Sheltered housing is a winner in the Silver Surfer Awards

Sheltered housing resident, Joan Barker from east London has been awarded the accolade of Silver Surfer of the Year winner at a special awards ceremony in the Houses of Parliament.

75 year old Joan began learning to use a computer in 2004, thanks to the IT training project delivered in her sheltered scheme. As a result, Joan is now vice chair of her residents' association, which requires her to be IT literate, supports her neighbours and travels around Essex as an internet digital ambassador to help other older people in housing schemes understand the benefits of the internet.

Joan went from technophobe to tech savvy relatively quickly, and encourages all older people to try and learn new technology. She said: "You need to give it a go, it won't hurt you, you can't damage it and it could really help to open up your life. I thought I'd never be able to do it. I even told people that, but now I'm fine and I can't believe where I am today. Don't sit there and wait, get up and have a go."

This year, the title of BT Internet Ranger of the Year was also awarded to celebrate the achievements of remarkable people who have embraced the internet for their own benefit and of others and their community. The winner was 13 year old Joseph Devries from Port Talbot, Wales for his contribution to developing Silver Surfer sessions at his school for older members of his local community. The Silver Surfer sessions, which were devised and run in Joseph's spare time, proved very popular and class numbers increased week-by-week thanks to his patient and structured approach to teaching.
 
Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Competitiveness, presented the winners with laptops and IT vouchers, courtesy of BT. Speakers included Philip Graf, deputy chair of Ofcom and chair of the Ofcom content board and Mike Hughes, BT group head of digital inclusion.

The awards are managed annually by Digital Unite, the organisation that delivers digital inclusion and ICT literacy for adults over 50. Digital Unite will soon announce plans for the growth of the annual campaign, with capacity to inspire and empower 5.5million older people over the next three years.

Photo: ERoSH's Director of Policy Imogen Parry is pictured with Silver Surfer winner Joan Barker at the awards ceremony.