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Saving money and finding good deals are a priority for increasing numbers of older people as the financial downturn deepens.  In  response to this demand‚ Age Concern’s ‘ITea and Biscuits’ programme¹ will include guidance and training about online shopping during internet training and advice sessions around the country during the week of September 8 -12.

Online shopping has been shown to save people an average of £268 per year² and price comparison sites allow people to research and make decisions within the comfort of their home. Online shopping also saves pensioners from having to carry goods home and already four in ten retired people are regular e-shoppers. Many older people ask specifically to learn about eBay and how it can help them generate cash and find bargains. Internet usage has overtaken gardening and DIY as a hobby for pensioners who spend an average of six hours a week online.³

Age Concern Director Gordon Lishman said‚
“At a time when older people are particularly concerned about money given rising costs‚ it is particularly useful for them to understand how ordering and paying for services online could save them money. The social benefits of being computer and internet literate are also important since they can give older people alternative means of communication with relatives and friends‚ as well as vital mental stimulation through online games‚ education and networking sites.”

‘ITea and biscuits’ builds on feedback from Age Concern’s five successful years promoting Silver Surfers. Feedback from people attending previous sessions showed online shopping came top in their priorities followed by hobbies and leisure then obtaining legal‚ financial or benefits information.

‘ITea and Biscuits’ week also provides an opportunity to alert older people on how to remain secure in their online usage and how to avoid internet scams. Recent Age Concern research revealed that almost two thirds of older people in the UK reported an increase in the number of scam letters and/or emails they have received in the last two years.⁴

As part of the Connect with IT campaign‚ the introductory week of ITea and biscuits activities run by local Age Concerns and local libraries and community centres will provide novices and internet users with training at all levels. These will be followed later in the year by introductions to social networking and mobile technology.

Information for the public about the activities available during ‘ITea and Biscuits’ can be obtained by calling Age Concern 0800 00 99 66 or by visiting our website.

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Notes to Editor:

Age Concern England
Age Concern England is committed to championing digital equality for older people and to reduce the inequalities in access‚ skills and engagement which lead to digital exclusion. We have been devising and implementing projects that bring ICTs to older people since 1998‚ including:

Over 150 IT “drop-in” facilities and training centres; computer buses; outreach IT training in residential homes and day centres; Internet learning materials; and national campaigns to promote the benefits of internet access and signposting to free local taster sessions.

Age Concern has also been an active contributor to government-led digital inclusion consultations‚ and actively involved in responding to the Government’s proposals for digital TV switchover

Important Facts

Digital Exclusion
Over 14 million people aged 50+ in the UK are digitally excluded (ACRS Lifeforce Survey‚ 2004)‚ that is those who have not used the internet.

Almost half of Britain’s over 50s (44%) have no access to a computer - at home‚ work or elsewhere. This represents 8.4 million people over the age of 50 in Great Britain who are likely to remain unable to directly benefit from the positive aspects of PC and internet access.

Need (52%) and relevance (32%) were revealed as the greatest barriers to becoming a part of the digital revolution‚ followed by purchase cost (18%) and perceptions of complexity (12%)

Benefits to Older People
Almost two-thirds (59%) of computer users aged over 50 believe that the benefits to be gained from computer use far outweigh the running costs. Over half (55%) of computer users aged over  50 say using the internet has broadened their horizons. 40% of computer users aged 50+ said they could no longer live without a computer. The vast majority (83%) of computer users aged over 50 feel they are fully able to learn new skills‚ compared to only 41% of non-users.

Computer skills and employability
The overwhelming majority (74%) of respondents believe that those who are computer literate will benefit more in work than those who do not. 75% of older people felt that employers would prefer to hire people with existing IT skills.

• All of the above was taken from a study commissioned by Intel and Age Concern England‚ and conducted by ACRS‚ the research division of Age Concern Enterprises Ltd‚ in February/March 2006. In total 1000 adults of all ages‚ and 1000 people aged 55-69 were questioned throughout Great Britain.

Footnotes:

1. Connectwithit website

2. Nielsen Media Research‚ Neilsen reports 875 million consumers have shopped online‚ published 28 January 2008‚ Nielsenmedia website

3. AXA press release based on AXA's Global Retirement Scope 2007

4. Age Concern/ICM research August 2008. 665 of 1015 adults interviewed said they had seen an increase in the number of scam letters and/or emails they have received in the last two years. Of 211 people aged 65 and over‚ 135 (64%) had seen an increase in scam letters and or emails they had received.

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