By Kelley O'Hanlon | Fundraising Administrator
For many of us, using technology has become part of everyday life. From keeping in touch with family and booking appointments to accessing services and finding information online, more and more of our daily activities require digital skills.
For older people who haven’t had the opportunity to develop those skills, however, an increasingly digital world can sometimes feel overwhelming.
This is where Age Action’s Getting Started programme can make a difference. The free digital literacy programme supports older people to develop the skills they want at their own pace, helping them to use technology safely and with greater confidence.
One recent participant, Mary, had been given a smartphone by her family but found herself reluctant to use many of its features. She could make calls, but things like sending photographs, using apps or searching for information online felt daunting. She often worried that pressing the wrong button might cause a problem.
After joining Getting Started, Mary was matched with a volunteer tutor who worked with her for two hours a week over five weeks. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all lesson, they focused on the things that mattered most to Mary.
Together, they practised sending messages and photographs, making video calls, searching online and recognising some of the warning signs of scams and suspicious messages.
“Before, I was always afraid I’d press something I shouldn’t. Now I’ll actually have a go myself. Being able to video call my family and send them photographs might seem like a small thing, but it has made such a difference.”
The biggest change wasn’t simply learning how to use a smartphone. It was Mary developing the confidence to try.
By the end of the programme, tasks she would previously have asked somebody else to do were things she felt comfortable attempting herself.
Mary’s experience reflects what Getting Started is all about. Digital inclusion isn’t simply about teaching someone how to use a device. It is about giving older people the skills and confidence to participate in an increasingly digital society while maintaining their independence and choice.
Our volunteer tutors meet participants where they are, focusing on the skills that are relevant to them and allowing them to learn at a pace that suits them.
Thanks to the support of our donors, Age Action can continue providing Getting Started free of charge and help more older people feel confident, connected and included in the digital world.
By Kelley O'Hanlon | Fundraising Administrator
By Kelley O'Hanlon | Fundraising Administrator
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