Connecting Gwernyfed to the Wider World

Connecting Gwernyfed to the Wider World

Building digital access, confidence, and opportunity across our community

Author: Cllr Grahame Day

Improving Digital Access Across Our Community Spaces

When my wife and I bought The Harp Inn in Glasbury-on-Wye in 2007, it quickly became clear just how limited internet access was locally. At the time, the pub was one of the few public places offering free internet access, and it was soon being used by people travelling from surrounding villages simply to get online.

That experience highlighted an important reality: reliable internet access away from home makes a real difference to everyday life. It helps people stay connected, supports local businesses, enables learning and access to services, and strengthens community life, particularly in rural areas.

Why Community Connectivity Matters

As awareness of these challenges grew, Gwernyfed Community Council (GCC) began working to improve digital connectivity in key community spaces, starting with village halls. The aim was straightforward: to ensure that shared community venues had the digital infrastructure needed to support modern life and changing expectations.

Through ongoing contact with residents, businesses, and volunteers, it became increasingly clear how limited digital access affected many aspects of daily life. Improved connectivity helps people to:

Learning from the Covid Pandemic

The importance of digital connectivity was brought into sharp focus during the Covid pandemic. Gwernyfed Community Council was among the first community councils in Wales to move meetings online. Since then, meetings have continued in a hybrid format, allowing people to participate either in person or remotely.

To support this further, GCC invested in dedicated videoconferencing equipment, including a specialist conferencing camera, projector, and projection screen at Felindre Village Hall. This equipment is available by arrangement for community organisations using the hall, helping to widen access to meetings, talks, and events. Following its successful use, arrangements are now being made to install similar equipment at St Peter’s Church Hall.

What We’ve Put in Place — and Why It Matters

The first key milestone in this work was bringing Felindre Village Hall fully online. With support from Openreach,and the Post Office at the time, the hall was connected using Full Fibre to the Premises (FFTP) and continues to provide a reliable, highcapacity internet connection for any use. This has helped futureproof the venue, enabling it to support a wide range of activities, from community meetings and events to training and digital services.

Building on this success, St Peter’s Church Hall (between Three Cocks and Glasbury)has also now been connected to the internet. Due to the building’s location and physical constraints, a different technical solution was required. Despite this, the hall now benefits from dependable WiFi and access to videoconferencing facilities. These have already been used successfully for talks and events, with further activities planned later this year.

Importantly, this investment in connectivity has enabled more than access to WiFi alone. Through funding delivered by Powys County Council from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund’s antipoverty programme, GCC delivered a Community Skills for Life programme, which included a dedicated session on digital inclusion. These sessions focused on helping residents build confidence in using online tools, devices, and services, making practical use of the technology now available in community venues.

The response to these sessions was extremely positive back in November 2025, demonstrating clear local demand and real benefit to participants. As a result, GCC committed additional funding to deliver a further round of Community Skills for Life sessions in February 2026, again with digital inclusion at their core.

As a direct outcome of this work, GCC has also been gifted a number of tablet devices. These will be used to support further learning opportunities, helping residents develop digital skills in familiar and accessible community settings, and ensuring that investment in digital infrastructure continues to deliver longterm value.

Who Has Benefited

These improvements support residents, businesses, and community groups across the area by providing:

What Happens Next

We are keen to see how local groups and businesses continue to develop new and creative uses for the WiFi and videoconferencing facilities now available. In the coming months, GCC will also launch a tablet loan scheme to help residents build confidence in using digital technology.

Alongside this, we will continue to explore opportunities to support further training and make the best possible use of the equipment and connections already in place.

Want to Know More?

If you would like further information about:

Please contact the Clerk in the first instance, who will be happy to help or direct you to the appropriate support.

Contact: clerk@gwernyfed.co.uk