Community interest company Red Chair Highland has benefited from support from LNER to improve its work in improving connectivity.

Red Chair Highland is based in Inverness in Scotland and promotes digital inclusion across a very large rural area in which internet connectivity is limited, and accessing public devices and facilities such as libraries can be difficult.

The organisation has used the money from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to run employability workshops and to buy 100 refurbished Chromebooks, which it will distribute to people of all ages, who will be able to use them to learn, access employment opportunities and improve connections in their communities. support education, improve employability, and strengthen community connections.

LNER’s Community Investment Manager, Rachael Wilson, at LNER, spoke of the operator’s pride in supporting organisations such as Red Chair Highland, pointing out that they “are making a real difference in communities along our route. ”

Award-winning artist Daye Allan is an example of the good outcomes that Red Chair Highland has helped to achieve. It helped him to write the proposal for his first exhibition after leaving college, to promote it, and to post his work online.

Daye is one of those whose stories have been shared in a special short film.

The LNER Customer and Community Fund has previously funded projects including the restoration of an ancient wetland and a health charity based in North Shields. This year, it is supporting 17 charities. Since being set up in 2018, it has given money to more than 175 charities.

“People have told us that the impact of having their own device has been amazing. It has had a massive impact on mental health, wellbeing, and independence. In such a remote region, access to digital services can be incredibly limited. Having a device offers a vital link to the digital world. We support people who may otherwise be unable to access their own technology, and that access is absolutely life changing.”

Kirsty Adam, Operations Manager at Red Chair Highland