LETTER: Back Age UK’s bid for Google funds

Age UK has been shortlisted to receive a £500,000 Global Impact Award from the Google Global Impact Challenge to launch a programme which will showcase the fun that can be had from online technology.

This initiative will help older people across the country benefit from all that the internet has to offer, especially those who have never been convinced that it’s relevant to them. We need as many people as possible to vote for Age UK to receive the money by visiting www.g.co/impactchallenge/ageuk.

As a relative novice to the online world I know that it can be daunting to learn about email, web pages and search engines. To make it easier, Age UK wants to run fun and relaxed local events around the country to give those of us in later life the chance to learn about technology.

The events will allow people to take a trip down memory lane by using the internet to listen to songs from a bygone era, look up major events during their life or recall those favourite film moments.

After experiencing how the internet can revive special times and memories older people will then be invited to local events to find out more about technology.

However, none of this can happen unless Age UK wins funding through the Google Global Impact Challenge public vote. The 60 seconds it will take for those already online to vote for Age UK is invaluable.

JUNE WHITFIELD

Age UK Celebrity Ambassador,

Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA