Arqiva

Arqiva, the company which operates the Bilsdale TV Mast, has made a significant donation to a North Yorkshire community centre, which has paid for young people to go on holiday.

The money has been given to Gallows Close in Scarborough to fund a five-day break to Wales for 22 children.

Two Ridings Community Foundation introduced Gallows Close in Barrowcliffe, Scarborough, to Arqiva through a Funding Network event, which links donors wanting to give to charitable causes that make a huge difference in their communities.

The young people took part in challenging and fun group activities on their Welsh holiday which helped build up personal self-esteem and team building skills and saw the group forge positive new friendships.

Since August’s TV mast fire, Arqiva has formed a strong relationship with Two Ridings Community Foundation, which provides funding and giving opportunities across North and East Yorkshire, last year spending £3million helping 250,000 people.

Arqiva donated £50,000 to the Foundation to help identify and support vulnerable people affected by the loss of their TV services and to assist work on digital inclusion and social isolation.

Isabelle Clough, business development manager at Two Ridings Community Foundation, said that funding for the holiday had a ‘huge impact’ on the children, some of whom were carers so for the first time had an opportunity to get away and many others living in poverty and had never left Scarborough before.

She added: “Thank you Arqiva for your support – it’s changed lives.”

Paul Donovan added: “It’s good we, as an organisation, can go beyond just issuing an apology for what happened to doing something which is a practical benefit in the region, and I know that all the people in Arqiva are really very proud of that.”

He added: “We are incredibly indebted to Two Ridings for opening our eyes to a good cause that is truly worthy of our support.

“Thanks to all at Two Ridings Community Foundation for their support, their energy and their direction. We are truly grateful.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF ARQIVA LTD

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Arqiva is at the heart of the broadcast and utilities sectors in the UK and abroad, providing critical data, network and communications services.

It works in partnership with its customers – major broadcasters and utilities like the BBC, ITV, Sky, Global, Bauer, Thames Water and Anglian Water – to meet everyone’s demand for information, content and entertainment and enabling a switched-on world to flow.

It is the only supplier of national terrestrial television and radio broadcasting services in the UK, consistently delivering digital TV, analogue and digital radio to people in all four corners of the country. It distributes more than 1,000 channels internationally using its fibre and satellite infrastructure. Its advanced, secure and dedicated networks are also supporting the management of critical data for a range of smart metering networks in the energy and water sectors.

For more information, news and insights from Arqiva, please visit the website at: www.arqiva.com