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Liverpool school help over
55s get online at new retirement community – Get Online Week 2015
RIVERSIDE'S newest retirement community
in Liverpool welcomed local high school students this week to celebrate all
things digital and getting online.
The housing association opened Joseph Williams Mews, its newest Retirement
Living complex in the heart of Belle Vale, last month with the help of Liverpool
Mayor, Joe Anderson. The scheme hosted this week's session to mark Get Online
Week following Mr. Anderson's digital taster session at the official launch
event.
Students aged 14 to 16 years old from Gateacre School came to Joseph Williams
Mews on Braehurst Way to take part in a digital session at the scheme's
community café.
Running from 12 October to 18 October 2015, Get Online Week is a national initiative to show
thousands of people up and down the country how the internet can make their
lives a little easier. The theme of this year's campaign is encouraging people
to see how the internet can make almost anything a little easier; from staying
healthy or finding work, to saving money and having fun.
Dot Kelly, Riverside Area Manager, said:-
"It's a great opportunity for our retirement living customers to get online
for the first time and to learn to do more with their digital skills.
Riverside is committed to helping customers engage with the digital age. Many of
our newest customers are already online and many more have shown an interest in
getting internet savvy as more amenities are now available via the web and are
accessible without leaving our front doors."
Riverside's digital inclusion activities are helping improve the prosperity and
opportunities available to customers by promoting digital literacy and skills
and affordable access to the internet, supporting access to online learning,
promoting access to online services like money advice and home shopping, and
tackling isolation of older people within our communities.
Lisa Mitchell, Community Coordinator at
Gateacre School, said:- "Having run our own 'Silver Surfers' group
for the past 2 years, it was great to meet our new neighbours at Joseph Williams
Mews. It was great to see both generations working together and learning
something new."
IT Teacher, Catherine Newall, added:-
"The children really enjoyed working with the older generation helping them to
access online services. It was a learning experience for both our students and
those at Joseph Williams Mews."
The initiative is being supported by Bauer
Media Radio City and its training academy with the aim of engaging all
generations within the community to get involved with the digital sessions at
Riverside's Joseph Williams Mews.
Joseph Williams Mews is Riverside's newest retirement living development for
over 55's in Belle Vale, located directly opposite the area's main shopping
complex. The scheme consists of 56 affordable rent apartments as well as 12
apartments and 2 bungalows available to buy on a shared ownership basis. The
complex was built on the former site of Joseph Williams School (attended by Sir
Paul McCartney from 1949 to 1953) in line with the Lee Valley Green Space
Strategy.
With figures showing that the over 65's will account for almost 60% of the
increase in households by 2033, last month Riverside is launching a rebrand of
its sheltered housing into Riverside Retirement Living, focusing on providing
safe, affordable and contemporary housing as part of a £27 million 4 year
investment programme.
Riverside's Executive Director of Care and Support Leann Hearne is championing a
fresh approach to retirement housing for the 50 plus generation who want great
homes, with the added support that retirement living brings when provided by
social landlords like Riverside.
"When I am looking for a place to stay I
want a choice of contemporary design, great facilities, the option of onsite
social activities and at a rate that doesn't break the bank. These are exactly the things that people look for when they are
thinking about moving from their current family homes into retirement housing
and this is what social landlords should be delivering.
We know the aspirational retirement housing we want for ourselves and we want
this for our customers too." said Leann
Hearne.
When Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, officially opened Riverside's Joseph
Williams Mews development last month, he commented:- "Joseph Williams Mews
means local people can look forward to retiring in their own community
surrounded by their friends and family. The modern development has transformed
the area not only for the people that live there but the wider Belle Vale
community with a number of facilities also open to the public too. The
investment in housing for over 55s comes at a vital time and I'm delighted to
have opened the stunning development."
For more information about Get Online Week please click on
here.
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