Key facts
Area: North West
Grant recipient: Pride Media
Project: Never to old to do IT
Programme: Reaching Communities
Date of award: February 2010
Amount awarded: £279,424
Betty Holden is 82 years old and has lived in and around Middleton in Manchester for 26 years.
Betty’s life is now very full and active, but a few years ago it got harder for her to walk and for a while she found herself housebound. Her children bought her a laptop so she could connect with the outside world, but initially Betty was daunted. “I didn’t know what to do, my son told me to have a go and that I couldn’t break it, but then one window came on top of another and I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Then Betty found out about a Rochdale-based project run by Pride Media called ‘Never too old to do IT’ which offers support for people over 50 who want to learn basic computer skills.
Betty did the eight-week foundation course which covers basic skills like mastering the mouse and keyboard, through to using the internet, email and other essential skills. Betty was quick to learn. “It is a good course because it’s basic,” says Betty. “It is really interesting and an easy way to learn. I thought it would be scary for me to learn IT skills but because there were people my own age there I didn’t feel intimidated and learning was easier.”
Betty now knows how to shop online, write letters and go online to pay bills. “I go on Google Earth a lot because it’s great fun and I look at places I’ve been to like Capetown,” she says. “I also look up hotels that I might want to go to on holiday - it keeps my brain active and I love it.”
Betty has learnt so much that she now passes on her knowledge to other people in her role as a Volunteer Mentor. She enrolled on a specially devised IT Mentor Training Programme which gave her the basic skills she needed to support others. “I love helping people out, they are in the same position I was when I first came here and it makes me happy to see how they can develop.”
Project development officer Jonathan Burns says that the project has been such a resounding success that they really don’t need to publicise the project anymore. “Older people often feel isolated and there was really not much opportunity in the Rochdale area for older people to learn IT skills in a non-formal setting.”
The project offers courses at different levels from the basics to more advanced skills such as editing photographs or using social media. Outreach support services serve people with mobility issues or caring responsibilities, allowing them to receive tuition at home. There are also drop-ins designed to support active computer users with specific problems, projects or tasks.