Pensioners flock to become online savvy

7:00am Monday 28th January 2013 in News

Volunteer course tutor Robert Medcraft, 66, with Carole Parker Buy this photo » Volunteer course tutor Robert Medcraft, 66, with Carole Parker

PENSIONERS are set to become certified silver surfers after signing up for a new Age UK six-week beginners’ IT course in Wallingford.

Volunteer course tutor Robert Medcraft, 66, said: “Nowadays the Government expects people to do things online like claiming benefits.

“But I always point out to students who are intimidated that it was our generation or even the one before that built the first computers, like at Bletchley Park.

“We cover all the basics as well as internet security.

“Some people finish in three weeks, and some people don’t finish in six, but we cater to individual needs.”

All 12 spaces have been filled and there are 15 people on the waiting list, but Age UK will be putting on more courses in Oxfordshire throughout the year.

To find a course, call the Age UK Abingdon office on 0844 887 0005 or get a friend to help log on at ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire

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Comments(7)

Myron Blatz says...
10:43am Mon 28 Jan 13

Yes, who'd have thought people who have worked hard all their lives, probably held senior management and technifal joha, probwbpy got degrees, brought up families, may have served in the armed forces, paid income and council tax and paid lots of their hard-earned money to support local and national politicians ...... and could actually learn ge basic skills of using a personal computer? Surely these accredited 'silver surfers' (so-called because they have savings in the bank?) could use their skills as free labour for MPs, banks, bus operators and electricity companies, in return for their Old Age Pensions?

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The Dr Bob says...
2:02pm Mon 28 Jan 13

or perhaps they could even teach you to type/spell

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Grunden Skip says...
4:30pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Myron Blatz wrote:
Yes, who'd have thought people who have worked hard all their lives, probably held senior management and technifal joha, probwbpy got degrees, brought up families, may have served in the armed forces, paid income and council tax and paid lots of their hard-earned money to support local and national politicians ...... and could actually learn ge basic skills of using a personal computer? Surely these accredited 'silver surfers' (so-called because they have savings in the bank?) could use their skills as free labour for MPs, banks, bus operators and electricity companies, in return for their Old Age Pensions?
Quite Myron. The poor pensioners that would benefit from the information, price comparisons, and a chance to look at their rights on the internet are never given the chance, it is always the monied ones, that as you say could contribute their time to more worthwhile causes. A cheap jibe from you there Dr Bob, but as to be expected from you, so no change there.

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petalmac says...
10:41am Tue 29 Jan 13

Actually the term 'silver surfer' means anybody over 50 and is a lighthearted way of referring to people's haircolour, I believe, not how much money they have. These courses are open to anybody over 50 who wants to learn how to use a computer what's not to like about that?

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petalmac says...
10:51am Tue 29 Jan 13

The courses are free and available to everybody so maybe it would be wise to check your facts before you post.

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nickd2 says...
1:26pm Tue 29 Jan 13

A very good idea. Perhaps it would help whoever runs your website to go along. A link to 'the 10 cheapest cars to run' would be useful if it was aimed at UK readers, rather than listing US models priced in dollars with US insurance quotes.

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Grunden Skip says...
6:16pm Wed 30 Jan 13

petalmac wrote:
The courses are free and available to everybody so maybe it would be wise to check your facts before you post.
And the people with access to these "free for all" sevices are the ones that are more educated, more monied, and already know about the scheme because they already have the internet. Your average pensioner educated to state school in their time, and on state pension, doesn't even know what the internet is. These are the people that should be taken free of charge to these sessions. It never ceases to amaze me how many people that comment on here have no idea of the real world, but seeing as our PM doesn't either, it really shouldn't.

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