News & Events

The Burton Morewood CE Primary Academy and Nursery has recently installed a new Internet Telephony switchboard system, funded by a donation from the B4RN Burton-in-Kendal Community Dig Team, who raised the money through garden digs and house kit fitting as part of their B4RN project.

A Journey That Began in 2018

Martin, a retired physics teacher and lead volunteer, first became involved with B4RN in 2018 after hearing about the project from a fellow volunteer, Mike Iddon. With his background in physics, Martin found the idea of bringing hyperfast broadband to rural areas both intriguing and challenging.

One key challenge in the village was the original infrastructure, which included a historical stagecoach route that left the landscape full of cobbled streets and challenging underground terrain. As Martin puts it, "Every connection is usually a problem in its own right."

A Growing Network

The village has successfully connected 220 properties, accounting for around 34% of the local population. While this is a significant milestone, the B4RN team is still hard at work, ensuring more residents can access the reliable, full-fibre internet connection that has become essential in modern life. The effort is paying off as the community continues to embrace the benefits of broadband access.

One of the most visible impacts of B4RN's work has been felt in the village's community assets, with the village hall and the local primary school receiving a free B4RN Service.   Their most recent challenge was connecting Burton’s Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) – a local sports facility with an all-weather pitch and tennis courts – they can now benefit from the network.

"B4RN has been well-received within the village,” says Martin. "Volunteers are always available to help, and we are proud of what we've accomplished together."

Community Dig Funding & Supporting Local Initiatives

In addition to bringing full-fibre gigabit symmetrical broadband connectivity, the B4RN project in Burton-in-Kendal has also supported local initiatives through its Community Dig Fund. The Burton-in-Kendal Volunteer Group established a ‘Community Dig Team’, a B4RN initiative that allows volunteers to raise money for the community while working with B4RN. The surplus funds from garden digs and house kit fittings have been redirected to support local causes, most notably the village primary school.

Thanks to the generosity of B4RN volunteers, the school has received an internet telephony phone switchboard system, which provides more reliable communication for staff and students. Previously, the school relied on outdated overhead lines prone to disruption and high maintenance costs. With the new VoIP switchboard, the school benefits from clearer, more stable calls and other advanced features such as call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and conferencing, all of which help streamline communication. In addition to improving reliability, this digital technology is more cost-effective, enabling the school to save money while enhancing its communication infrastructure. With VoIP, the school can now embrace modern, flexible communication tools essential in today’s digital age, ensuring that students and staff stay connected.

A Community That Thrives on Pies (and Tea)

Reflecting on his time volunteering for B4RN, Martin jokes, "You say B4RN survives on tea and cakes, but I would change that – we survived on pies, which were very popular with the B4RN operatives!"

For Martin, the project has also provided a sense of purpose in retirement. It is "an ideal activity to keep a retired physics teacher occupied."

Looking Forward

With the successful installation of the VoIP switchboard system at Burton Morewood CE Primary Academy and Nursery, the school now has the foundation to enhance its communication, save costs, and improve its students' overall learning experience. As the B4RN team continues to expand its hyperfast broadband network, the village will be even more connected and further enrich the community. This growing network promises to open new opportunities for education, business, and recreation, ensuring that Burton-in-Kendal remains a thriving community.