A partnership between Quickline and One Community Foundation Kirklees is helping to deliver vital digital skills boost to residents in some of the most underserved parts of West Yorkshire, through a community-led initiative at Thornton Lodge Community Centre in Huddersfield.
As part of the collaboration, Thornton Lodge Community Centre has used grant funding to run a weekly digital skills session every Monday for 40 weeks, supporting local people to build confidence and capability in an increasingly online world. The programme also enabled the centre to appoint a dedicated Digital Champion to lead the sessions and provide consistent, hands-on support.
Each week, a group of residents attend the sessions, accessing practical help with everyday digital tasks that are now essential for daily life. This includes guidance on using the NHS App to book medical appointments, as well as support with online shopping and other essential digital services.
Thornton Lodge Community Centre sits within one of Kirklees’ most deprived neighbourhoods, where digital exclusion remains a significant barrier for many residents. The sessions are helping to bridge that gap by providing access to both equipment and trusted, in-person support that might otherwise be unavailable.
The initiative forms part of Quickline’s wider social value commitment linked to its delivery of Project Gigabit in West Yorkshire, which aims not only to improve physical broadband infrastructure but also to ensure communities can fully benefit from improved connectivity.
The digital skills boost difference
Quickline’s Social Value Lead for West Yorkshire, Connor Moore, who visited the centre to see the sessions in action, said: “It’s brilliant to see the difference these sessions are making on the ground. Digital skills are no longer optional – they’re essential for everyday life – and what Thornton Lodge Community Centre is doing is helping people gain confidence, independence and access to services they might otherwise struggle with. It’s a great example of how our partnership with One Community Foundation Kirklees is delivering real, practical social value.”
By combining funding from One Community Foundation Kirklees with community delivery on the ground, the programme continues to support residents in building skills that enable greater independence, inclusion, and access to services in an increasingly digital-first society.
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