Age Scotland Veterans’ Project is proud to support Lothian Veterans Centre in establishing a computer club in Dalkeith for older veterans. Our new video tells the club’s story.
The club began this April. Once a fortnight it convenes after the centre’s regular Friday get-together for veterans, most of whom are older and some of whom would otherwise be quite isolated.
Computer club members are kitted with free iPads courtesy of the Royal Naval Association’s Project Semaphore. Project Semaphore tackles loneliness and isolation using digital technology. While its home-based support is solely for older Royal Navy and Royal Marines veterans, it is open to approaches from organisations planning group-based digital-inclusion initiatives with older veterans from across the armed forces.
The Computer Club is also supported by a volunteer from AbilityNet. AbilityNet offers free training to older and disabled people for PC’s, laptops, mobile phones and tablets, with volunteer support at arranged locations or in the home.
Age Scotland Veterans’ Project is encouraging groups and services that support older people in using digital technology to be more veteran aware. As our best of the net for older veterans resource illustrates, learning that an older person is a veteran allows you to introduce him or her to online content that could be of great benefit – from specialist support services to money saving opportunities. We offer free older veteran awareness training to groups and services that support older people, to help them identify veterans and ensure that they offer a veterans’ warm welcome.
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