Students from Beaminster School will be on hand to help older people get the most out of a special silver surfers’ taster and training session next week.
A small group of IT students from Year 10 will be going along to the event in the community room at Glebe Court, Barnes Lane, on Friday 22 June. It’s aimed at people aged 50 and over who can drop in between 10am and 3pm to find out more about computers and the internet.
Beaminster Community Learning Centre @ Home (BCLC@Home) team will also be there to give advice and show how the Apple tablet works.
Ken Bodycombe, community development manager for Magna Housing Association, which is sponsoring the session along with Dorset POPP (Partnership for Older People Programme), said: “People will be able to find out about how to keep in touch with family and friends for free through email, social networks and Skype.
“With Skype, you can see the person you’re speaking to, which makes it a great way of catching up with people, especially those who live a long way away. Unlike the telephone, you can Skype someone in Australia and it doesn’t cost you a penny.”
Other activities will include basic computer skills for internet use, using Google to find things on the internet, access to music, films, TV and radio online, online shopping, personal security and safety awareness, where to access the internet (eg libraries, community centres and internet cafes) and access to further information and training.
Dominic Knorpel, POPP’s community leader for Beaminster and Loders area, said: “This day is a chance for older people to ask questions which may have been bothering them or just to get stuck in and try it out.”
Gerald Burdess, who lives at Glebe Court, said: “A lot of people are still frightened of computers.
“We have computer classes here and people are amazed at what they’ve learned. It’s much easier than they think.
“With the loss of our bank here in Beaminster, it’s also a great time for people to find out about online banking and shopping.”
Residents from two of Magna’s sheltered complexes in Sherborne and Maiden Newton are going along to the event, which is open to anyone over 50.
For more information, telephone Adele Kemp on 07929 355342 or Mollie Baldwin on 07866 698796.