Apply to become a Digital Hub

The Digital Hubs scheme is part of Connecting Cambridgeshire’s commitment to tackling digital exclusion by enabling trusted local venues to offer digital access and support.

Overview

Through the Digital Hubs scheme, we’re providing small grants of up to £4,200 to help successful applicants purchase connectivity solutions and digital devices, enabling them to deliver digital skills and confidence-building support in their communities.

Building on the success of the scheme launch in autumn 2025, further grants are now available and will be awarded through a competitive application process.

Application timeline as follows:

• Applications open: Monday 13 April 2026 at 12pm
• Applications close: Tuesday 5 June 2026 at 5pm
• Grants awarded: w/c Monday 15 June 2026
• Claims deadline: Friday 11 September 2026 at 5pm

Download the Application Guidance, Application Form and Conditions of Grant 2026 to find out more and apply.

We will review all applications received during the open window and will work closely with successful applicants to set up and monitor their Hubs.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply to become a Digital Hubs, eligible applicants need to:

• Own, manage or have regular agreed access to a community space (see application form for details)
  
• Be able to open to the public for a prescribed number of hours per week for digital inclusion support.
  
• Be located at a suitable distance from an existing public service offering similar digital support (e.g. a Library, Digital Hub).
  
• Be able to contract between themselves and a connectivity service provider directly.
  
• Be able to buy, store, and maintain a number of digital devices for community use.
  
• Have a single point of contact who has the capacity to become a ‘Project Manager’ on the DigitAll e-learning platform.

• Be able to begin delivering as a Digital Hub within 2 months of closure of the application window

Additional Information

Applications will be assessed by a panel of Connecting Cambridgeshire officers, County Council representatives, and local partners.

Successful applicants will receive an Award Letter outlining the grant offer and next steps, followed by an Acceptance Letter confirming grant use, monitoring, and evaluation processes.

We will work with successful applicants to monitor delivery and evaluate the impact of the hubs on their communities. This includes access to the National Digital Inclusion Network and the Wavemaker platform, which will provide staff and volunteers the opportunity to become DigitAll Champions and give access to support and resources to help them deliver digital inclusion skills and confidence to those who attend a Digital Hub.

We will also be conducting a final impact evaluation using the information gathered from the Digital Hub administrators to better understand the overall impact of the scheme.  

Apply

Dowbload the Application Guidance, Application Form and Conditions of Grant 2026.

The road to becoming a digital hub

Here’s how the process works for successful applicants:

1. Apply: Application form to become a digital hub to be completed during the open window.
2. Review: A panel from Connecting Cambridgeshire will assess your application.
3. Award: If successful, you’ll get an ‘Award Letter’ with details of the grant amount.
4. Accept: Sign and return the ‘Acceptance Letter’ agreeing to the grant conditions.
5. Monitor: We’ll work with you to keep track of how the hubs are doing and help you set up your own monitoring processes.
6. Evaluate: We’ll do a final impact evaluation based on your ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities.

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