Community groups have just one more week to take advantage of grants up to £1,500 from Fibrus Broadband.

The full fibre broadband provider is coming to the end of the latest round of applications for its £30,000 Community Fund.

Local sports clubs, charities and other organisations have until Friday 16 October to apply to the fund.

Since the fund was launched in 2023. Fibrus have supported dozens of groups from cricket clubs to canoers.

They include Uncovering Roman Carlisle, which has been excavating a Roman bathhouse at Carlisle Cricket Club since it was discovered in 2017.

Distributed through Cumbria Community Foundation, their grant has paid for a high-specification laptop and handheld laser scanner so the team can scan finds and build a 3D model of the site. The aim is to create a free virtual museum for people to view the project’s work and discoveries.

Technical Director Frank Giecco said the grant was invaluable.

“Every penny counts for us,” he says. “Without it, it probably would have taken us another year to fundraise for the laptop and scanner ourselves, and luckily the application process was simple and straightforward.

“This is something that will be used for years to come and have a real legacy. And it’s not just for our project, it’ll be something for Carlisle as a whole.”

Linda McMillan, chief people officer at Fibrus, said: "With just one week left to apply, I'd urge any community group thinking about the Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria to get their application in now.

“The fund exists to help tackle digital poverty and open up opportunities for the people who need it most, and projects like Uncovering Roman Carlisle show exactly the kind of difference even a relatively small grant can make.

“So if you've got a project that could benefit, we would love to help - don't leave it too late."

The latest round of applications to the Fibrus Community Fund Cumbria is open until Friday 16 October. For details visit https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/fibrus-community-fund-cumbria/