What is our Internet for everyone programme?
Internet for everyone is our Digital Social Initiative and our commitment to bridging the digital divide across towns and cities in the North West. We donate broadband to schools, charities, community groups, social landlords, and local authorities.
What we do
We donate 20% of our network coverage to deliver free broadband to families and organisations that need it the most to help close the digital divide.
Why we do it
Whilst social tariffs have been introduced these are still at a cost to even the most disadvantaged families.
We believe not enough is being done by the national Internet Service Providers to bridge the digital divide.
At Opus Broadband we decided we could make a real difference.
As an independent internet provider we are able to go the extra mile and offer our connections completely free of charge to those who would otherwise be without.
Visit with Urban Outreach in Bolton
We recently visited Urban Outreach a charity in Bolton. To discuss the impact of the internet for everyone programme.
- Who are Urban Outreach?
- How do I partner with Opus Broadband?
- Benefits of FREE Internet
- Bolton Community gain with Internet for Everyone
- How to secure a FREE broadband connection
Introduction to Urban Outreach
Urban Outreach is a Christian charity providing food for households in crisis; and person-centred support for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable adults and young people in Bolton. Established in 1990 our core aim is to be consistently dependable, creative, challenging and inspirational in the support and care we provide across our town.
The team said the internet helps a range of groups including women involved within the criminal justice system or those who have been trafficked or exploited.
As part of their services, they also assist the homeless and rough sleepers who can now access the wi-fi to find accommodation, gain benefits and apply for jobs.
The group said they had been able to assist families who may not be able to access the internet for all sorts of reasons.
The charity was founded by Dave and Chris Bagley in 1990 and has gone on to provide a range of vital services for hundreds of families across the borough.
CEO of Urban Outreach Dave Bagley MBE said: “When we talk of poverty, we often sort of think about it as money, but on the whole poverty is that lack of something, It’s somebody’s ability to access something that helps them to survive.
Want to partner with Opus Broadband like Urban Outreach?
The partnership is part of Opus Broadband’s ‘Internet For Everyone’ campaign which sees the company donate free broadband connections to homes and organisations that provide vital services to their community.
How has The Internet for Everyone scheme made a difference to Urban Outreach
“The company has put a ‘digital coat’ on us and it means we can give people the opportunities that they were not going get otherwise.
Even if they move into their own homes until they are able to get the Internet in there they can come here to access it.”
The centre said the wider benefits for the local community were being felt by their team and users.
Dave said: “The benefit is a hundred percent and will always be a hundred percent, because it is free. It works and that sounds a bit stupid, but more often than not half the time these things don’t work when they’re getting installed in buildings that we use. This worked from the beginning.
At the end of the day, you are giving access for hundreds and hundreds of people to this, the digital universe.
How partnering with Opus Broadband is helping local people in the Bolton community
The internet is accessible to anyone at the Urban Outreach Centre, Dave said; “It reaches across the whole building and without Opus it would be a case of raising significant funds to have it from another provider.
In a week, there’s about two to three hundred people coming in here, they now have access to this digital world. The people that we are working with are already marginalised and excluded, to include them we need to be able to give them the gateways to benefit from other services and provision in essence we need give them the ‘digital coat’ to bring them out of the cold of isolation that digital poverty creates.
How can you get a referral for a FREE Broadband connection
We want to donate broadband to the digitally excluded who really need it. We can only do it with your help, if you are part of a local council, housing association, school or community group. Get in touch today through the link below.