Permalink Reply by Liz on February 26, 2009 at 16:17
Well the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Wellbeing is none other than St. Ann's Clr, Bob Harris. Is it worth dropping him a line and seeing if he's got any interest in this?
Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 26, 2009 at 17:05
Not sure why. I guess the way I look at this, if we're going to organise it, we're going to organise it. If there's something specific we need, like premises with wheelchair access, then we can ask.
In the meantime, I am attaching the Age Concern help on setting up an event
Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 26, 2009 at 18:25
Yup - and to start that, there's now (surprise, surprise) a Harringay group on Age Concern's own social networking site (strange number of links to Harringay Online :o) ).
And your suggestions sound great Liz. Good stuff. Really look forward to hearing what they say.
Permalink Reply by Liz on February 26, 2009 at 22:31
Margaret, I don't think you would need help getting online but if you're volunteering to give us a hand helping other people, I promise I won't invite him.
I hardly ever use a post office because every organisation I belong to and every campaign I work on sends messages by email. I am a former librarian so had to learn some skills whether I liked it or not. My grandchildren contact me from Africa and Newcastle by email when they are not texting. Many of the senior citizens I meet at Age Concern meetings and other drop in meetings around the borough do go to the silver surfing classes in the libraries and some other clubs do hold classes, but they don't have computers at home, partly because of the cost of broadband and we do all still find it comfortable to actually have human contact over our tea and cakes. The libraries hold good classes and so does the Resource Centre in West Green Rd.
I actually think getting online is an excellent way of finding out about activities in the area which we can then get out to. Also for communicating ideas and contacts for insulating houses, news on health issues etc. I had thought Age Concern wanted to get people out though and all these health walks in the Borough now seem to be directed that way.
I do some befriending volunteering for Age Concern and none of the people I visit has a computer so I do need to persuade them to come to the local library which is difficult sometimes for mobility reasons. Even care homes do not have technical equipment. If they had a computer at home they may get into social networking with some tutoring and confidence building about using a keyboard, and also overcoming eyesight problems, and some may find it solves the problem of isolation and loneliness. Getting together over tea and cakes and looking at what you can do online could be a fun event but it would need a few computers and a big screen to demonstrate on.
Haringey Older Peoples Forum may have some ideas on this when the Age Concern website has rolled out a bit more.
If Cllr Harris has useful ideas I would be prepared to listen, I have worked with him in a school in Hackney, but I personally don't have the need for an event like this as my computer is already tied up with too many contacts.
Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 27, 2009 at 11:19
Thanks Margaret - some very useful info there. Interesting to read that many older people can't afford broadband. A real issue for digital exclusion there. particularly when they're also a group that may find it hard to get out and use facilities at libraries.
Do you have a contact you can share with us for Haringey Age Concern?