Photo L-R: Jonathan Jelley MBE JP – Chair of PCVS, Sue Sharman – Volunteer at St John’s Church Peterborough Digital Hub, Cheryl McGuire – Digital Inclusion Project Lead for PVCS, Kirsteen McVeigh – CEO of PCVS, Megan Wreford – Light Project Peterborough, Paul Bristow – Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Sarah Marsh – Connecting Cambridgeshire programme director, Paddy Berryman – Services Manager for Light Project Peterborough, Sara More – Volunteer at St John’s Church Peterborough Digital Hub, Will Plant – Connecting Cambridgeshire digital inclusion lead, Revd Michelle Dalliston – Vicar of Peterborough, St John the Baptist and St Luke Peterborough.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow, visited The Garden House at Light Project Peterborough on Friday 26 September to see first-hand how the city is helping people get online through the Digital Hubs scheme, delivered by Connecting Cambridgeshire and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA).

The scheme, being delivered in partnership with Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service (PCVS), is providing grants to local venues such as community centres and church halls, enabling them to offer suitable, local access to digital support for residents who face barriers to getting online.

The visit highlighted how the new hubs that are coming online will help people connect, learn, and thrive in a digital world – whether the barriers are affordability, access, or confidence. From older residents and people living with dementia to young people and those experiencing homelessness, the hubs will provide vital support.

The Mayor met with frontline staff and community leaders to hear how the scheme is already making a difference. He praised the commitment and strength of delivery in Peterborough, ahead of another round of grants for hubs across the county, driven by local partnerships and a shared commitment to inclusive growth.

Paul Bristow said: “It was fantastic to see first-hand the work being done here in Peterborough to help more people get online and build their digital confidence. The commitment of the staff and volunteers is clear, and it’s already making a real difference for local residents. The support is practical and welcoming and a great example of the community and local partners coming together to help people access new opportunities.”

The Digital Hubs scheme is part of the CPCA’s Digital Connectivity Strategy Digital Inclusion plan, being delivered by Connecting Cambridgeshire, which aims to ensure that all residents have access to connectivity, devices, and the skills to use them safely and confidently. With 10 hubs already awarded grants in Peterborough and more planned, including a roaming hub for rural villages, the city is setting a strong example for the rest of the region.

Sarah Marsh, Connecting Cambridgeshire’s Programme Director, said: “The Digital Hubs scheme is digitally enabling local community spaces, allowing residents to access connectivity and devices to get online safely and locally. Peterborough’s third sector has stepped up brilliantly. By working together, we’re not just delivering services, we’re building a network of digital skills and confidence support that reflects the diversity and needs of our communities.”

The initial successful take-up of the scheme in Peterborough is a direct outcome of the ongoing partnership between Connecting Cambridgeshire and PCVS. The partnership began in 2024 after connecting through the scope of the Peterborough Poverty Truth Commission which identified a shared interest in delivering better digital inclusion in Peterborough to support those who are the most vulnerable within the city’s communities.

Jonathan Jelley MBE JP, Chairman for Peterborough Council for Voluntary Service, said: “PCVS is delighted to be delivering this project in partnership with Connecting Cambridgeshire and our incredible VCSE colleagues across the city. Our Poverty Truth Commission identified digital exclusion as an underlying symptom and cause of broader poverty for our communities, and it has become a key priority for us improve digital inclusion in Peterborough, enabling those seeking support to access the services they need. We look forward to the development of this pilot project and building on the great relationships and partnerships already in place.”

The competitive grant scheme for Digital Hubs launched over the summer, with applications for this funding round closing at the end of September. Each successful hub application will receive funding to purchase connectivity solutions and digital devices to be used in their spaces by the public – to provide the local community with tailored support from help with online forms and job applications to digital skills sessions and device loans.

An impact evaluation of the Digital Hubs scheme will be delivered in Spring 2026 to inform future grant funding across the region.

Connecting Cambridgeshire is still inviting community venues across the county to express interest in becoming a Digital Hub. Whether you’re a village hall, church hall or community centre, the scheme offers funding and support to help you provide digital access and skills to those who need it most.

Visit our Digital Hubs page to learn more and apply, or email us: contact@connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk.