An advocacy group for older people is looking for Ireland’s top ‘silver surfers’ – those who use the internet and information technology for leisure, learning or enterprise.
Age Action’s award scheme aims to celebrate older people who are enthusiastic users of information technology, such as computers, internet and mobile phone.
Whether they are new learners or more experienced IT users, Age Action wants to hear their stories.
Nominations are being sought for the following awards: Silver Surfer of the Year – which will go to the person “who best embraces IT with a sense of adventure, a sense of fun, as a new opportunity for learning, pleasure or enterprise”.
Age Action is also seeking nominations for ‘most dedicated IT learner’ - someone who is a determined learner and who has overcome challenges to become a confident IT user.
Nominations are also sought in the ‘group commuicator’ category, which applies to those who use IT for group communication (family, community, club) to the best effect whether it is texting, emailing, Skype, Wiki, blogs or Twitter.
There is also a category for the ‘passionate hobbyist’ - someone who best exploits the internet in pursuit of a passion or hobby.
An award will also be made in the IT volunteer(s) of the year category to someone who provides support and encouragement to older learners on a voluntary basis. Nominations can be for an individual or group.
There will be a range of IT-related prizes to satisfy all the winning silver surfers, including a laptop and a year’s mobile internet sponsored by 02.
All nominees must be aged 55 or over (with the exception of the IT volunteer category).
Helen McQuillan, national development manager of Age Action’s Getting Started computer training programme said: “Despite the perception that older people have little interest or no in using IT, we have been overwhelmed with demand from older people for internet and mobile phone training.”
Ms McQuillan said that by the end of the year almost 5,000 people will have completed the classes.
“Everyone wants to learn more. The biggest challenge is to meet demand from older people for classes”.
The awards will be presented at an IT conference for older people at Croke Park on Monday, September 28th, which is being run as part of Positive Ageing Week.