How Moira Stuart is helping her generation avoid scams and get online
Annie Mannion | 23 Sep 2024Renowned broadcaster and newsreader, Moira Stuart CBE, has joined forces with AbilityNet and BT Group to encourage older people to learn new digital skills, and raise awareness of online scams.
As part of BT Group and AbilityNet's partnership to help older people learn vital digital skills, last week Moira Stuart joined a group of 51 senior citizens on a coach trip from Birmingham to the historic Blenheim Palace near Oxford.
During the coach journey, the group of senior learners participated in bitesize digital skills sessions run by AbilityNet, supported by BT Group volunteers. The group learned about the dangers of online scams and how to stay safer online, and how to use QR codes.
The coach trip comes ahead of AbilityNet's upcoming free webinar aimed at older people: Empowering Seniors: 5 Essential Tips for Online Safety and Support on Thursday 17 October. On the webinar Lucy Walsh, AbilityNet Digital Skills trainer will share valuable tips for avoiding online scams.
Wise up to scammers
Moira also shared her own tech tips with the group, and encourages older people to embrace learning digital skills:
"Technology sure as hell is useful. You need to pay bills, or stay in touch with family and friends, particularly if they’re abroad. Everybody needs to get onto their equipment to find out whatever it is they need to know," Moira said.
Rob McLean (pictured, centre), AbilityNet's Digital Inclusion Programme Manager joined the trip with other AbilityNet staff:
"Chatting with Moira was great, she was so interested and shocked at the amount of scams going on. She thought our Staying Safer material was great and brilliantly delivered by our digital skills trainer Lucy."
Free webinar: Empowering Seniors: 5 Essential Tips for Online Safety and Support
Our free webinar on Thursday 17 October 2024, 1pm BST will share top tips for connecting and staying safer online if you are a senior citizen or a disabled adult.
Learn about the innovative ‘Ask-Silver.com’ app, and the free resources available via AbilityNet to help with navigating the digital world.
How to use QR codes
The group of senior citizens put to the test their newly acquired digital skills on the coach journey home, scanning QR codes to access online feedback surveys about the day.
One learner said of the digital skills sessions they received on the training day: "Very professional and informative, and it has given me confidence to try and understand IT and the Internet better."
Others agreed, and praised the helpful volunteers and staff, and expressed how they are now more confident in using their digital devices.
AbilityNet's Rob McLean said of the day:
"It was a pleasure to be able to meet with Moira Stuart and the group of older people to have the opportunity to talk about how to stay safer online as part of our Digital Skills programme for Seniors and Disabled people. Helping them to avoid scams and giving them confidence to navigate the internet for things we need to do such as video calling family, shopping online or booking appointments."
"We want older people to feel digitally included in society and help improve their lives," Rob added.
Addressing confidence barriers
The trip was part of BT Group and AbilityNet's efforts to help close the digital divide, particularly among older people and disabled adults.
Ahead of United Nations International Day of Older Persons on 1 October, new BT Group research* reveals 57 is the average age that UK citizens start losing confidence in digital skills – while those over 65 are 14% less confident about using digital technology than the average respondents.
The research also revealed over a quarter over 65s (28%) receive multiple scam calls, texts or emails a week, with those aged 55-64 reporting encountering more scams than any other age group.
Free tech help for over 65s
To help combat this growing scamming trend, and boost digital skills among older people and disabled adults, AbilityNet is offering free in-person digital skills sessions in locations across the UK including London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the East Coast of Scotland, Newcastle, Cardiff and surrounding areas.
Additionally people over 65 from anywhere in the UK can join our free online webinar on Thursday 17 October to find out how to get free digital skills support.
The sessions are tailored to individual’s needs, from learning the basics with a smartphone, stay safer online or getting started with the internet. Contact us for support today!
Online support with digital skills
If you or someone you know is looking for digital skills support, there are lots of other resources on our website:
- Attend an upcoming digital skills webinar
- View our bitesize digital skills videos for seniors
- Read and download free digital skills factsheets
- Step-by-step device guides on our My Computer My Way site
- Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer or call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028
Sir Geoff Hurst on building digital skills
A similar knowledge-sharing exercise took place earlier this year with football legend Sir Geoff Hurst providing his support for improving the tech skills of the older generation.
Alongside BT Group, AbilityNet teamed up with the 82-year-old to surprise a senior walking football team, Bristol City FC, with a digital skills session, followed by a friendly kickabout.
Learn more about avoiding online scams
*Opinium poll of 2,000 adults carried out on behalf of BT Group in April 2024.
