Extending Access to ICT
Silver Surfers |
A recent OfCom report, the govt body which regulates and monitors the telecoms and media industries, found that of people aged 65 and over:
BT Internet Rangers Join Up With Silver Surfers' Day 2007 (SSD 07)Devised in 2002 by Digital Unite, Silver Surfers Day is the biggest annual media literacy campaign aimed at older people. On SSD, hundreds of organisations of all hues – public, private, large, small – use specially prepared SSD resources to run free, or almost free, IT taster sessions for older people in their community. Silver Surfers Day 2006 saw over 500 Event Holders run SSD Events. By mid April 2007, DU is delighted to be able to say we have already 100 Event Holders registered to take part on May 25th, 2007: it really is going to be bigger and better than ever this year. BT runs a very successful initiative called Internet Rangers, which celebrates the role young people play in helping their elders get online. BT will be encouraging Internet Rangers to organise and support SSD Events on May 25 at their schools and from other suitable venues they may be connected to. Mike Hughes, head of the BT Digital Inclusion Campaign explains; 'BT coined the term "Internet Rangers" following research which highlighted that nearly a third of parents and grandparents, 32 per cent, have been taught or encouraged to surf the internet by a young person aged between 13 to 16 years. Digital exclusion is a serious problem, and as young people are often the experts when it comes to the internet, it makes sense for them to show the adults how it’s done!' Emma Solomon, Managing Director, Digital Unite said: 'We devised the idea of national Silver Surfers’ Day in 2002, and each year have encouraged hundreds of Events to be held across the UK devoted to helping older people get online. Last year we reached an estimated 17,000 older people through over 500 events held across the country. We are delighted to have BT support this year and to add an intergenerational flavour to SSD. Internet Rangers will be excellent promoters and supporters of SSD Events. Any young person can be a Internet Ranger on SSD, they just need to be prepared to give a little time out of their day to help an older person get online, and access to an Internet ready computer to do so. HOW TO TAKE PART1. Sign-up for the SSD e-zine Those interested in holding a BT Internet Ranger supported SSD Event should sign up for the SSD E-zine to get all the most up to date information about the building campaign. Register on http://www.silversurfersday.org 2. Get resources Supporting resources for Internet Ranger SSD sessions can be accessed from two locations:
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