Devon Volunteer Training Webinar Success

West Devon Borough Council's broadband webinars designed to help local communities experiencing connectivity blackspots have been successful.

11:54 17 January 2022

West Devon Borough Council has announced the success of its broadband webinars for volunteers who want to help their local communities in addressing connectivity blackspots. 

 

The local council set up the broadband community champion scheme to help rural communities that are left behind by large broadband rollouts across the region. So far, 45 individuals have volunteered to work alongside the council to help identify solutions to improve their community's digital connectivity. 

 

West Devon Borough Council’s lead member for economy, Cllr Peter Crozier, said: ‘These webinars have been really successful in showing how these valuable champions will work within their communities to support the rollout of broadband in hard to reach areas.

 

‘ It is so very important for the economic and social wellbeing of the borough’s communities, so that they can connect easily with the wider world.It is a key commitment for the council and one we’re determined to achieve with the help of our champions and we thank them for their support.’

 

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, CDS Board Member and Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: ‘Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) is working hard to provide access to broadband to as many homes and businesses as possible in rural and hard to reach areas which are not covered by commercial providers.

 

‘CDS has already helped provide broadband access to more than 300,000 homes and businesses in the region – that’s more than any other broadband programme in the country.

 

‘We know there’s a huge appetite across the region for faster broadband speeds, and it’s encouraging to see that interest reflected in West Devon and the South Hams through the support of their volunteer champions.

 

‘We’re already working closely with South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council and will continue to do so throughout our current fibre rollout.’