When 77-year-old Jane Watts was given a new iPad as a Christmas present she was a little nervous about where to start, but thanks to the support she has received from the Eastchurch POA Learning Centre she is now confident surfing the web and downloading the latest apps.

Jane has been receiving one-two-one support on her laptop for a couple of years but upgraded to the iPad a few weeks ago.

I love it, I think the iPad is better than my laptop! I can send and receive instant messages from my grandson, Skype my sister in Ireland and all from the comfort of my armchair!"

Gareth Williams is Regional Centre Manager for POA Learning at Eastchurch and said:

Eastchurch POA Learning Centre have been supporting older members of the community for a number of years. Learning basic digital skills can have a massive, positive impact on someone’s life. However, barriers such as transport, limited learning services and lack of confidence can prevent elderly community members from accessing learning, especially those in remote areas. 

By providing a one-to-one outreach service to elderly community members, like Jane, who struggle to access classroom based courses in their area, POA Learning aims to remove these barriers and help elderly individuals improve their digital skills."

Jane Warwick, Supporting Learners Development Officer for unionlearn added that unionlearn often promote the use of iPads with older learners in terms of development and Health & Well-being.

During the Supporting Mid-life Development briefings, Jane said:

In the winter people can become isolated due to cold weather or ailments and poor transport. This impacts on their well-being. IT usage, especially Skype and FaceTime are a great way to keep social interaction going over these quite often lonely periods. 

It is really good that unions like the POA are using Learning Centres to support retired members of their local community, but it is also important that older workers use Mid-life Development reviews to identify IT skills and training that could be useful both at work or when they retire."