Helping older people use technology
Essex UnITe aims to cross the "digital divide" that often exists for older people by putting refurbished computers into sheltered housing schemes across Essex. Computers are intstalled together with reuse furniture and residents offered the chance of basic skills training in using a computer, email and the Internet.
Essex UnITe is a unique partnership between MillRace IT, Essex County Council, Help the Aged, Age Concern Essex, Genesis Housing and Chelmer Housing Partnership. A pilot project was run in 2007 with additional funding from EEDA and BT.
MillRace provide the computer equipment and training; Essex County Council provide funding, together with reuse furniture from their own store; Help the Aged and Age Concern recruit mentors for ongoing support; with further funding from Genesis and CHP - housing associations with sheltered housing schemes.
Residents also benefit from IT workshops with topics of general interest, like family history and digital photography and "Memory Lane" workshops when residents bring along their photographs and memories for combined creative writing and IT.
Using a Nintendo Wii to play tennis and ten-pin bowling has proved very popular with residents and brings the double benefits of both brain and body fitness.
Non housing scheme residents will also be able to benefit from the Essex UnITe workshops by coming along to our "community workshops" which will be held at various locations in Essex.
Essex UnITe has gathered momentum and has secured funding which will result in over 1000 older people receiving IT training by March 2009.
For further information visit the Essex UnITe website at
http://www.essexunite.org.uk/
or phone 01376 518508 | 
