2011 Age UK Internet Champion Deadline 30 Nov

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone

We've had this press release that might interest some of you!



Subject: Letter to Editor from Martha Lane-Fox, UK Digital Champion



For immediate release

Dear Sir,

I am writing to remind readers that there are two weeks left to enter the Age UK Internet Champion of the Year search (deadline Tuesday 30th November). I am encouraging all computer connoisseurs aged 55+ to put themselves forward to be the 2011 Champion to be a leading light for other people in later life who may lack the confidence or skill to get online.

The number of people over 65 using the Internet has increased from 18% in 2006 to 40% in 2010, but there are still 6 million people aged 65+ who have never accessed the internet and are therefore missing out on the vast financial and social benefits it can offer.

The 2011 Age UK Internet Champion will be a ‘Champion’ for a year, helping Age UK to advocate the use of the Internet to peers. This year’s theme is ‘how the Internet changed my life’ and nominees are being asked to share the life-changing benefits they have gained from being online.

The Champion, along with three runners up, will also attend an exclusive ceremony at the BT Tower in London and will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to London and a laptop and broadband package courtesy of BT. The winner will also be invited to join the Race Online 2012 People’s taskforce to represent the views and needs of older people and continue the good work started by 2010 winners Lucy Berry and Fredrick Briggs.

To enter the competition log on to https://www.ageuk.org.uk/internet-champions or call 0800 169 6565 to request a hard copy of the application form.

Yours Faithfully,


Martha Lane-Fox
UK Digital Champion and Age UK Internet Champion judge

Ken68

Don't know about that Andrea, sure I would win, but like a lot of other oldies, have to keep
going to the loo, and London, I mean why not King's Lynn.Would I be safe down there. Can I take my dog. Sooner go to the MSE towers and meet the team.
Already happy with my broadband package, can I take the money instead.
And if I win and don't want to go to London, are the expenses paid to me anyway.
Is there a free pen with the application form.

Errata

c'mon you lot - get signed up :j we're ALL champions on here :j
whoop whoop whoop :T

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

c'mon you lot - get signed up :j we're ALL champions on here :j
whoop whoop whoop :T

But some of us aren't old enough! :rotfl:

Ken68

And to talk about DEADlines, that puts me orf.

scotsbob

I remember Martha Lane-Fox from the Lasminute.com shares fiasco. I think I will give anything involving her a miss.

jennifernil

Some of us.....thinking of my OH in particular.....have been internet savvy for years.

He started using computers in 1972, got his own first computer in 1978 and was using "dial-up" in about 1980......I think.

Certainly seems like a lifetime back!

Primrose

This reminds me of my late father in law, who at the age of 90 decided he wanted to learn how to use a computer. We bought him a second hand one thinking he'd never get to grips with it. After a few months of us trying to sort out over the phone from 130 miles away all the scrapes he got himself into, he enrolled himself onto the CLAIT European Computer Driving Licence course, and over the next three years he successfully completed every module. When his computer tutor suggested entering him into a competition to find the UK's oldest computer learner he exclaimed very indignantly "Certainly not. I won't be patronised by anybody." Sadly he died a few days before his final Certificate arrived in the post.

He got the final laugh though. After he died, my OH, who was his executor, needed to access his computer to try and get at his online banking account. He'd put an access password onto it, and nobody could get into it! :rotfl:

But we did have a good chuckle at his first attempts at on-line shopping after he decided to sack his Home Help because she was getting too expensive. His eyesight wasn't too good and he thought he'd ordered just 2 onions which, living alone, was all he needed. Tesco delivered two bags of two kilos each! It did take him a little while for him to eat his way through that lot.