***Update – if you have already applied for funding, then there is nothing for you to do***
You may remember the satellite voucher scheme that was reported in the press earlier in the year. Every household receiving under 2mbps is eligible for £350 towards the cost of a satellite installation cost. At the time we discounted this as a solution – Satellite is a sub-standard connection and the monthly costs (on top of the existing line rental) were about £30 per month and capped at a fairly stingy 10 gbit. Not a viable solution.
I have been in regular dialog with BDUK and Connecting Cheshire to persuade them to make our community scheme eligible for this funding. In parallel I negotiated a discount on our scheme from £35,000 to around £20,000. BT also put pressure on BDUK to allow community self-funded schemes to be eligible for this funding.
We are one of (if not the) first community fibre scheme in the country to be eligible for the voucher scheme money. It means we can run our own project as planned. Also the number of eligible households (around 70) covers the total cost of the works.
I have incorporated a Community Interest Company “Connecting Ollerton” that will contract with BT to get the works done once we secure the funding.
This is where you come in. To fund it, we need every household to register for the voucher scheme as soon as possible. You can do it HERE just click the link, fill out the form and your £350 voucher will go towards the scheme. When inputting the email address, please enter my email address david@malkinson.co.uk so I can collect all the codes, and send them off to BDUK and keep track of who has and hasn’t completed it.
Instructions for filling in the form:
– On the first page, please make sure you fill in your full name, and enter my email address (david@malkinson.co.uk) Don’t worry if you put in your email address, it will still go through OK.
– Answer No to the question “Do you already have a Satellite broadband product at this address?”
– Answer No to the question “Is Superfast Broadband available from any other supplier at this address? “
– Answer No to the question “Does BT already provide an Internet service >2Mbps to this address? “
– Answer Yes to the question “I understand the limitations of basic broadband, and I am happy to proceed with the application”
Connecting Ollerton 
Done
Sent from my iPhone
LikeLike
Hi David, I cocked up first time and input my own address and the read your e-mail fully and re –input with your address If I get sent a code I will forward it
Simon D Armstrong
http://www.armstrongnotarypublic.co.uk The Orchard, School Lane, Ollerton, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8SJ
+44 1565 652777 +44 7540 861412 (mob)
LikeLike
That’s OK Simon – your application has gone through successfully. Thanks for letting me know!
LikeLike
hi Dave I just wanted to check – I have received this but I did do the form etc online in August. I’m just checking whether the fact I have now received this message means it didn’t work when I did it for some reason and I need to do it again? Or is it just a blanket message to everyone as some haven’t done it? Cheers, Vicki Jackson
Sent from my iPad
LikeLike
Yes, if you have done this already, no need to do it again. This is mainly for everyone who missed my email. We need about 20 more people to fill in the form and we’re good to go!
LikeLike
is this the same form that we were asked to fill in several months ago – please confirm,
Martyn
On 3 October 2016 at 21:34, Connecting Ollerton wrote:
> connectingollerton posted: “You may remember the satellite voucher scheme > that was reported in the press earlier in the year. Every household > receiving under 2mbps is eligible for £350 towards the cost of a satellite > installation cost. At the time we discounted this as a solution -” >
LikeLike
Yes – this info is meant for those who have not yet filled in the form. You’re all sorted Martyn! Thanks
LikeLike