New initiative i4Cumbria has won the Community Impact Award at this year’s Cumbria Business Awards, which were held at the Hundith Hill Hotel in Cockermouth on Thursday night (29 November).

i4Cumbria, delivered by Derwent & Solway Housing Association in partnership with West Lakes Renaissance, the North West Regional Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund, is an internet portal offering local people free access to information about public services and activities in the surrounding area.

Launched 3 months ago, i4Cumbria was designed with those who are not used to accessing the internet in mind and is already having a massive positive impact in the area allowing more people than ever to benefit from simple internet use.

Users can also sign up for free email, which opens up all kinds of possibilities including online banking, applying for jobs, and much more. It is really easy to use and you can get an email address set up within minutes.

With free internet access being offered on computers in libraries and community centres around Cumbria, i4Cumbria provides information on all subjects such as employment, education, housing, public services, resources for young people, lifestyle and culture, clearly and easily.

Nick Kennon from Derwent & Solway said:

“To receive an award at such an early stage is fantastic for everyone involved and shows that i4Cumbria is serving a very real need in the area.

We have designed i4Cumbria to be both informative and simple to use so that people of all ages and abilities are able to find the information they want, when they want, at the click of a button. We’re delighted it is proving so successful.”
Derwent & Solway and its partners are always looking for ways to improve and develop the service and are asking people to get in touch to let them know
what they’d like to see as part of the i4Cumbria website by contacting Nick Kennon on 01900 607500 or nick.kennon@harvesthousing.org.uk

To take a look at i4Cumbria please visit the computers at your local library or log onto www.i4cumbria.co.uk