COMMUNITITES looking to improve their broadband speeds are invited to attend a session that will help them get funding.

Two dedicated sessions are being held by Worcestershire County Council to help groups of residents from Malvern and surrounding areas to put together ‘expressions of interests.’ This is for funds such as the Rural Community Broadband Fund, organised by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which has £20 million nationally to give out.

The sessions are being held at County Hall, Worcester, on Monday, from 9am until noon and then again on Thursday, from 1pm until 4pm.

While representatives from communities are welcome to drop in, it is advisable to book a time in advance.

Worcestershire’s local broadband plan, which is called Connecting Worcestershire, aims to ensure everyone has a minimum speed of 2mbps and that 90 per cent of businesses and residents have access to superfast broadband by 2015.

Councillor David Thain, the county council’s cabinet member for transformation and change, encouraged as many people as possible to get involved.

He said: “I would urge communities to consider local solutions and to take up the offer of support with the expressions of interest processes to access funding.

“We will continue to work to make superfast broadband a reality across Worcestershire while striving to make improvements and streamline county council services through better use of technology.”

For more information, visit worcestershire.gov.uk/broadband.

To book a slot at a session and to receive help with the expressions of interest process, e-mail broadband@ worcestershire.gov.uk.

Alternatively people can call 01905 768220.