Posted in News on 31. Jan, 2012
We apologise for the downtime you may have experienced when trying to access our website over the last couple of days. We were experiencing some intermittent problems with our server and we hope that we have resolved the issue.
Posted in News, Session Updates on 08. Dec, 2011
It’s that time of year again… Christmas!
Here are the arrangements for Silver Surfers sessions:
The final Silver Surfers Session of 2011 will take place on Wednesday 14th December.
The first Silver Surfers Session of 2012 will take place on Wednesday 11th January.
Don’t forget that Moodle is available 24/7 (including Christmas Day!!) should you wish to use the e-Resources to brush up on your IT over the festive period.
The Silver Surfers Team wishes you a Merry Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year!
Posted in News, Session Updates on 27. Nov, 2011
There will be no session on Wednesday, 30 November 2011 due to strike action across Neath Port Talbot.
Sorry for any inconvenience, and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 7 December 2011.
Silver Surfers Team
Posted in News, Session Updates on 05. Sep, 2011
Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot, which has been providing free Silver Surfers classes for the past five years, is set to commence its sessions next week.
The Silver Surfers project at the school, which has been on a break for the summer period, encourages the young and older generations to interact and learn new skills. Pupils from the school have voluntarily given up their time to take on the role of ‘teacher’ one evening a week, since the project began in 2006.
During the sessions, the Silver Surfers are taught how to use the mouse and keyboard, create greetings cards, send e-mails, chat to family and friends across the world on Skype, find old friends through Facebook, shop on the web, and use BBC iPlayer.
Last September, the project launched its online learning environment, which has enhanced the learning experience for the Silver Surfers, and allowed them to access resources from home, should they wish to gain further information on the topic covered in the session.
Four out of five internet users aged over 55 have said that having access to computers and the web has improved their lives, in new research carried out by Digital Unite, one of the UK’s main providers of digital skills learning.
Luke Jenkins, who is Project Co-ordinator, and now a student at Neath Port Talbot College said, “We know that a relatively small percentage of senior citizens in Neath Port Talbot use the internet, and that it is becoming more and more important in everyday life.”
“We want to encourage older residents of the county to explore the world of the internet. By attending our weekly sessions, senior citizens are able to gain the skills and confidence they need to be able to surf the web alone.”
The sessions will resume on Wednesday 14th September at 3:30pm, and anyone aged 50 or above is welcome to come along. If you require further information, please contact Luke Jenkins on 01639 618334 or Steve Turner on 01639 883964.
Notes for Editors
For more information about this press release, please contact
Luke Jenkins, Project Co-ordinator on 01639 618334 or Luke.Jenkins@glanafansilversurfers.org.uk
Posted in News, Videos & Interviews on 01. Sep, 2011
Find out why you should become a Silver Surfer by watching our new video, including celebrities!
If you are looking to get online at home, then we have put together a Page on our website that provides you with links to Reccommended Suppliers of both computers and laptops! The computers are ideal for computer beginners, and come equipped with specialist software to help get you started! If you already have a computer and are looking for an Internet connection, the Page also includes the best deals available.
Posted in News, Press Coverage, Silver Surfers Day on 23. May, 2011
Posted in News, Silver Surfers Day on 06. May, 2011
Silver Surfers Day at Glan Afan Comprehensive School on Friday 20th May.
Local residents aged over 50 who would like to know more about computers and the internet are invited to a free digital taster event at Glan Afan Comprehensive School, Station Road, Port Talbot on Friday 20th May, starting at 9am. Workshops being held on the day include an introduction to computers, social networking, family history, Skype, shopping online and internet safety. Students from the school will be on hand to gently introduce those who aren’t yet online to the wonderful world of digital technology.
The taster sessions are being held to celebrate Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day (16-20 May), a national campaign which helps give older people and other less confident users a taste of the digital world. According to Ofcom, around a third of parents and grandparents have been taught or encouraged to surf the internet by a child aged 13-16 and Silver Surfers spend more time online than any other age group.
‘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. We hope as many people as possible will come along to our event and give computers a go’ says Luke Jenkins, Project Co-ordinator.
## Ends ##
Notes for Editors
Glan Afan Comprehensive School in Port Talbot, 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 – Students 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
Contact Details
For more information on Silver Surfers Day 2011 at Glan Afan Comprehensive School contact:
Luke Jenkins, Project Co-ordinator on (01639) 618334 or luke.jenkins@glanafansilversurfers.org.uk
For general enquiries, contact Luke Jenkins/Steve Turner on (01639) 618334, springonline@glanafansilversurfers.org.uk, or visit our website at www.glanafansilversurfers.org.uk
Posted in Silver Surfers Day on 24. Apr, 2011
This year, Silver Surfers Day will take place on Friday 20th May, as part of Digital Unite’s Spring Online Week. Glan Afan Silver Surfers will be participating in this event, and more details will be available soon.
Don’t forget, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, by clicking on the relevant links!!
Check out our Spring Online page here!
Sean Pursey from Maesgwyn Street, in Aberavon, has created a website on the Plaza Cinema to try and kick start its regeneration.
The 17-year-old is now appealing to the community to have their say on what they would like to see the building used as in the future, which he hopes will help put pressure on the council to move forward with any development plans.
Neath Port Talbot Council confirmed in January that it had bought the 1950′s art deco cinema which closed in 1999, and that it would be part of its plan to regenerate Port Talbot town centre.
Derelict
Sean’s website, which was launched last week, brings together all the information he has collected over the past year about the derelict cinema.
“I did some research on the Plaza last year and I just became really interested in its history,” said Sean, who is studying photography, physics and maths at Neath Port Talbot college.
“I just thought that if I could bring all the information I had together with some photographs, videos and get the public to put their opinions across, we can try and push it forward.”
Sean, who had help with the history and old pictures from former Plaza boss Alex Jones, said he hopes the council starts repairs on the front of the building as soon as possible.
“I’d like the council to begin repairs to the fabric of the building urgently particularly the front area which is protected by listing, before a new use is decided,” he said. “It would be nice if it was used for something to do with the arts or something relating to film and drama. Something that involves the community.
“After all it did inspire Anthony Hopkins.”
In a previous statement, the council’s head of regeneration, Gareth Nutt, said: “It is the council’s desire to see the cinema once again, returned to productive use.”
A council spokeswoman added: “As and when the council comes forward with proposals a full public consultation will be carried out.”
The website can be found at www.plazaporttalbot.co.uk
