Age Concern offers Silver Surfers a free world tour

Thousands of older people are being offered the chance of a 'free worldtour' - of the World Wide Web as part of Age Concern's Silver SurferFestival, launched today. The festival will give even more older people thechance to sample what's available online with a free internet taster sessionat 75 locations across the UK.

The Silver Surfers Festival is a month-long national campaign to promote therelevance and benefits of the internet to even more older people and toprovide free internet access and training. Age Concern is running theFestival in partnership with Microsoft, Cable & Wireless and UK online, theGovernment-led campaign to enable everyone to make the most of the internet.

While 62% of the UK population have used the internet, only 15% of thoseaged 65 and over have tried it1. Reasons may include cost, difficultieswith vision and hand movements, or a perception, if the older person did nothave the opportunity to use computers at work or school, that the internetis not relevant to them.

However, Age Concern research shows that of the 34% of people 55 years andover who are computer users, 66% feel it has had a positive impact on theirlives.2

One of these is Terry Pearson, 62, a wheelchair-user who is paralysed fromthe neck down and usually relies on carers for support for shopping and forgetting out and about. He regularly comes on board Age Concern's ComputerExplorer Bus in Staffordshire3 where he first used the internet last year.Gaining these new skills on board the specially adapted bus has inspiredTerry to buy a PC of his own.

Terry said: "Learning to use IT and the internet has changed my wholeoutlook. I use the internet to make new friends and contact more people fromthe disabled community. Being online means I get the freedom to browse andshop whenever I want without having to rely on somebody else to take me intotown.

"My two sons are surprised that I have taken to computers so easily. I wouldrecommend that every older person should take up Age Concern's offer andgive the internet a go. I was apprehensive before I tried, but using acomputer to look up websites and contact friends is easier than you think."

Age Concern internet taster sessions are something quite different becausethey are run by older people for older people, providing free access in afriendly, social environment. The Silver Surfers Festival will encourageolder people to find out how the internet can help trace family history,find out what's on locally, research and book travel & entertainment andcommunicate with friends - new and old.

Gordon Lishman, Director General, Age Concern England said: "Participationin the internet revolution is an important factor in the full socialinclusion of older people, particularly as more public services go online.While older people potentially stand to benefit most from the internet, theyare less likely than younger age groups to get online.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with Microsoft, Cable &Wireless and UK online to provide even more older people with access to andthe confidence to use computers and the internet, to help make later-lifefulfilling, enjoyable and productive."

Steve Harvey, Director of People and Culture, Microsoft, said: "Microsoftbelieves that older people are a part of the community in danger of beingneglected by the digital society, yet they are one of the groups who standto benefit most from it. Information Technology enables people to stay intouch with family and friends, access information and services, and to beactive in society. It can help to address issues of increased isolation anddecreased mobility. You only have to hear the stories from people who haveattended Age Concern internet taster sessions to understand the positiveimpact IT can have."

Gareth James, Chief Operating Officer, UK at Cable & Wireless said: "We arevery pleased to have the opportunity to work with Age Concern and UK Onlineto ensure that older people are not excluded from the digital revolution.Our support for Age Concern's Silver Surfers Festival plays a central partin our commitment to enable individuals to utilise the internet as a toolfor education and learning and participate fully in the digital age of the21st century."

Andrew Pinder the e-Envoy said: "Age Concern's commitment to enabling andencouraging older people to try the Internet is an important move towardsensuring thatolder people are included in the IT revolution.

"Online government services should make life quicker and easier for everyoneand older people areamong those who whostand to benefit most from usingthem. But first we need to make sure older people have the chance to getonline and this initiative aims to do just that.

"We are not going to allow the digital divide to grow. I'm delighted thatAge Concern is working in partnership with us to ensure that olderpeoplerealisethe benefits that the internet can bring to their lives."

To locate your nearest internet taster session and to request a SilverSurfers action pack, call the UK online freephone number 0800 77 1234.

Ends

1 Office of National Statistics, February 2003

2 Age Concern and Barclays' research into the IT preferences and habits ofolder people, August 2002.
http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/ageconcern/staying_250.htm

3 The Computer Explorer Buses are four specially designed buses that provide free IT training for older people and their carers.

Notes to editors
* For access to further Silver Surfer case studies, interviews with AgeConcern spokespeople and further information on the festival please contactLucy Winter or Liz Hickey on 020 8765 7513/6.

* Radio editors please note that Age Concern has an ISDN facility.

* High resolution images are available to the media free of charge at www.newscast.co.uk tel 020 7608 1000

* The Silver Surfers Festival internet taster sessions will take place atAge Concern venues throughout the UK, between May 12th and June 6th. Manyare at existing projects and will continue to provide access on an ongoingbasis.

* Age Concern has been working on IT and internet projects for older peoplesince 1999 as it recognises the barriers IT can pose to social inclusion.www.ageconcern.org.uk/silversurfers

* Cable & Wireless is a major global telecommunications business with revenue of over £5.9 billion (US$8.6 billion) in the year to 31 March 2002 and customers in 80 countries. It consists of two core and complementary divisions: Cable & Wireless Regional and Cable & Wireless Global. Cable & Wireless Regional offers a full range of telecommunications services in 33 countries around the world. Cable & Wireless Global provides IP (internet protocol), voice and data services and managed solutions for business customers. For more information about Cable & Wireless, go to www.cw.com.

* Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. To find out more about Microsoft and the work that it does with people with special needs, please visit: http://www.Microsoft.com/uk/info/community/ or telephone 0870 60 10 100.

* UK online's campaign is called Get Started and will encourage new users totry out the internet and experience the benefits of going online. Thecampaign will run between 12th May and 30th June 2003 and will offer a freeinternet introductory session at a participating online centre.www.ukonline.gov.uk