We are Keeping Digital CIC
Formed in 2016 as York Pi Jam and then developing in the Keeping Digital Foundation, we're North Yorkshire's leading digital inclusivity charitable organisation.
We run services across North Yorkshire, with the aim to empower residents to get online, and to also inspire the next generation through our digital making activities.
We do this through our range of services, activities and brands.
We love an awards ceremony
Here's some of our recent achivements where our work has been recognised in our local communities
YorkMix Choice Awards 2023 - Best Charity
Finalists
With our expansion of digital inclusion services and digital making activities across the region, in 2023 we were delighted to be finalists for Best Charity at the 2023 YorkMix Choice Awards.
York Press Community Pride Awards 2020 - Spirit of the Youth
Winner
Luke Castle, a founder of Keeping Digital Foundation, won the Spirit of the Youth award at the York Press Community Pride Awards in 2020, highlighting our commitment to our local community, particularly during the COVID pandemic.
Minster FM Listener Choice Awards 2018 - Best Event
Finalists
After numerous successful digital making activity events in York, we were finalists for Best Event at the 2018 Minster FM Listener Choice Awards.
Our founders
Luke Castle
Co-Founder and Community Coordinator
Luke founded York Pi Jam in 2016, running free digital making activities across the city of York. In 2020, he launched the Keeping Digital Foundation with his close friend and co-founder David. Founded in the IT room in their sixth form, Keeping Digital Foundation was to be the new home of our growing digital making activities and digital inclusion support services. In 2022, Luke helped grow Keeping Digital Foundation into a registered CIC, with the organisation now running six Digital Cafe services and supporting hundreds of young people every year to develop new tech skills.
What's your 3pm pick-me-up snack? Kinder Bueno and a can of Coke Zero
Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate in your mug? All very good options, 100% more of a flavoured tea person though
Favourite colour? Green (obviously)
What's your favourite thing about Keeping Digital? So difficult to pick! Has to be attending our digital making activities and seeing the impact of our services on young people across the region - that and building a charitable organisation I'm so proud of with my best friend!
David Thompson
Co-Founder and Volunteer Coordinator
David joined York Pi Jam in 2017, and co-founded Keeping Digital Foundation in 2020; taking on the role of Volunteer Coordinator, David helped develop the Digital Cafes concept which has since rolled out across the city of York. He also assisted in organising the launch of our new volunteering system, VolunteerPortal, which allows volunteers to easily manage their opportunities with Keeping Digital CIC.
What's your 3pm pick-me-up snack? Cadbury Oreo Bar
Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate in your mug? Hot chocolate 100%
Favourite colour? Blue
What's your favourite thing about Keeping Digital? Making a difference in our communities and supporting our volunteers to do that!
Keeping Digital CIC (Keeping Digital Foundation) can confirm it has started the process of registering for a trademark regarding our Gwiddle brand. We relaunched the Gwiddle service in 2023 to provide free website hosting to UK students, aiming to inspire the next generation and support students in building and developing their projects.
Keeping Digital CIC will always work to protect our service users from being mislead or scammed, and protecting our Gwiddle brand is a priority for the organisation. Registering this trademark will help us to ensure the Gwiddle brand is only used for our charitable servics, and not used by those wishing to mislead our service users.
Keeping Digital CIC's priority is to protect the people who benefit from our services, and we'll take whatever action we can to protect our brand.
As part of the trademark process, individuals and businesses who wish to add a third party observation or object to our applicaton can currently do so via the Intellectual Property Office.