Age Concern Southend is a small independent charity, not affiliated to any larger organisation. We are devoted to improving the lives of the older people in our community and making Southend a better place to age. We are a team of 12 employees, 9 of which are part time. Every month we help over 2500 people in our Head office or at our community centre The Haven Community Hub.
"I want to keep in touch with my daughter who is moving to Australia." Mike, 68
Mike's Story Link
During the pandemic, the world became an increasingly digitalised place. We noticed that our elderly users were becoming more and more isolated as they did not have the technological 'know-how' to navigate this new world. They couldn't book activities online, shop online, use online banking, download QR codes in restaurants, download and use an NHS app to get into their favourite music or sporting venues or use social media or communication tools to keep in touch with family and friends.
"I nearly got caught by a scam, and it kept me awake worrying." Pauline, 72
Pauline's Story Link
Even those with basic IT knowledge, are frequently caught out by sophisticated scams, taking advantage of our elderly, struggling in a digitalised society. We have seen multiple users fall victims to fraud and scams, one for over £13,000. How many times have you had to Google if a text message you've received is a scam? How many times have you had to block a suspicious social media account? Have you ever been hacked?
Society has left them behind with the increasing use of technology and its not fair.
At Age Concern Southend, we are receiving multiple calls per week asking for help from older people wanting to use iPads, computers, smart phones, apps and needing instructions on how to go online or how to recognise a scam. With your help, together we can help arm the elderly with IT knowledge to better their lives and reduce social isolation and financial difficulties.
How can we help?
We would like to run a programme, 3 days a week in our centre. The programme will digitally upskill our elderly community and teach them not only how to use a computer, iPad or smart phone, but how to use the internet and shop online and use online banking, use communication tools, how to download and use apps and learn how to avoid scams and fraudsters.
We would also like to offer them specialist advice from Debt Avoidance charities and The Citizens Advice Bureau as well as budgeting and maths lessons from our local college. We would like a local Advocacy to be present to help them with all form filling.
We hope to instill good financial learning and computer skills to our elderly local community so that they are confident using modern technology and not fall victims to scams. They will become more adaptable to the increasingly digital world. They will be able to gain financial skills and use their IT knowledge to implement these.
We would also like to create an IT Hub, with 2 ipads/tablets and a printer and free WIFI so that our community can access the internet easily and we would be on hand to offer advice at all times.
How can we deliver this?
We would like to hire a room in our community centre (The Haven Community Hub) 3 days a week. We will provide qualified Instructors. The free workshops on financial wellbeing, online banking, internet scams and online shopping will be held in the hall.
Monday: 1-to-1 Basic computer , tablet and smart phone lessons
Tuesday: Instruction and workshops on online banking, online shopping, apps, internet safety, financial crime, fraud & scams, maths and budgeting lessons
Wednesday: Debt & finance help, CAB, advocacy advice drop in services
How much funding do we need?
£4600 for room hire 3 days per week
£200 Hall Hire for workshops
£200 Creation of an IT Hub and 2 tablets
£150 A Projector & projector screen
£400 for 2 lap tops
£100 for Printer ink cartridges
£7400 Instructor fees and Activities Co-ordinator on hand to deliver the scheme
= £13050