Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council funds web for elderly
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The project, which is helping older people in the Borough take advantage of the benefits of technology, will see its 3 year government funding end later this year, and that had created uncertainty over the project's future.
However, the Council has been able to carry forward some efficiency savings, which will secure the future of the project until 31st March 2005 at least.
Commenting on this news, Cabinet Member Councillor Frank McGale said:
"I am delighted that this additional funding has been secured. I visited our older people's forum earlier in the year, and they were adamant that this project had been successful and needed to continue. All our research and evidence demonstrate that our senior citizens have really benefited from the training, support and equipment we have been able to provide. We are still pursuing a number of other ideas to secure funding beyond 31st March 2005, particularly in conjunction with our private sector partner, Anite Public Sector, and with the County Council.
Nuneaton and Bedworth's Silver Surfers Project is based on an idea which came from the local Older People's Forum, and a sum of £1.3m had been secured from Round 3 of the Government's Invest to Save Programme, for a 3 year project which aims to:
> promote independent living for older people by providing access to public services through the Internet;
> use IT to provide easy access to information about facilities for older people;
> help older people communicate with each other, with relatives and with local community organisations, by using IT.
The project partners are:
> Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
> North Warwickshire Primary Care Trust
> Nuneaton and Bedworth CVS
> Warwickshire Age Concern
> Warwickshire County Council
> North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
> George Eliot Hospital
> Warwickshire Police
> Anite Public Sector (primary IT partner)
Related links to this article:
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
www.nbsilversurfers.org.uk
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