KCOM announces winners of “game changing” Digital Grants

The Hull-based broadband provider has named the groups who will share £30,000 in Digital Grant funding – including The Goodwin Community Hub, Creative Briefs and Reel Creative.

Louise Babych, KCOM community impact partner, said: “Once again we’ve had some fantastic entries for our latest round of Digital Grants and it was tough picking just three – but our three winners really stood out for having the potential to boost digital inclusion within the KCOM region.

“Our Digital Grants are all about getting people online and boosting digital skills that will create opportunities and improve lives and the projects we’ve chosen will have a lasting legacy. I can’t wait to see the winning projects in action.”

The Goodwin Community Hub has been granted nearly £15,000 to fund its Get Online project which empowers HU3 residents to learn new digital skills, improve participants' ability to access services and employment opportunities and also stay connected with family.

Lloyd Dobbs, Goodwin Training, Skills and Opportunities Manager, said: “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.”

The next winner is Creative Briefs, a Hull-based Community Interest Company that supports children and families across the Humber, which has been granted nearly £10,000.

Creative Briefs works with children aged from eight to 14, introducing them to creative and digital design industries through extra-curricular projects, with a particular focus on helping neurodiverse children harness their strengths.

Rebecca Shipham, Director and Arts Award Advisor, 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. By linking this project to an Arts Award, we’ll help participants gain recognised qualifications and develop practical digital skills in areas like illustration, animation, and 3D design.

“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.”

The third and final winner is Reel Creative, a charity which empowers disadvantaged children and adults to tell their stories through media production and providing underrepresented people with hands-on experience in digital and media industries.

The charity will use its £5,000 grant to fund its Tech Program. 

Charity lead, Adam Storch, said: “This £5,000 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.

“Alongside this, the grant will support a wide range of creative learning opportunities, from directing and camera work to acting and presenting, screenwriting, editing, and film production. We’ll also teach vital skills in animation, graphics, and social media, helping young people express their ideas, build confidence, and prepare for a future full of possibilities.

“This funding is a lifeline to bridging the digital divide and nurturing the next generation of creators and innovators.”

As KCOM announces the winners of its second round of Digital Grants, the window for the next round of applications is now open. The grand process is managed in partnership with Hey Smile Foundation through the Beecan Platform.

The grants are available to any community group or charity within the KCOM region who want to improve local lives by improving digital inclusion.

For more information about the KCOM Foundation’s Digital Inclusion Grants or for details on how to apply visit here