MALVERN’S adult day care centre, Jack’s Place, are celebrating after having ultra-fast full fibre broadband installed.
The centre, in the village of Birtsmorton, provides a caring and supportive environment for adults with a range of needs, including people with learning disabilities and mental health needs.
Due to their remote location, a 16-acre small holding on a working farm in Worcestershire, they’ve previously been without internet access at the centre.
But after hearing about what could be possible with a fast broadband connection, Worcestershire County Council got in touch with Openreach, and asked for help.
Three months later, and Jacks Place now has some of the fastest and most reliable broadband speeds available anywhere in the UK, joining 120,000 homes and businesses across Worcestershire already benefitting from Openreach’s network.
Hannah James, chief executive for Jack’s Place said: “Firstly, can I thank Worcestershire County Council and Openreach for all the hard work that they have put in.
“It has been a massive help to the running of the business, and our visitors are thrilled to be able to watch TV, particularly education and documentary programs.
“It also offers us a safer environment as we are now able to contact the emergency services in the event of an emergency.”
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council cabinet member with responsibility for the economy, infrastructure and skills, said:
“We recognised that broadband was essential to enable Jacks Place to access vital services and raise their online profile, which up until now has been impossible due to their rural location.
“I’m really pleased that with our support this worthwhile charity has the full internet access they need to continue to improve people’s lives.”
Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire said:
“Jacks Place is an amazing venture and I am heartened to learn that it is now able to do so much more with a proper internet connection going live this month.
“Fast internet is essential for everyone these days and I am pleased to see Worcestershire County Council now connecting the more difficult-to-reach areas in my constituency.
“More and more communities are now getting fast internet speeds to help them to get online and I am confident that we’ll be celebrating more connection events like this in the near future.”
Visit https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/business/digital-connectivity for more information.
