Welcome to the launch of Plymouth SeniorNet‘Getting online is safe as houses’

Opening remarks

William Woyka – Chief Executive, Routeways

Jane Chafer, Director of External Relations, Plymouth University

Video courtesy of the BBC

Plymouth SeniorNet…Jo Atkey, Project Manager

• Plymouth context

• Project Aim:

‘Plymouth SeniorNet aims to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of isolated people across Plymouth through IT’

Project Partners• Routeways Centre Limited – local charity, delivering a

range of community-focused projects; track record of working successfully with vulnerable, isolated or excluded local people www.routeways.org.uk

• Age UK Plymouth – offers a wide range of services for older people and their carers: information & advice; advocacy services; home care; day opportunities and residential care http://www.ageuk.org.uk/plymouth/

• Plymouth University – expert advice and independent evaluation from the Faculty of Health, Education and

Society http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/

Funding• Big Lottery Silver Dreams Fund – looking to ‘pioneer

ways to help vulnerable older people deal more effectively with life-changing events’. Range of projects nationally

• £180,000 – between Sept 12 and Mar 14

• Funding - revenue and capital costs associated with delivering 1:1 support and group sessions to older people (65yrs+)

• Project team - PM, Volunteer Coordinator & IT Support & Information Officer

• Volunteers – (50yrs+) IT-literate and befrienders

Key activity• Up to 90 volunteers (50 yrs+) will be recruited and

trained

• 200 older people (65 yrs +) will be supported, 50 in their own homes and 150 in other settings (e.g. care homes and sheltered accommodation providers)

• Broadband and equipment sourced to provide access to the internet for project beneficiaries in their own homes and other settings

• ‘Circles of Support’ - IT-related friendship networks for each of the 50 beneficiaries to sustain their use of computers and the internet beyond the lifetime of the project.

I’m online with Plymouth SeniorNet!Don

Photo courtesy of Quayphoto

I’m online with Plymouth SeniorNet!Joan

Photo courtesy of the Daily Mail

Supporting Plymouth SeniorNet• Individuals - if you’re over 50, have some IT skills and a couple of

hours spare a week come and talk to us to see if there’s a volunteering opportunity for you with PSN

• Public sector - review your services to see what more could be done to deliver services online particularly to older residents; talk to us about how we can help; promote our volunteering opportunities with your employees

• Businesses - review your services to see how effective they are for your older customers; talk to us about how we can help; promote our volunteering opportunities with your employees

• VCS – let’s work together and with other partners to make the most of investment opportunities that tackle social

isolation and improve lives of older people in Plymouth

• Any Questions• Lunch and & Networking

Please stay in touch:

Blog: http://plymouthseniornet.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @SeniorNetPlym

Facebook: Plymouth SeniorNet

Tel: (01752) 665424