13/05/2026
The amazing group of volunteers from our Hexhamshire project continue to inspire me with their determination and drive to create positive change within their community.
They are tackling digital inclusion head-on — future-proofing their community and ensuring people have the access they need to participate confidently in an increasingly digital world for generations to come.
B4RN - Broadband for the Rural North Ltd
Meet the amazing people behind our local B4RN - Broadband for the Rural North Ltd project. This is your Hexhamshire volunteer team who’ve been giving their time to bring fibre broadband to our community.
The team are meeting fortnightly and have spent the last couple of months being trained in all things B4RN so they can answer questions that you might have.
The project is moving ahead quickly, with Phase 1 planned to start as soon as this summer. Phase 1 involves a proposal to connect a cabinet at the Parish Hall to a line already installed at Allendale.
The volunteers have begun making contact with landowners on this route and seeking agreement to wayleaves, which give permission for the fibre network to pass through their land.
The volunteer team are passionate about getting this essential infrastructure to the community to safeguard it's future as somewhere people want to live and work for years to come -they liken it to properties being linked to the electricity network back in the late 19th century.
Your community volunteers are: Keith Morris, John Day, David Flatman, Claire Nixon, Nigel Robson, Nikki Matthews (all pictured), Edward Leadbeater, Kevin Heymann, Alistair Stevens and Dave Turner (not pictured). The team is keen to hear from you if you've got any questions or concerns, so please get in touch.
The B4RN - Broadband for the Rural North Ltd team themselves will have a stand at Northumberland County Show on Saturday 23rd May - another opportunity to find out more. Sally Wilkinson B4RN
