Third Age/SeniorLine works for the social inclusion of older people, marginalised by age, poverty and poor IT skills. This programme builds on their 2017/2018 ‘Getting Citizens Online’ Programme developed with the Department of Communications in which they trained 800 older people in Leinster. Many requested further training, and SeniorLine found they work best in small groups at a thoughtful pace.

Their city centre training room is now set up and ready to offer free Internet courses and a drop-in centre for Older People. This is peer to peer training, delivered by competent older volunteers. The six week course is open to new participants, and to those needing top-up support. The drop-in facility will provide companionship and welcome for older people suffering isolation. They aim to reach a minimum of 132 people annually, and are happy to share their approach with other community and age-sector NGOs.

The project has the potential to scale, ideally with government support. Third Age has a successful track record in attracting older people to them and they will recruit through local media, parishes, groups. Their welcome, courses and outreach will help many living near their city premises to make new friends, learn new skills and become more engaged in life.