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Volunteer

Service Status
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B4RN is built on community spirit - we couldn’t do this without you.

At B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) we work hand-in-hand with rural communities to design, plan and build a full-fibre network. We then deliver some of the fastest internet service in the country (1,000mbps) to every customer on the network at a low cost. We’ve been doing this for the last ten years, and we’re proud to have 13,500 rural properties currently taking service.

We can only do this thanks to the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers, who are willing to invest so much of their time and energy to deliver significant and lasting benefit to their wider community.

B4RN volunteers participate in a wide range of activities, from planning and walking routes, agreeing wayleaves, encouraging sign-up and investment, digging trenches, coordinating site work between volunteers and landowners, laying duct, installing chambers, helping to connect customers... and of course feeding the B4RN troops (none of this would be possible without tea and cake).

Volunteering at B4RN is open to everyone and our volunteers are from all walks of life - a good volunteer group has a wide variety of skills and experience. No prior experience is necessary, and where specific skills are required, we provide a range of training. B4RN volunteers gain a wide range of new skills and experience as the project develops.

Contact us for more information about volunteering.

What Our Volunteers Say

Hilary, volunteer, Chipping

"I’ve just got hooked! It is giving back. It is seeing smiles. And the challenge – we want to truly say every business, pub and shop in the village now has B4RN... achieve those little milestones then say what can we do next?"

Boyd, volunteer, Crook

"There's so much more to B4RN... connecting people and building communities. It's not just a short-term thing, I've made enduring links with people I would never otherwise have met."

Roles

Each volunteer group is different and develops their own ways of working. Most successful volunteer groups have a combination of people who are willing to take on the following roles:

  • Informing the community and encouraging investment

  • Walking routes and agreeing wayleaves with landowners

  • Coordinating site work between volunteers and landowners

  • Fieldwork of laying duct and installing chambers

  • Advising property owners and helping to install their house fittings

  • Baking for volunteers – our army marches on tea and cake!

This training will be delivered by other members of the B4RN staff, and some will be delivered by experienced volunteers.

Training will either be delivered during a volunteer day at the B4RN offices in Melling, on the ground in your community, or online.

Your first point of contact for any training queries should be your project manager, however all B4RN staff are very happy to provide support for volunteers. They are experts on designing, building and maintaining the network, so can answer any questions or deal with any concerns you may have.

FAQs

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Celebrating Volunteers

B4RN celebrates volunteers! Whenever we can highlight the work volunteers have done and the impact they have made on their communities we look for opportunities like these:

B4RN’s founders and volunteers have been recognised at the highest levels.

2022 – Val Winchester, the Chapel-le-Dale champion, received a British Empire Medal!

2021 – The volunteer-run B4RN Computer Club were shortlisted at the Digi Leaders 100 Awards.

2021 – A host of volunteers were recognised at the 2021 Lancaster District CVS Awards.

2020 – Martyn Welch from New Hutton received a British Empire Medal!

2019 – Sue Caddy and Martin Lange were nominated for an INCA Gold Award in 2019.

2015 – Now retired CEO Barry Forde and co-founder Chris Conder got MBEs!

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B4RN is committed to working safely. Find out more in our Policy Statement

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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

We’re award winners!

Connected Britain Bpoty All Caps Edit Best Rural Isp Winner 2022 Inca Winner 2022 Medium Connected Britain Community Improvement Award Winner 2022 Inca Ispa 1663059912