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Sir Terry Wogan is backing this year’s Silver Surfers Day on Friday 21 May 2010, encouraging everyone, especially those over 65 years, to get online at one of the 400 libraries across the UK, which are taking part in the day's activities.

Terry says: "Everything is just a simple click away now – we can source information, communicate instantly and shop without ever having to leave the comfort of our homes. It’s so easy that any old Janet and John could get online". Silver Surfers Day is part of Adult Learners’ Week (15-21 May).

Sir Terry Wogan is lending his support to this year’s Silver Surfers Day on 21 May 2010 and encouraging all Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals (TOGs) to get online.   Silver Surfers Day is part of Adult Learners’ Week (15-21 May) aimed at encouraging creativity, diversity and positive effects of informal adult learning. Over 1,500 activities will be held across the UK in libraries, community centres and schools, to help older people get online. 

Sir Terry Wogan said:  “Everything is just a simple click away now – we can source information, communicate instantly and shop without ever having to leave the comfort of our homes.  It’s so easy that any old Janet and John could get online; but for those who need a little extra help, Silver Surfers Day on Friday 21 May are holding over 1,500 activities in local libraries, community centres and schools across the country – to help more people get online and start reaping the rewards.”

Co-ordinator Digital Unite is joined by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and is calling on public libraries to get involved and organise their own Silver Surfers’ Day activity.  As an added incentive, Digital Unite is inviting event holders to take part in their competition to win a £1,000 prize for the ‘best’ Silver Surfers’ Day event this year.

Natasha Innocent, The MLA’s Senior Policy Adviser: Learning & Skills, said: “Silver Surfers Day offers a fantastic opportunity for libraries to get involved in and support older people to develop their digital skills.  Libraries have a rich history of championing new learning initiatives are ideally placed in the hearts of the communities to successfully host this activity.”

To equip and support libraries, each library will receive a new web-based resource to use on the day, which is designed by Digital Unite for use by older people who have never used a computer before.  Participants can learn basic computer skills, how to email, scan a photo, place an online order, play a quiz about health and wellbeing, listen to music, and how to find information and save money.   It will include a new ‘pictorial history’ website called History Pin, and participants are asked to bring a photo of the house where they were born or the street where they grew up, to be uploaded on the day.

To get involved and organise an event to take place on Silver Surfers’ Day, Friday 21 May - or earlier in Adult Learners’ Week (15-21 May), please visit and add your details to the searchable events database at: http://silversurfers.digitalunite.com/

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