Category : Press Coverage
Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot recently welcomed members of the community into the school for a taster session in computers and the internet. The sessions were held to celebrate Silver Surfers’ Day, a national campaign which gives older people a taste of the digital world.
The session was a great success, and thanks to the hard work of the pupils and past pupils of the school, the day was enjoyed by all who attended.
The senior citizens carried out research on the Plaza cinema, which has become a hot topic of conversation lately, thanks to an informative website set up by Sean Pursey, and a committee being established to obtain views of local residents on the future of the Plaza.
Luke Jenkins, who is Project Co-ordinator, and now a student at Neath Port Talbot College said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who took part in the event, which we take part in annually. We know that computers and the internet can be a little scary for many older people and they just need a little help to get them started. Thanks to Digital Unite who arrange this yearly event, we have helped pensioners conquer their fears of the computer and get online!’
Anyone who wishes to learn more about computers and the internet, and is aged over 50 is invited to attend Glan Afan’s Silver Surfer classes which take place every Wednesday at the school from 3.30pm – 5pm. Contact Luke Jenkins on 01639 618334 or Steve Turner on 01639 883964, or visit our website at
www.glanafansilversurfers.org.uk for more information on the group and its work!
Silver Surfers tutor Luke Jenkins has been shortlisted for a South Wales Evening Post Pride Award – Community Champion. The award ceremony takes place this Friday!
Article from South Wales Evening Post, Wednesday 9th March 2011
Teen mentor’s a class act
NOT many youngsters would give up their spare time to go back to school and mentor others.
But 17-year-old Luke Jenkins, of Mayfield Street, Port Talbot, does just that.
He plays an active role in weekly Silver Surfers sessions at Glan Afan Comprehensive School – a group that offers senior citizens a chance to learn new computer skills and teaches them how to navigate the internet.
He was nominated by Elizabeth Jenkins, of Gordon Crescent, Sandfields, who described him as a hardworking and determined individual.
She said “Luke is setting an excellent example to other young people in the community.
“He should win the award because of all the hard work and his determination to make the group a success.”
Luke has been involved in the group since it started in 2007 and has helped it grow.
The class has even won numerous awards for its work, thanks to Luke and his band of volunteers.
During the sessions, the Silver Surfers are taught how to use a mouse and keyboard, how to write letters, create greetings cards, send emails, find old friends on Facebook, shop on the web, read the news, and gain confidence in using the computer alone.
Last year Silver Surfers celebrated striking gold after it was awarded a £1,468 National Lottery grant.
“Luke helped us gain money from the Big Lottery Fund, which was used to purchase new equipment for the group,” Mrs Jenkins said.
“Although now a student at Neath College, Luke comes back to the school every week to overlook the sessions. He is the course co-ordinator and prepares lesson plans and keeps the website up to date.”
The free clases attract an average of 20 senior citizens every week and are run by pupil mentors who give up their time to pass on their computer skills.
In December, Luke was crowned the Llandarcy Harvester’s ring Out The Best Award winner – a search to find inspirational people in the community.
The teenager also helps to raise money for various charities throughout the year with the Silver Surfers group by holding various fundraising events.
UPDATE: Luke narrowly missed out on the Evening Post Pride Award for the ‘Community Champion’ category.
Owen Thomas, a tutor at Glan Afan Silver Surfers has scooped the BT Internet Ranger of the Year Award for Wales. Owen, 13, joined the group last year, and has helped during the weekly sessions that are co-ordinated by past pupil Luke Jenkins. This isn’t the first time a tutor from the group has won the award, however! In 2007 Joseph Devries, also a past pupil, won the BT Internet Ranger of the Year National Award, beating off tough competition from the rest of the UK! Owen was presented with his certificate on Friday 11th February from Ann Beynon, BT Director Wales.
ITV Wales News came along, and filmed this news report:
2011 is upon us, and Senior citizens in Port Talbot once more have the opportunity to join the thousands of ‘Silver Surfers’ already online!
Glan Afan Comprehensive School in the town, has been providing free Silver Surfers sessions to senior citizens in the community since 2007, which have been a massive success, and the group have even won numerous awards for all their hard work!
The Silver Surfers project at the school encourages the young and older generations to interact and learn new skills – Pupils from the school give up their own time to volunteer with the group and teach new things to the senior citizens.
During the sessions, the ‘Silver Surfers’ are taught how to use the mouse and keyboard, how to write letters, create greetings cards, send e-mails, find old friends on Facebook, shop on the web, read the news, and gain confidence in using the computer alone. More recently, the group have started courses in Word Processing and Digital Photo Editing.
Anyone over the age of 50 is welcome to come along and learn something new – whatever their current knowledge of computers is!
According to Ofcom, around a third of parents and grandparents have been tought or encouraged to surf the internet by a child aged 13-16 and Silver Surfers spend more time online than any other age group. So why not join them?
Contact Luke on (01639) 618334 for more information, and to join the group!
A PORT TALBOT teenager has been rewarded for making a difference in the community.
Luke Jenkins, who set up the Silver Surfers class at Glan Afan Comprehensive School, has been crowned the Llandarcy Harvester’s Bring Out The Best Award winner.
The 17-year-old was put forward by Elizabeth Jenkins after the manager appealed for nominations from local people.
Paula Davies, manager of the Llandarcy Harvester, said: “We’re delighted to be able to reward Luke, who is truly an unsung hero in our community. We decided to launch our Bring Out The Best Awards to find inspirational people, and Luke certainly fits the bill.”
Luke, who attends Neath College, said: “I knew I had been nominated but I didn’t expect to win. I was really pleased.”
COMPUTER-SAVVY youngsters in Port Talbot have been helping silver surfers call their nearest and dearest on the other side of the world.
As part of National Silver Surfer Day, students at Glan Afan Comprehensive School helped senior citizens use Skype to make international calls.
Leonard Turner, 84, from Port Talbot, was one of the people that took part.
He used Skype to video contact his grandson Steffan who is currently travelling around New Zealand.
“I don’t get to talk to him very often as it is so expensive to call New Zealand,” he said. “I really miss and him and want to hear about his adventures, so when one of the pupils at the school told me about Skype I was excited to learn more.”
Head of art at the school, Steve Turner, said the day was great success.
“It was excellent,” he said.
“Ten senior citizens came throughout the say. Not many had used Skype before.
“The pupils were mentoring them and showed them how to do it. It was fantastic,” he said.
Joseph Devries and Olive were in London today, promoting the BT Internet Rangers campaign and Glan Afan’s Silver Surfer group. Joseph was invited to London together with his mother, Vanessa, and one of Glan Afan’s Silver Surfers, Olive, by British Telecom because of the hard work he has put in, together with the rest of the team, with the school community group. They spent the day conducting interviews with various radio stations including the BBC and The Wave.
Click on the links below to play the files.
1. BBC Radio Oxford
2. The Wave
3. KCFM
4. IRN
5. Orchard FM
6. Nevis Radio, Fort William
7.BBC Radio Mersyside
8. Touch Coventry
9. BBC Radio Devon
10. BBC Radio Nottingham
11. BBC Radio Stoke
Glan Afan Silver Surfers group has appeared on National television. Hannah Emerson-Thomas from ITV’s Wales Tonight came along and interviewed the group. See the video below!
