A VILLAGE HALL that is at the centre of the community has become an online hub which will benefit the wider rural areas.
Users of Dyke and District Hall are now able to access free WiFi – and the installation will have potential bigger benefits for outlying areas unable to access high speed internet.
The hall is used for a range of events such as coffee mornings and children’s parties. However, the new hall committee is hoping the installation of the WiFi by local firm Kintel will make it more appealing to a wider range of groups, particularly businesses.
Shona Darnley, the hall’s chairwoman said: “Over the years the hall has been used for many birthday parties, quiz nights, coffee mornings and craft fairs, but now that we have the free WiFi we hope it will become a location for other groups as well.
“It’s a great facility with a large hall, stage, meeting room, and kitchen. It would be ideal for businesses to use for team building exercises or host their own events if their own office space is not big enough.
“The WiFi was only up and running last week and we already have a business using our meeting room as an office for a week.
“Using the internet on the go is part and parcel of everyday life now. We have our own Facebook page and we are getting our website redone. We have to keep up with the times and make sure that people are aware that we exist.
“Having the WiFi will mean that people can log on from the events they attend at the hall there and then thus giving us greater publicity too.”
Shona added that the hall committee was being more proactive in organising events throughout the year – including monthly coffee mornings, a quiz night and possibly even a wedding fair.
David Harrison, owner of Kintel which specialises in providing rural communities without access to fibre with faster internet, explained why he wanted to become involved: “I live in Kintessack and am a regular user of Dyke Hall so wanted to help them, but having the small transmitter on the building means I will also be able to reach more rural communities who don’t have a great internet service.
“The idea is that I will be able to build a network of hubs throughout the region so that any community can access WiFi internet through Kintel.”