OLDER people in Okehampton will be able to learn about the ways in which a computer or mobile phone can help them reduce the costs of living in a rural area and keep in contact with relatives around the world for no extra cost.

Welcome funding from local charity the Okehampton United Charities (OUC‚ has helped Age Concern in Okehampton to offer their cyber café facilities to older people in the town and Okehampton Hamlets.

Barrie Duke, chief officer of Age Concern, Okehampton, said he was thrilled to receive such a rapid response from the charity for its request for support.

The cheque for £5,305 would, he said, ensure that older people would not be left behind in the changing and challenging times in which we live.

Both training and engineer support will make sure that the project runs smoothly and efficiently.

The project, 'New Clicks', is based on the belief that older people can learn new tricks when they are able to learn at their own pace in their own way and without being criticised or patronised.

'We want to make computing fun,' said Mr Duke.

'Support will be given, from deciding on the purchase of a computer through to shopping online and buying train and air travel tickets.

'Each computer is linked to a computer help desk so that problems can be sorted without an engineer having to visit anyone at home.'

Lessons can be started on the computers at the centre, running both free licence programmes and donated up-to-date software from Microsoft. This will enable people to try out new operating systems and decide if they want to change.

Some people preferred to leave their computers on at home and work on them over the internet, said Mr Duke.

Part of the new project will focus on existing computer users and their need to understand how they have to update from Windows XP when this popular operating system is no longer supported.

'The aim is to take the mystery and fear out of using your computer and see it as a friend — even if a little exasperating at times,' added Mr Duke.

Age Concern has been helping older people in West Devon since 1989 and is currently developing new services to help older people successfully stay in their homes for as long as possible.

The centre will host an open morning tomorrow (Friday) when Karen Percival from the Okehampton United Charity will visit at 11am to meet new and old computer users and find out how they will benefit from the project.OLDER people in Okehampton will be able to learn about the ways in which a computer or mobile phone can help them reduce the costs of living in a rural area and keep in contact with relatives around the world for no extra cost.

Welcome funding from local charity the Okehampton United Charities (OUC‚ has helped Age Concern in Okehampton to offer their cyber café facilities to older people in the town and Okehampton Hamlets.

Barrie Duke, chief officer of Age Concern, Okehampton, said he was thrilled to receive such a rapid response from the charity for its request for support.

The cheque for £5,305 would, he said, ensure that older people would not be left behind in the changing and challenging times in which we live.

Both training and engineer support will make sure that the project runs smoothly and efficiently.

The project, 'New Clicks', is based on the belief that older people can learn new tricks when they are able to learn at their own pace in their own way and without being criticised or patronised.

'We want to make computing fun,' said Mr Duke.

'Support will be given, from deciding on the purchase of a computer through to shopping online and buying train and air travel tickets.

'Each computer is linked to a computer help desk so that problems can be sorted without an engineer having to visit anyone at home.'

Lessons can be started on the computers at the centre, running both free licence programmes and donated up-to-date software from Microsoft. This will enable people to try out new operating systems and decide if they want to change.

Some people preferred to leave their computers on at home and work on them over the internet, said Mr Duke.

Part of the new project will focus on existing computer users and their need to understand how they have to update from Windows XP when this popular operating system is no longer supported.

'The aim is to take the mystery and fear out of using your computer and see it as a friend — even if a little exasperating at times,' added Mr Duke.

Age Concern has been helping older people in West Devon since 1989 and is currently developing new services to help older people successfully stay in their homes for as long as possible.

The centre will host an open morning tomorrow (Friday) when Karen Percival from the Okehampton United Charity will visit at 11am to meet new and old computer users and find out how they will benefit from the project.