Tricia’s story: Bridging the creative gap in Cornwall

The problem

Despite her high level creative background, Tricia’s daily life is a stark reminder of the digital divide. She currently relies on a basic "button mobile" that is reaching the end of its life, leaving her disconnected from the tools most professionals take for granted.

• The 4G cliff edge: Tricia is facing a looming deadline. Her current device will soon go offline as networks upgrade. "I have to get a new phone, a 4G one, by Christmas as it'll go offline," she explains. For an artist who relies on high quality photos for her work, the transition to a smartphone is an expensive necessity she feels "behind” on.
• Health and memory barriers: Living with epilepsy and a short-term memory that can fade within weeks, Tricia finds standard digital learning difficult. "Things might only last for me for a week or a month... I’d have to start again from scratch."
• The "total cut off": During the 2019 lockdowns, Tricia was left completely stranded. With no internet at home and community spaces closed, her professional world stopped. "Everything was cut off for me. I had to carry on writing a book on paper at home."

The solution: community hubs as a creative lifeline

Tricia’s story highlights how community networks like the local library and The Elms do more than provide computers, they provide a "light friendly" sanctuary for ambition.

Through the Hub, Tricia is transforming her handwritten science fiction project, Questran Eda, into a publishable reality. With the support of staff, she uses the computers to type up her manuscript and research images - tasks she simply cannot perform in her small, dimly lit flat.

"I’d rather come up here and spend an hour or two," Tricia says. "If I get in trouble technically... the librarians here always help me out so I’m not stuck." The Hub has allowed her to maintain a relationship with publishers and even share her work with Sir David Attenborough, who sent her a letter of encouragement to persevere with her book.

Tricia’s call for change

Tricia believes that digital inclusion in rural areas requires more than just providing a Wi-Fi password; it requires a structural commitment to accessibility:

• Localised, consistent learning: Tricia advocates for proper, weekly public courses in remote areas. For those with memory or health challenges, one-off sessions aren't enough. Trisha believes they need ongoing support.
• Physical and financial access: Digital inclusion is hindered by physical isolation. Tricia points out that round trip bus fares in Cornwall can cost up to £12, a major barrier for those seeking help. She suggests financial support for travel and better non-digital advertising so people know where to find help.
• Combating isolation: Beyond business, the Hub is a mental health necessity. "You can become quite isolated and cut off without even knowing it," she warns. For Tricia, the Hub is a place to "regenerate confidence" and force oneself out of the inward-facing spiral of loneliness.

As Tricia looks toward 2026, her dream is to see her book published and to move into a working studio.

"The internet is a good way to keep in touch, at least you've got the options. But you have to be able to stay connected."