Macduff Old Folks Assoc runs a Hall for the benefit of the “Old Folks” and until recently was called the “Pensioners” Hall. I was asked if I would help the members get better use of their computers – access emails, Skype, Government forms etc - after talking to them I decided another training course would not help, as most had attended the local College computing course (some had attended more than one), but they had not progress as one would expect.
The reasons are
1 The computer the College used would have a different operating system to their computer e.g College would be XP and they would use Vista.
2 The “Pensioners” in our area lead a active social life so there is few hours spent on the Computer e.g Mon Walking group, Tues Coffee Morning – Concert at night,Wed they mostly go in small groups for Lunch Thurs is Keep fit, coffee Morning, Snooker, Fri Weight watchers, Bowling and most weekends it is a combination of Family and Sat Dancing.
3 They are not motivated to use the computer as I am (work demanded I use it) – they are interested in keeping in touch with Family abroad using Skype, Email, exchanging photos etc but it time to learn these things.
I have tried to explain this rather diverse group’s lifestyle, and it is not that they are not motivated but that other younger people do not make the effort to make things to fit their lifestyle. They are not motivated by money or things but they are interested in helping each other.
I decided a self help group contained within the coffee mornings at the Hall where we could make use of all the different members Skills e.g <edited> is a judge in north east Scotland on Photo,s , Myself in the Windows Office system, emails,Skype etc. <edited> is very competent on computing on social networks as well as Skype & Emails.
We decide that each individual would bring their own Laptop to the Hall (coffee morning) where we have a large Screen (4metres * 3 metres) and we would use either BT Option 2 or 3 with the virus protection wirelessly and the group would all work together as a few of them already use BT Broadband.
The Leader of the Hall contacted and arranged to have BT Broadband & Tel Line (which will not be used) – I checked this recently and discovered that the Sales team in BT and our leader had agreed to fit Business Broadband which uses ****@connect.com but at home they use ********@btinternet.com and if anyone thinks I will set a up group and add another obstacle can forget it.
Therefore is it possible to get either BT option 2 or 3 in the Hall or at present possibly More Broadband and Calls with superfast BT Infinity broadband
The Broadband at the Hall at this cost is not sustainable the “Coffee morning” where the members do all the Baking, supply the milk, tea, coffee etc and staff the event would need to hold 7off mornings every year to pay for this service
Any advice about a solution would be helpful
