{"id":5387,"date":"2025-07-18T14:13:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T14:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/?p=5387"},"modified":"2025-07-18T14:13:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T14:13:58","slug":"drummond-street-community-centre-connects-residents-with-free-broadband-thanks-to-opus-and-bolton-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/drummond-street-community-centre-connects-residents-with-free-broadband-thanks-to-opus-and-bolton-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Drummond Street Community Centre Connects Residents with Free Broadband, Thanks to Opus and Bolton at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bridging the Digital Divide in the Heart of Bolton<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In an era where so much of life relies on a digital connection, having reliable internet access is no longer a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. For the residents of Drummond Street in Bolton, that access has become a reality thanks to a new partnership between Opus Broadband and Bolton at Home, aimed at tackling digital poverty and improving digital inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Community Hub for All Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located at the centre of a vibrant neighbourhood, Drummond Street Community Centre is a lifeline for many. From morning coffee groups for the elderly to afterschool clubs for local children, it serves as a vital gathering place. As part of the Bolton at Home housing association, the centre is committed to offering support and services that help residents not just survive, but thrive. But until recently, one crucial tool was missing: internet access. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have any\u2014it was awful,\u201d said one of the centre\u2019s coordinators. \u201cNow, the kids can connect their Xbox, and we can help residents log into the Bolton at Home website during our coffee mornings. It\u2019s crucial for homework, GP appointments, and staying in touch with loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening Doors Through Connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the installation of free broadband by Opus, the centre has seen a marked improvement in its ability to support the community. \u201cPersonally, it\u2019s helped me do my job right here in the building,\u201d the coordinator explained. \u201cIt\u2019s also been incredibly useful for the groups that use the space daily. We\u2019re even looking at launching sessions for our elderly residents to help them get online\u2014so they can keep in touch with family, do online shopping, or even access healthcare more easily.\u201d The impact on young people has been particularly noticeable. \u201cThey love it,\u201d said the
coordinator. \u201cThey can play music, do homework, and it\u2019s opened up a whole new range of activities and engagement opportunities for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Lifeline for Residents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For some local residents, the community centre is now their only source of internet access. Whether it’s for job hunting, schoolwork, or simply staying in touch with friends and family,
the broadband has become a vital part of daily life. \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d the coordinator said when asked if people are using the internet for practical tasks. \u201cThis is the only place some of our residents can get online. So yes, it\u2019s making a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Step Toward Digital Equality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The partnership between Opus Broadband and Bolton at Home is part of a wider effort to reduce digital inequality across the region. With community hubs like Drummond Street
now offering free, accessible internet, the digital divide is beginning to narrow. \u201cYes, we are a hub\u2014and we can see the difference already,\u201d the coordinator affirmed. As plans move forward to offer digital skills classes and expand the use of online tools at the centre, Drummond Street stands as a shining example of how broadband isn\u2019t just about technology\u2014it\u2019s about connection, opportunity, and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you get a referral for a FREE Broadband connection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We want to donate broadband to the digitally excluded who really need it. We can only do it with your help, if you are part of a local council, housing association, school or community group. Get in touch today through the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you an organisation in need of broadband or would like to refer families for free connections?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Get in touch to discuss:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
dsi@opusbroadband.ne<\/a>t<\/h5>\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bridging the Digital Divide in the Heart of Bolton In an era where so much of life relies on a digital connection, having reliable internet access is no longer a luxury\u2014it\u2019s a necessity. For the residents of Drummond Street in Bolton, that access has become a reality thanks to a new partnership between Opus Broadband and Bolton at Home, aimed at tackling digital poverty and improving digital inclusion. A Community Hub for All Ages Located at the centre of a vibrant neighbourhood, Drummond Street Community Centre is a lifeline for many. From morning coffee groups for the elderly to afterschool clubs for local children, it serves as a vital gathering place. As part of the Bolton at Home housing association, the centre is committed to offering support and services that help residents not just survive, but thrive. But until recently, one crucial tool was missing: internet access. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have any\u2014it was awful,\u201d said one of the centre\u2019s coordinators. \u201cNow, the kids can connect their Xbox, and we can help residents log into the Bolton at Home website during our coffee mornings. It\u2019s crucial for homework, GP appointments, and staying in touch with loved ones.\u201d Opening Doors Through Connection Since …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,5,4,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5387","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-broadband-news","category-digital-inclusion","category-latest","category-local"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5387","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5387"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5387\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5391,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5387\/revisions\/5391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opusbroadband.com\/broadband-hub\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}