob Beautyman
City of Hull Sport & Community Group
