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B4RN Volunteers Star In Oxford Academic’s Article

July 2nd, 2020
Author: Chris Conder
Posted In: Latest news

B4RN volunteers and staff – new and old – feature in an Oxford academic’s latest article.

Dr. Kira Allmann is no stranger to B4RN, having visited us many times as part of her studies. Her latest piece was published in The Conversation this week. You can read it by clicking here.

The long-form piece is about B4RN’s rural communities that have built their own internet network – and how they’ve been getting & keeping people connected during the Covid-19 lockdown.

It has lots of examples of volunteers in action and their anecdotes.

One extract, titled Resilience, reads: “Lockdown has highlighted the importance of the internet. But, paradoxically, B4RN’s model for success has more to do with the power of human connections that have long been integral to geographically isolated rural communities”.

Meanwhile, B4RN itself has been collecting stories about how our staff, volunteers and customers have been coping with lockdown. You can still submit your take on Covid-19 lockdown by completing the survey here.

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Child labour. In Arkholme.

 

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Stories from out in the field from our very happy customers

One residential customer in Over Kellet used to know whether it was worth firing up her computer by looking out of her front window to see what the weather was doing with her telephone line.

Customer Testimonial

We juggle two jobs from home, and it’s just been a game-changer. Just sign up! It’s the best internet service I’ve ever received, and I’ve moved a thousand times!
Georgiana, Dentdale
It has allowed us to improve our farm business through the implementation of Wi-Fi heat detection ankle bands on our herd, and thus improving our business productivity.
Heather Whalley, Farmer
OMG it is amazing! I don’t want to go back to London, which was faster than here, but not now! Just to say a BIG THANK YOU to all you guys, what a great thing you are doing. I’m shocked not everyone is signing up!
Customer in Norfolk
After lambing 1300 ewes a good film is what I want to watch and because we have B4RN that is no problem. Just enables me and my family to get on.
Farmer (Anonymous)
It’s like going from a Ford Anglia to a jet engine!
Jackie Frankland, Rathmell

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