OLDER people have been invited to try their hand at surfing the Internet for the first time.

The newly formed Clockhouse IT Project has been created to give over-50s advice on how to enrich their lives with the aid of computers.

People living in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys will be taught the basics of word processing, emails and shopping online at the free-of-charge workshops.

Project organisers hope the club will persuade older people to try out other classes, such as tai chi and yoga, which are also run at the Clockhouse Community Centre in Long Ground, Greater Leys.

The project’s founder, Gerry Webb, said the scheme would be launched at a public open day at the centre between noon and 4pm on Saturday.

He said the Government funded UK Online scheme had pledged £3,560, which was added to £2,250 of funding from Blackbird Leys Parish Council, and allowed the scheme to buy five brand new computers and two wireless laptops.

Mr Webb said: “The group will give older people a better quality of life by getting them back out into the community. They will learn how to search the Internet for shopping, use email to stay in contact with friends and family and use the computer with a webcam to maybe talk to friends abroad who also have a webcam.”

Classes at the community centre will include an introduction to Microsoft Office, which will see older people learning how to write and save letters and use Excel spreadsheets.

Visitors will also be taught how to take digital photos and store them on computers as a slideshow.

Mr Webb said the scheme was purely for people aged 50 and above and added: “Sometimes older people can feel a bit in-secure about going into computer places if there are a lot of young people about and they are sat next to a whizkid.

“We can teach them basic computer skills, and they can get a lot out of it. It will make a big difference to their quality of life.

“I hope we can get people out and get them used to having a bit of a social life.”

ghamilton@oxfordmail.co.uk