St Albans District has recently acheived “Age Friendly” status – see https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/news/ (and extract below from their website)

The District now joins 100 other local authority areas which are also part of the growing movement.

To be accepted as a member, the Council had to demonstrate its commitment to providing Age-friendly services and create a District where older people are well supported.

This includes initiatives to involve older people in Council activities and act on issues such as loneliness and social isolation.

Membership is conditional on the Council continuing to engage with older people as it has been doing by holding a series of Age-friendly events.

Computer Friendly will be supporting all three of the Age Friendly St Albans District events this autumn in Alban Arena (22nd October, 10 am to 2 pm), London Colney Caledon Centre (3rd November, 10 am to 20pm) and Redbourn Village Hall (13th November, 9:30 to 11:30 am) so you are welcome to come along to any of these events and have a chat with us about what we do; the courses we run etc., and how you could participate as a volunteer, a user with a problem to solve at one of our drops ins or as a student keen to improve your skills and expand your knowledge.

In a break from our usual audience of ‘mature’ students, two Computer Friendly volunteers, Jean Pavan and Paul McMahon, attended Harpenden Academy to talk to a hall full of some very savvy 6 & 7 year olds about Staying Safe On‑line. Using resources available on-line from  saferinternet.org.uk Jean gave a 15 minute presentation about things to look out for, what to be aware of and what to do in certain situations. A follow-up 10 minute quiz by Paul was very well received with the students cheering loudly when it was revealed that the majority had voted for the correct answer. The final message to the children was given in this graphic from the presentation. Thanks to the Academy for their welcome.

(c) www.teachingideas.co.uk

Paul & Jean

Jean in full flow

As October draws to a close Computer Friendly have been supporting International Day of Older People in the St Albans area. Four events in total were planned in Wheathampstead (Oct 21st), St Albans (Oct 23rd), Redbourn (Oct 24th) and London Colney (Oct 28th) and Computer Friendly had a stall at each event getting our message out about the support we offer and the courses we run to people who need our support. Below is a photograph of our team at Redbourn.

International Day for Older Persons is a United Nations initiative from the early 1990s to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.