DOUBLE FUN FOR AGE CONCERN EDINBURGH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – (ACE IT)

The week commencing 22 May is a double celebration for ACE IT – our award winning Computer Training Project for the 50+ Group is now a healthy 5 years old and we also have the return of the Silver Surfer Festival during the week too….

ACE IT ‘s Chief Exec Jenny Ridge says: “We are delighted that Sarah Boyack MSP will launch proceedings at ACE IT’s Computer Training Centre, Caledonian House at 2pm on Monday 22 May.

During the celebration week we will be having an ‘Open House’ – we would like to invite all of the ex and current learners to drop in anytime during the week to have a coffee and blether – it will be great to see everyone again. Also, as part of our Festival, we would like to see anyone with war memorabilia that they would like to have digitised with our living memory and photographic restoration sessions. Our Computer Training project continues to make a difference to older peoples lives and long may it continue – here’s to the next 5 years!”
Open House 10am -4pm all week

Award winning project
Many congratulations to the 1500 older learners who have passed through ACE IT’s doors and we are still going strong – training approximately 60 learners every week

Formerly based at Dalry House and now in our own Computer Training Centre at Caledonian House, the project was first launched in May 2001 and aims to encourage new and non confident users, specifically in the 50+ age group, to learn basic computer skills, Internet access and email thus broadening education, offer other leisure interests and find information on many issues and topics.

The computer, as a means of communication, provides an opportunity to keep in touch with family and friends locally, nationally and internationally whilst also providing the tool to make new friends and widen the social circle. Accessing online shopping and banking services are of particular interest for the future housebound

What the learners say:
“ACE it’s computer training has made such a difference to our lives – we no longer have a fear of computers – it’s (the computer) almost irresistible!”

“Before starting the course I was totally ignorant and now I have a good level of understanding. The tutors were excellent and I enjoyed the course so much I didn’t want it to end”

“I was ok on word processing but otherwise I was despairing. Now I’m much, much happier thanks to all the tutors”

“The computer course has changed my life and opened up a brand new interest for me”

“Email is very important for keeping in touch with my only child in America and other family and friends all over the world. I live in sheltered housing and I share my knowledge with others it keeps our brains young and active and is a good source of conversation”.

Social inclusion
There is a great social side to the project and many new friendships have been established

“What a happy time I spent with all the COMPUTER TUTORS and SILVER SURFERS yesterday. Many thanks for inviting me to such a friendly party. Gosh you have achieved wonders and for me and many others opened up a brand new interest. Please thank EVERYONE for all the hard work they must have put into the preparations, to make the party such a success. Young D gave me some advice as to how I could change a dollar sign into a pound one and also gave me his email address. Everyone is so kind…….”

Volunteers
The project is totally reliant on volunteer tutors from all age groups and backgrounds. Currently we have 14 volunteers most of whom have been with the project since its early days.
Reasons for volunteering are varied:
“I want to improve confidence after being made redundant”
“I want to ‘put back’ something into the community”
“I want to gain experience in teaching IT skills to improve my job prospects”

Bill Martin 60 year old ACE IT volunteer tutor says “I’m a retired mechanic and I have always wanted to be a teacher but never quite realised the dream. However as a computer training volunteer at ACE IT that dream has now been realised”

Pol Steele says: “It's been a real pleasure to be involved with ACE IT over the last three years. While most people are aware of the positive impact the project has on the clients with regards to both learning and social inclusion... What is perhaps less well known is the story from the tutor’s point of view.

When I first became disabled in the early 90's, everyone including myself believed that it was unlikely I would ever be able to return to any form of employment. However, the support and assistance I have received from ACE IT led first to my receiving a national award for volunteering and then a part time position as a paid member of staff (on the permitted work scheme of the D.W.P).

The satisfaction and sense of achievement I have experienced as part of the ACE IT team is only exceeded by the fun we have - both during the classes and getting together to come up with ideas to develop the learning and social sides of the project. ACE IT has made every effort to create a situation where I can work round my disabilities in a normal working environment. Being involved in the project has really helped me 'Put the Pieces Together' after over a decade on 'the scrap heap' ...Now that's what I call recycling!”

Silver Surfer Festival
The other celebration during our birthday week is the return of the Silver Surfer Festival: www.aceit.org.uk/festival.htm

Recently we set up a People's War Group with Fountainbridge Library whereby folk brought along their memorabilia along to us for digitising. This proved so popular we are running an ‘Open House’ week during the Festival for folk to bring even more material….

