Communicating For Success Helps 67 Year Old Eric Start A Digital Life

Aug. 5, 2009 - PRLog -- 67 year old Eric Coleman from Milton Keynes is looking forward to a reunion with a friend he hasn’t seen for 37 years thanks to “Communicating for Success”, a pioneering programme to help the over 55s develop confidence in digital technology.

Eric has been taking part in the nationwide programme, funded jointly by BT and the Football Foundation, through the study centre at MK Dons football club. The programme has provided instruction
on how to surf the Internet and how to use digital cameras and mobile phones with assistance in how to shop online, upload photographs and send emails and text messages to show how technology
can be used to enhance their everyday lives. The sessions also included instruction in social networking, with the group receiving assistance from their MK Dons Academy players on how to create
their own Facebook profile.

The MK Dons project has also been offering participants the opportunity to try a range of different physical activities from archery, yoga and canoeing  to salsa and rock ‘n’ roll dancing.

Former Arsenal & England footballer Martin Keown, who is an ambassador for the “Communicating for Success” project, joined MK Dons’ captain Dean Lewington to launch the programme
at the town’s Oceana Nightclub.

“This whole experience has been magical,” says Eric. “My IT skills were modest but I was keen to find out more about the Net. After all, it’s the great unifier.
Not only have I found my old mate on Friends Reunited, who I’ve now arranged to meet in a few weeks’ time, but I’ve also been researching my family history online, thought the least
said about that the better.”

Last year, Age Concern reported that using computers had overtaken gardening and DIY in the pensioners' list of hobbies - with pensioners spending an average of six
hours online each week.

However, the charity reported at the same time that many were still excluded, with nearly half of over-50s not having access to a computer, meaning they miss out on price reductions that can be gained from shopping online and using price comparison websites. Not to mention the social benefits of being computer literate and the alternative means of keeping in contact with relatives and friends that the Internet can provide.



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