Silver Surfers' Day

Silver Surfers' Day 08 is on 23 May 2008

Silver Surfers' Day is in its seventh year and is the only annual national digital literacy campaign focused on older people. Nearly 10 million over-50s in the UK are not yet able to use modern communication methods and what they most need is a good first experience so they have the courage and motivation to embark on further learning.

On SSD, which runs annually on the Friday of Adult Learners' Week, hundreds of organisations throughout the UK, public and private, open their doors to give over-50s this good first taste of the internet or an opportunity to take their basic skills to the next level. Last year 650+ places - from libraries to schools, faith groups, community centres, buses, trains, allotments - invited local elders in. This year organisers anticipate it will be more like 800+.

SSD is run by Digital Unite (DU), and sponsored by various supporters including DU and Ofcom, in a variety of ways. It is also linked with education charity NIACE, which runs Adult Learners' Week in England and Wales.

Further information:
If you want personal advice about getting involved with the campaign, whether by sponsoring it or by running an event (there is an employer's option called Invite Your Parents to Work Day), contact silver [at] digitalunite [dot] net. If you want to stay informed about the free resources (a comprehensive event planner, media pack, and 30+ neat, jargon-free handouts on topics from the basics to blogging and podcasting), then put your e-mail address into the e-zine sign-up space on www.silversurfersday.org.

Hosted by:
Digital Unite, which has been delivering digital literacy to older people in numerous practical, 'on-the-ground' ways, and nationwide, since 1996.
www.digitalunite.net