From ration books and recipes, to street games and the dance halls. From taking shelter at the siren's call to waiting for word from loved ones servicing overseas. From swapping ciggy cards, to the family gathering round the radio.

Share your memories and memorabilia of Gorgie Dalry during the wartime years by participating in the ACE IT Silver Surfers Festival 2006.

Over the course of the week beginning 22nd May, ACE IT will be hosting a daily series of open house living memory and photographic restoration sessions. During the sessions, in a five stage process comprising scanning to intensive image manipulation with industry standard graphic software we will take badly damaged or faded original wartime photographs and documents and return them to original condition... or better!

Each stage of the process will be featured on a specially created webpage to be uploaded live as each stage is completed, preserving their memories for ever and sharing with the rest of the world. http://www.aceit.org.uk/festival.htm


Edinburgh Silver Surfers www.edinburghsilversurfers.co.uk
Of course we can’t forget our very own Edinburgh Silver Surfers…….These are ACE IT ex learners who went on to build their own website. They still meet at our centre every week for their web club training. In 2 years the site has received over 700,000 visitors. They really are quite a bunch, here’s what they say! :

“Five Years On … Think of all the changes, how many of us now use mobile ‘phones, use e-mail instead of the ‘phone or writing a letter?
Speaking from our angle, it has made a huge difference in our lives. We have made so many new friends – some of whom we seldom speak to face to face but converse with at the touch of a button. We have had some great social occasions.”
 

Mike Hughes, head of BT’s Digital Inclusion campaign, said: “Communication is at the heart of BT’s business, and we are committed to helping people improve the way they communicate whether face-to-face, on the phone or via the internet. We want everyone to be comfortable using new technology. Providing grant funds to Age Concern Centres, BT will be contributing to the training of key staff and personnel at a local level. We realise that it is not just about presenting people with the technology to get online, but encouraging them to embrace it by demonstrating the benefit that they can gain from accessing the internet.”

The grant for ACE IT will be used to help fund a part time tutor, cover volunteer’s expenses and purchase 2 special keyboards

ACE IT’s Computer Training Project for the 50 + group will be celebrating their 5 year birthday next month – they have now trained over 1500 eager learners and are still going strong with 60 new learners every week! All training is provided on a daily basis by a team of 14 dedicated volunteers supported by 2 part time members of staff at ACE IT’s Computer Training Centre at Caledonian House, Caledonian Crescent, Edinburgh

What the learners say:
“ACE it’s computer training has made such a difference to our lives – we no longer have a fear of computers – it’s (the computer) almost irresistible!”

“I would never have learned to cope without these sessions; all the tutors are so patient”

“Before starting the course I was totally ignorant and now I have a good level of understanding. The tutors were excellent and I enjoyed the course so much I didn’t want it to end”

Some original learners with ACE IT went on to build their own web site at www.edinburghsilversurfers.co.uk and still meet every week at ACE IT’s Centre. Their site has attracted over 700,000 visitors in just over 2 years!

What the Surfers say:
“Five Years On … Think of all the changes, how many of us now use mobile ‘phones, use e-mail instead of the ‘phone or writing a letter?
Speaking from our angle, it has made a huge difference in our lives. We have made so many new friends – some of whom we seldom speak to face to face but converse with at the touch of a button. We have had many great social occasions too”

Jenny Ridge, Chief Exec of ACE IT from said, “We are delighted with the BT grant that we have been awarded. With many local residents eager to learn how to benefit from the internet, it is important that we have the facilities and the experts to help our community get online. With more and more fundamental services online and with more families choosing to keep in touch via the internet, funding, such as the BT grant, helps support our activities to get even more people to take that first step towards trying the technology for themselves.”

Contact : Jenny Ridge Chief Exec,
ACE IT
Caledonian House
42 Caledonian Crescent
Edinburgh EH 11 2AG
Web : www.aceit.org.uk
Email : jenny@aceit.org.uk
Phone : 477 3883
-ENDS-

Notes to editors:
About Age Concern
Age Concern represents all older people in the UK, works with older people and listens to their views, campaigns for change on their behalf, and provides a wide range of services and opportunities. Age Concern England takes the lead role within Age Concern in the UK on campaigning, public policy on ageing and older people, fundraising and management of the Age Concern brand. We work across the UK to raise sufficient resources for Age Concern to achieve its purpose.
About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 140 Countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group’s revenue was £18,623 million with profit before taxation of £2,354 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit : www.bt.com/aboutbt