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SILVER surfers have been enjoying ITea and biscuits - learning new computer skills combined with a cuppa and nibbles. The taster session, run at Brighton Street Community Centre in Heckmondwike, is encouraging older people who may have a small amount of internet experience, or never used a computer before to become a silver surfer in a relaxed atsmosphere.

"Two thirds of UK adults surf the web every day, but 5.4 million Brits over the age of 65 have never ever logged on.That's the finding of a new campaign launched by Age UK - formerly Age Concern - called iTea and Biscuits Week, which aims to offer easy-to-use advice to get older people online."

"But the other thing we have to remember is that there's probably little value in telling people that the internet is good for them. In a sense, this is where the government's Digital by Default strategy is flawed: people feel a bit bullied, they think it's about saving money (which it is) and why should they put themselves out for that? We would be better off thinking about why young people go on the internet. It isn't primarily because the health service needs them to, or even for price comparisons, cheap deals and easy banking. It's because the internet offers the things they love: music, relationships, the chance to make each other laugh. We would say this, of course, but at Gransnet we think we're an attractor for older people online: we offer something that gives older people real pleasure. But with the internet currently designed primarily by 23 year-olds for 23 year-olds, there still isn't enough really compelling content for older people, designed by the over-50s for the over-50s"