Silver surfers’ internet lessons

Virgin Media and Digital Unite have got together to help the older computer users get to grips with the world of broadband and what it can do for them.

This is taking place at the Peabody sheltered housing scheme in Islington, North London.

The mature students have been given access to the Virgin Media fibre optic broadband network and have just completed their first lesson in IT.

The group have been given two computers, free access to the broadband network for a year, printers, and of course that all important computer training.

It is estimated that there are around ten million people who are in the over-fifty age group who have little or no computer or internet skills, and yet they are missing out on so much, which the scheme is hoping to demonstrate.