We are delighted to announce that Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC) has successfully secured funding through the University of Reading Community Fund, thanks to a generous donation from Cellnex, to support our IT for Beginners programme.

This year, Cellnex has supported the University’s Community Fund for the first time, providing funding specifically for projects promoting environmental sustainability and digital inclusion. We are thrilled that RCLC’s project has been selected to benefit from this support.

We are incredibly grateful to Cellnex and the University of Reading for recognising the importance of helping disadvantaged women access education, technology and opportunities that many of us take for granted.

Helping women overcome digital exclusion

The funding will support three 10-week IT for Beginners courses, benefiting refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant women living in Reading.

Many of the women we support have little or no experience using computers. Language barriers, financial hardship, limited educational opportunities and a lack of access to technology can make everyday tasks increasingly difficult.

Our courses will help women develop essential practical skills, including using computers, sending emails, accessing the internet safely, completing online forms, creating documents and searching for employment opportunities.

Delivered in our welcoming women-only Centre, alongside English language learning and access to our Laptop Library, the programme will enable women to learn at their own pace in a supportive environment.

More than just computer skills

For our learners, digital inclusion is about much more than learning how to use a computer.

It means being able to book medical appointments, communicate with their children’s schools, access essential services, apply for jobs and participate more confidently in everyday life.

For women who have experienced isolation, poverty, displacement or limited educational opportunities, these skills can make an enormous difference to their independence, confidence and future prospects.

The programme will also provide opportunities to engage with the University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL), using museum experiences to inspire English language and digital learning.

A heartfelt thank you to Cellnex and the University of Reading

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Cellnex for its generous investment in digital inclusion and for helping us provide opportunities to women who might otherwise be excluded from the digital world.

We are equally grateful to the University of Reading Community Fund for supporting local community organisations and enabling partnerships that make a lasting difference.

A special thank you also goes to Phillippa Heath from the University’s Museums and Collections team for supporting our application and helping bring this project to fruition.

At a time when community organisations face increasing financial pressures, partnerships like these are invaluable. They enable us to continue breaking down barriers, empowering women through education and creating opportunities for a brighter future.

Thank you, Cellnex and the University of Reading, for believing in our work and investing in the women of Reading. Your support will make a real difference to their lives! 💜