RESIDENTS living on the Westlands estate in Droitwich were given a digital bouquet of gifts after a florist donated computers to the community.
Arena Flowers – which is based on the Berry Hill estate – donated four computers to the Westlands Community Centre on Meadow Way.
The computers will be used to help people on the estate access learning courses and employability programmes online, as well as day-to-day internet access.
Coun Richard Morris said: “Keeping people connected is crucial, and ensuring people have access to the internet is so important now.
“Access to the internet should not be a luxury, it is a necessity these days, and we must do as much as we can to increase digital inclusion, ensuring local communities have the skills and confidence to access digital information and services.
“It is thanks to donations such as this from Arena Flowers to the Westlands Community Centre that we can really help connect people.
“This very generous donation from Arena Flowers will go a long way to helping people here in the Westlands community connect and grow.”
The donation comes after Arena Flowers moved to the area and was introduced, via Worcestershire County Council Skills and Investment, to the work that the Westlands Community Association do in supporting local people.
John Hackett, CEO of Arena Flowers, said it was important to give back to the community.
“We are committed to improving the lives of communities everywhere we operate around the world, but it’s especially important to begin that work in our new home here in Droitwich.
“We are excited about the difference we can make to our teams and local suppliers, but we also like to support local community services that can positively impact the community for the long term.”
Judy Gibbs, Head of Skills and Investment at Worcestershire County Council, added: “Ensuring local communities have the skills and confidence to access digital information and services is a key strategy for the council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
“It gives people on the Westlands estate better access to online learning potential and can access some of the many courses and training programmes that we offer.”
