Digital Durham

22/10/2026

Looking for trusted advice on children’s online safety? The UK Government’s Kids Online Safety website provides clear guidance for parents and carers 👉

Find out the steps you can take to keep your child safe online. Get practical and trusted information to help you feel more confident.

21/10/2026

Need help navigating the digital world? AbilityNet offers FREE tech support and information to older and disabled people in the UK. Can assist with any tech issue, big or small, at home or over the phone.

For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/4cA7hiX

21/10/2026

Roadworks in your area?
One.network can help you plan your journey and will also show if the works are related to ultrafast internet coming to your area.
Plan your journeys with confidence and avoid delays. https://bit.ly/4erp0um

21/10/2026

1 in 3 people don't have the digital skills they need for everyday life.

This , take a look at our Digital Support Map to find local help with digital skills, using online services, free Wi-Fi, free computer access, device loans and more.
Find support near you: https://bit.ly/3Tq79LJ

20/10/2026

It's .

Looking for free Wi-Fi, free mobile data, computer access, device loans or help to improve your digital skills?

Our Digital Support Map can help you find support available across County Durham.

Find support near you: https://bit.ly/3Tq79LJ

19/10/2026

We're proud to be kicking off The Good Things Foundation's Get Online Week with our device gifting session in partnership with DurhamLearn at the Randolph Community Centre Evenwood! 🎉
We've had a fantastic time today, and everyone’s in agreement that they've learned so much from the sessions and that Hannah's been a fantastic tutor. 🙌 It's been great to see people building their digital skills and confidence while getting connected online. We’ve certainly had a few laughs along the way. 😄
💻 To find out more about Get Online Week, read our article here: https://digitaldurham.org/latest_news/get-online-week/
📱 Want to learn more about our device gifting scheme and future opportunities in the Teesdale area? Why not give us a follow!

19/10/2026

95% of people who can, aren't
If you are on a low income, you could be missing out on big broadband savings costing hundreds of pounds a year https://bit.ly/3XjwqK2

19/10/2026

⚠️Banks or the police will never call and ask you to:
❌transfer money
❌send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash or other valuables.

Find out how criminals stole £21 million from victims of courier fraud: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/courierfraud2026

19/10/2026

𝐁𝟒𝐑𝐍’𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝‑𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞.

🌾 Across the valley, residents, volunteers and landowners have been working with B4RN to bring gigabit‑capable full fibre to homes, farms and businesses. It’s part of our wider strategy to close the rural digital divide, support local enterprise and build long‑term resilience in places often overlooked by commercial providers.

One of the people helping make it happen is 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐎𝐫𝐫 - a resident, business owner, early volunteer and investor. After moving to Weardale five years ago, Mike saw how much modern life depends on reliable connectivity. His digital business relies on large daily data transfers, and his household spans multiple generations, all needing stable broadband.

Mike became one of the first volunteers, knocking on doors, chatting to neighbours and helping people understand how much hidden technology already relies on good connectivity. Today, he’s also backing the project financially, recognising the long‑term value of community‑owned fibre. 🙌

🚜 And this is exactly how B4RN’s model works:

- Local people spread the word
- Volunteers help gather demand
- Landowners grant wayleaves
- Government funding covers up to 80 percent of build costs
- B4RN designs, engineers and delivers the network

Together, these contributions make challenging rural builds possible.

As Mike says: “𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬. 𝐁𝟒𝐑𝐍 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝‑𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬.”

So, a huge thank you from us to Mike, for being such a legendary local champion 🧡

Read Mike’s full story here: https://b4rn.org.uk/about-b4rn/customer-stories/mike-orr-upper-weardale-county-durham

If you live or work in the area, now is the time to register your support and help keep the momentum strong. Check www.b4rn.org.uk