Spring Online this week!

AROUND 2,000 FREE DIGITAL EVENTS are taking place this week as part of Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day campaign (16-20 May). The event tally makes it the biggest and best ever silver surfers’ campaign for Digital Unite since its inception ten years ago.

From Pontypridd to Belfast, Aberdeen to Truro, thousands of people across the UK will be trying out computers and the internet. Venues include libraries, museums, communal lounges, cafes, UK online centres, village halls and even hospitals and pubs.

It’s not too late to get involved so if you want to go along to lend a helping hand or wish to help a friend or relative get online, just call free on 0800 77 1234 to find your nearest Spring Online event. To find an event online visit www.ukonlinecentres.com and enter your town or postcode in the ‘Find a Centre’ search box.

Hedon Library and South Holderness adult Education Centre are both listed as UK Online Centres and will be offering activities during this week.

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Older people can "Spring Online" with the internet during campaign week

"SPRING ONLINE WITH SILVER SURFERS' DAY" takes place in just over 6 weeks on 16th - 20th May 2011. This is a national campaign that aims to get older people using computers and the internet at thousands of events across the UK.

Since the inception of Silver Surfers' Day in 2002 over 100,000 older people have been engaged with computers through activities such as Wii parties, E-Mail and Skype sessions. This year organisers Digital Unite aim to make the campaign a week long event and even "bigger and better than ever before".

Visit www.springonline.org

1 in 5 people aged 55-64 have never used the internet, and this rises to 3 in 5 of those aged over 65. Often, the main barriers for older people are lack of confidence and understanding. All they need is someone to get them started, show them the basic steps, encourage them and make it fun! Holding a Spring Online taster session can really help.

Spring Online events can be held anywhere from sitting rooms to boardrooms, school halls to communal lounges, libraries to UK online centres. The main purpose of each session is to involve computers, the internet and older people in some way but each organiser has the freedom to decide how.

To celebrate all those who are championing better digital awareness by holding a Spring Online event, a cash prize of £1,000 is available to help with developing computer learning in their area or centre. All those who register an event will be eligible to enter and the winner will be judged on creativity, overall enthusiasm and the stories of how people are affected.

Emma Solomon, Managing Director of Digital Unite says: “Holding a Spring Online event can be as big or as small as an organiser wishes to make it. It’s not the size of the event that matters but simply that as many people as possible all over the UK who are not online are being introduced to the benefits and opportunities that the internet can bring.”

For more information about Spring Online and to register an event visit www.springonline.org. Alternatively call 0800 822 3951 or email springonline@digitalunite.net.

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Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day 2011

"You are never too old to get started with the web"

A NEW NATIONAL CAMPAIGN has started to promote the use of digital technologies among older people.

Spring Online with Silver Surfers' Day takes place on 16th - 20th May 2011. Celebrating ten successful years of Silver Surfers’ Day, this new week-long celebration will provide more opportunity than ever before for people to get involved. 

Silver Surfers’ Day itself will take place on Friday 20 May as a celebratory finale to the week’s activities. 

Anyone who wants to hold a digital taster session during Spring Online week can now register their details at our brand spanking new website, www.springonline.org. Events can be held anywhere, from sitting rooms to boardrooms, classrooms to pubs, communal lounges to libraries. All events will be supported with a marketing toolkit and extensive online resources.

Martha Lane Fox, UK Digital Champion, said: “If everyone in the UK took the time to show an offline family, friend or neighbour the benefits of being online, we'd be very close to enabling millions more people to enjoy life online. You are never too old to get started with the web, and Spring Online and Silver Surfers’ Day is a great chance for new users to find out more about how the internet can make their lives easier, cheaper and much more fun!”

For more information about Spring Online and to register an event visit www.springonline.org or call 0800 822 3951.

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