Does Not Compute

Thanks to Sir Terry for promoting Silver Surfers’ Day, Friday 21 May, on the BBC Breakfast TV yesterday on Thursday 13th May. You can watch this again, thanks to the internet, on the main BBC website:  Terry Wogan on the benefits of Surfing the Net & Silver Surfers’ Day

Terry says: “Everything is just a simple click away now – we can source information, communicate instantly and shop without ever having to leave the comfort of our homes. It’s so easy that any old Janet and John could get online”

Terry also promoted Silver Surfers’ Day more locally on 11 BBC Regional Radio Stations and will be joining the Jeremy Vine show today (13th May) at 12pm to talk about Silver Surfers’ Day – so tune in now from on  88-91FM or online on the BBC Radio 2 website:  The Jeremy Vine Show where he takes pride of place.

If you have organised an event but not yet registered it please do so now at http://www.silversurfersday.net

Digital Unite is offering a GBP1000 prize for the ‘best’ Silver Surfers’ Day event registered on the DU database.  That’s not the biggest event.  Or the one with most participants.  We will be looking for one event that ‘hits the spot’ when it comes to introducing older people to the benefits of digital technology.

If you need help with your event registration, please phone 0800 077 6144 and speak to Rick Crust, Silver Surfers’ Day Events Manager, or email rick.crust@digitalunite.net

At the age of 93, Dame Vera Lynn is embracing technology and encouraging everyone to have a go on Silver Surfers’ Day 2010 – Friday 21st May.

Attend a Silver Surfers’ Day event and you will be able to listen to Dame Vera’s new album online – and maybe even learn how to download it yourself!

Find an event in your area by clicking here or make a free phone call to 0800 100 900.

And find out what else Dame Vera and her daughter Virginia  have to say on YouTube here

If you are a social landlord in the West Midlands or South West of  England, you have until 5pm on Monday 31st May to submit your application to the Get Digital programme.  Successful applicants will receive a package of grants, training and support to promote, deliver and sustain digital literacy skills for their residents.

It’s not too onerous, in fact people who have completed the Application Form so far have been ‘pleasantly surprised by the straightforwardness and simplicity’ of the process. You can download the Application Pack, with a Word form for the Application and detailed guidance on how to complete it here .

There will be a free Regional Event in Bristol on Monday 10th May for everyone interested in finding out more about the Get Digital programme, particularly those in the West/South West region.

Please see here for more information and if you would like to attend, send an email to info@getdigital.org.uk

Learn with Grandma is a not for profit company that arranges free intergenerational learning days in Wales that are full of fun activities for the whole family.

The activities last year were extremely varied, ranging from Nordic Walking to Knitting and everything inbetween – except using a computer!

They would love to include some IT related activities, so if you are involved in a local Silver Surfer group, why not book a space and go along and tell people about it?   It’s completely free unless you need to hire a table.

This years’ dates are 13th August at the National Botanic Gardens and 18th August at the Margam Country Park.  For more information contact Val Woodgaiger at valwoodgaiger@aol.com

Applications are now invited from sheltered housing schemes and social landlords in the East, East Midlands, West Midlands and South West regions to the Get Digital programme.  For more information including extended deadline dates click here

We are holding a free Regional Event in Peterborough on Tuesday 13th April for anyone interested in finding out more about Get Digital.  To apply for a place, please send an email, by 5pm on Friday 9th April to info@getdigital.org.uk

Rick Crust here, Silver Surfers’ Day Event Holder Manager

Would you like to help us to develop a new website specially for Silver Surfers’ Day?  The site developers would like to recruit a group of older people who are already online but who are NOT particularly experienced or knowledgable.  You will test the website as it is built, and give the developers your opinions, comments, suggestions, complaints, etc.

The website will be all about social networking, security and privacy issues etc so you you should learn quite a lot about online security while you’re doing it.

If you think you might like to join this group, please send an email to me at rc@seniors.org.uk

If you are a social landlord in the South East of  England, it’s not too late for you to submit your application to the Get Digital programme.  The deadline is 5pm on Friday 26th March and successful applicants will receive a package of grants, training and support to promote, deliver and sustain digital literacy skills for their residents.

It’s not too onerous, in fact people who have completed the Application Form so far have been ‘pleasantly surprised by the straightforwardness and simplicity’ of the process. You can download the Application Pack, with a Word form for the Application and detailed guidance on how to complete it here .

Did your grandchild teach you to use the internet?  In return, did you teach him or her to sew or bake a cake?

Ruth Tierney is writing an article for You magazine on intergenerational skills swapping.  It doesn’t have to be about technology or baking but if you have been taught a skill by a younger person and taught them something else in return, she would like to talk to you both and take a photo.  You don’t have to be related.

You can contact Ruth at tierneyruth@aol.com but be quick, the deadline is tomorrow, Friday 19th, at 5pm.

Fiona

Did you see this on ITV1 last night at 7.30? It was a rather nice half hour film on the Tonight programme, showing what a great difference being online can make to peoples’ lives. Rick Crust, our new Silver Surfers’ Day Events Manager, had a starring role as part of the programme was filmed at Hackney Silver Surfers, where he runs computer classes.

If you missed it, you can see it on ITVplayer  here until the beginning of April.