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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Silver Surfers' Day 2011 - Advance Notice of Getting Digital!

2011 IS THE 10th ANNIVERSARY of Silver Surfers’ Day, and organisers Digital Unite are hoping with to make it a fantastic birthday celebration with a week of national activities culminating on 20 May 2011.

Save the date, pop it in your planning and start thinking about how you might like to run an event that week, inviting local older people to a taster session on any aspect you like of digital technology.

Now’s a good time to start talking to the local school, library, sports centre, housing association or community group about doing an event in partnership, so why not start a conversation today – perhaps over warm mince pies and a nice cup of tea...

And if you are involved in sheltered housing, then a free toolkit and resources is available to deliver your own Get Digital project! You can download free materials to deliver your own Get Digital project.

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Grants galore for Get Online Week!

GET ONLINE WEEK takes place from 18-24 October. And UK online centres are making grants available to organisations through Digital Unite to help get involved.

Why not run an event in England this October, with taster sessions for internet 'newbies', and get from £200 to £1150 (depending on the number of people you get involved) to help you fund your activities going forward.

You could use your grant it to buy equipment, print flyers, train staff or anything else that helps you in your work – your choice! Time is short, and it’s first come, first served, so register your interest with us now by going to the Digital Unite website for a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the grants.

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