News & Events

Wednesday, 11th June |1pm – 4pm| Main Venue – Barrasford Village Hall

Barrasford, Northumberland – The first of B4RN’s (Broadband for the Rural North Ltd) community initiatives is set to take place on Wednesday, 11th June, as the B4RN Collective hosts its first Digital Discovery Day, a free digital upskilling event designed to bridge the digital divide and empower residents across Barrasford and surrounding rural communities.

Taking place at the Barrasford Village Hall, utilising the hall's Free B4RN Service as a community asset this event will offer hands-on digital learning and personalised support, open to all, regardless of whether you are a B4RN customer.

With rural areas often facing barriers to digital access and confidence, Digital Discovery Day is part of a broader mission to make digital skills accessible to everyone, regardless of age, background, or experience.

Whether you're unsure how to send an email, want help ordering prescriptions via the NHS App, need support with online banking, or simply want to understand technology in everyday life better, the event promises practical, friendly guidance for all skill levels.

The event is delivered through the B4RN Collective, a collaboration between B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North), the National Innovation Centre, Age UK, and the Barclays Digital Wings Team. They are joined by our community volunteers to create a unique network of support focused on digital inclusion.

Event Highlights Include:

• Free digital skills sessions for all abilities—from beginners to advanced users

• One-on-one support for online safety, NHS services, digital finance, and communication tools

• Opportunities to explore tech for work, wellbeing, and daily life in a warm and welcoming environment

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to close the digital skills gap in rural communities, where connectivity is improving, but digital confidence and access to support is struggling to keep pace.

Digital Discovery Day represents more than just a one-off event—it marks the beginning of a sustained effort to ensure rural communities are not left behind in the digital age. By bringing together national expertise and local commitment, B4RN and its partners are laying the groundwork for a more digitally confident, connected, and inclusive Northumberland. Everyone is welcome, and everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive in a digital world.