Applications for the latests GoFurther Fund are now closed.
This round of funding was open to local charities, community organisations, and groups in North Northumberland and Teesdale who met one of the following criteria:
A total funding pot of £15,000 was available, with grants of up to £3,000 for successful applicants.
Applications closed on Wednesday 30th April 2025.
In July 2023, to celebrate 50,000 homes being enabled for GoFibre's ultra-fast broadband, we set up the £50,000 GoFurther Fund with the goal of supporting charities, community groups, and other organisations which have already, or intend to, make an impact locally within the communities we're connecting to our ultra-fast full fibre broadband. The GoFurther Fund was first launched in our original network-build locations in East Lothian, Fife, and the Scottish Borders in July 2023, and the second round of funding was rolled out across Aberdeenshire and Angus in February 2024.
One year on from the launch of our GoFurther Fund, we’ve announced the second round of successful funding awards. The charities in Aberdeenshire and Angus, have received a slice of the £50,000 fund launched last summer.
This year’s winning charities are: The Haven (Aberdeenshire, £3,000), Kirrie Connections (Angus, £3,000), North East Sensory Services (Angus, £3,000)
The Haven offers a wide range of free activities to combat social isolation, Kirrie Connections 'Pathfinders Project,' helps people with dementia in Angus, in collaboration with local artists and North East Sensory Services (NESS) will enhance peer support and social groups for over 6,250 individuals with sight or hearing loss, with our funding enabling volunteer training.
And we caught up with all five of last year’s recipients in the Borders and East Lothian.
These brilliant charities have shared a bit about their vital community-based services, and the difference Go Further Funding has made to them, in some extremely watchable videos. And we caught up with all five...
Based in Dunfermline, Tartan Talkers is a men’s mental health and suicide prevention charity
Into Work is an employability charity based in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, helping people with neurodiversity disabilities and mental health challenges.
A charity that aims to foster social connection across North East Fife.
Escape Youth Services is a youth-focused charity based in Hawick in the Scottish Borders, providing a drop-in service for young people between the ages of 8 and 19.
Based in East Lothian and Midlothian, Bridges Project is a youth-work charity that provides tailored support for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.
The GoFurther Fund is committed to transforming local lives alongside GoFibre’s mission of improving rural connectivity and addressing the digital divide head-on. The Fund provides grants to local projects and activities under the following four categories:
- Supporting individuals in communities to enter or re-enter into employment. - Providing career change opportunities. - Giving local people opportunities to gain work experience.
- Providing training and upskilling opportunities for local people. - Providing digital upskilling opportunities for all locals from the young to the older generation. - Supporting the growth of local businesses.
- Supporting individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices. - Supporting individuals of all ages and backgrounds with their physical and mental wellbeing.
- Leading the community to make better choices for the environment. - This may not be the organisation’s primary purpose, but they are making efforts to help tackle climate change through their activities.
In addition to addressing at least one of the objectives above, your organisation should comply with the following: - Registered charity or not-for-profit organisation. - Locally managed / local presence within specified locations. - Relevant Disclosure Scotland checks.
No, not at the moment but we’d love to expand this activity in the future if the demand is there.
