Students at Croydon College will be passing on their digital knowledge to the borough’s older citizens as part of the recent Silver Sunday celebrations.
Silver Sunday is the annual day of fun and free activities for older people that celebrates the value and knowledge they contribute to our communities, while simultaneously combating loneliness and isolation.
Keen to show the value they place on the contributions of older people, students from the college are inviting over-60s to four 90-minute sessions to help those who lack confidence on a computer to establish key skills which can improve confidence, and open the possibilities of the digital world to those who might not have previously had the chance to explore it.
The courses form part of the council’s Go On Croydon programme, which aims to ensure that all in the borough have basic digital skills, enabling them to benefit and prosper from all that the internet has to offer (www.croydon.gov.uk/go-on-croydon).
Among the skills the older students will be able to learn are how to:
- create, save and print documents;
- use the internet to search information and keep in touch;
- create and send an email; and
- use Microsoft Office programmes, including Microsoft Word.
Councillor Louisa Woodley, cabinet member for families, health and social care
“This is a great initiative that addresses a number of important areas.
“In addition to giving the students the chance to pass on the sort of knowledge that seems to come so easily to the young, it gives them the chance to interact with members of society they might not meet on an everyday basis, but who have so much to offer in regard to insight and experience.
“And, of course, the older people will benefit from one-on-one, hands-on tuition in a subject that has previously been a closed door to them, whether that’s through a fear of the unknown, not wishing to appear silly or, most probably, a simple lack of confidence.”
The sessions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday 25 and 26 October, from 10am to 11.30am and noon to 1.30pm.
Anybody keen to attend any of these sessions, should call 020 8604 7042 or email yvonne.aryeetey@croydon.gov.uk
Go On Croydon has established a number of Digital Zones across the borough, where people can discover the benefits that basic digital skills and being online can bring to their everyday life. The zones are local, friendly, social spaces where digital champions will be on hand to give top tips and advice on how to get online, use a tablet, smartphone or laptop.
The Digital Zone in Access Croydon, Mint Walk, is open every Friday, and council partners and local community organisations are opening Digital Zones across the borough.
