Thousands of older people who have learnt how to use computers, and hundreds of volunteer tutors who taught them, were today hailed by Age Action, after the older people’s charity won the nationwide Aontas STAR Award for its IT training programme.

“Today’s award is a tribute to the 11,000 older people who have gone through the programme and whose lives are greatly enriched by their new computer skills,” Getting Started development manager Pauline Power said.  “It is also recognition of the fantastic work being done by our 800 volunteer tutors around Ireland who are sharing their time and experience to teach others.”

Age Action was presented with the national award by Aontas, the national adult learning organisation, at a ceremony this morning.  The STAR Awards  recognise and celebrate  the invaluable collaborative work undertaken by adult learning initiatives in our communities.

“When we presented to the judges last week we stressed that the key strengths of Getting Started were that it was learner-centred, that we partnered with other organisations, and that the skills we provide literally change people’s lives,” Ms Power said.

The Getting Started programme is currently being provided in Dublin, Galway, Cork city, west Cork, east Cork, west Waterford, north Kildare and Louth. 

The programme is financed through a combination of statutory and corporate funding.  In the capital, Dublin City Council fund the programme in their sheltered housing complexes. Nationally, Getting Started is financed up until July by funding from the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources. 

“We deeply appreciate today’s award as it provides recognition of the hard work being done by so many people,” Age Action chief executive Robin Webster said. “The challenge now is to find funding to enable us continue this work in order to meet the huge demand from older people for computer skills.”

If you would like to volunteer as a tutor, or sign up for a computer class, contact Age Action at 01-4756989 or email gettingstarted@ageaction.ie

Today’s award ceremony marks the start of Aontas’s Adult Learners Festival which runs until February 24.

FOR MEDIA QUERIES CONTACT EAMON TIMMINS, HEAD OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS, AGE ACTION, AT 01-4756989 OR 087-9682449.