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Parental controls on B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North)

B4RN is a community-benefit-society fibre network covering rural Lancashire, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, and Cheshire. B4RN provides the connection only and does not run a parental controls service. Add a free DNS layer at your own router.

Last reviewed · By Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith

Network filter No
On by default No
Cost No network-level filter. Free DNS layer recommended
Time to apply 15 minutes
Step by step

How to switch it on

  1. 01

    Identify your router (the device you use to connect to the B4RN connection at home). It may be one you bought yourself or one supplied by an installer.

  2. 02

    Sign into the router admin (commonly 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).

  3. 03

    Find DNS settings, usually under WAN or Internet.

  4. 04

    Change the DNS to Cloudflare for Families: primary 1.1.1.3, secondary 1.0.0.3. This blocks adult content and malware across every device on the Wi-Fi.

  5. 05

    Save and restart the router. Allow two to five minutes for every device to pick up the new DNS.

  6. 06

    For per-child profiles and bedtime schedules, install Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link on each child's device.

Direct link: https://b4rn.org.uk/support

Honest limits

What it covers and what it does not

Covers

Once Cloudflare for Families is set, every device on the network gets adult content and malware blocking.

Does not cover

Per-child profiles, activity logs, and time-of-day schedules without device-level apps.

Add a free DNS filter

B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) does not run a network-level parental control filter. The fastest fix is to add a free DNS filter at your router. It covers every device on your Wi-Fi in one step and takes about ten minutes.

Add a free DNS filter

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