Putting the Growth into Growing Older North Tyneside Age Concern's Community and Outreach Team, established 4 years ago, has built up a varied community-based programme of activities and learning opportunities for older people across the borough. The team is made up of a volunteer co-ordinator, a community worker, an activities organiser, an admin support worker, about 25 volunteers and a team manager. Between them they run a variety of physical activities, arts projects, introductory IT sessions, and college based courses, just a few of which are discussed below. The IT for All project started in 1999 with a team of four volunteers offering introductory ICT sessions on a one-to-one basis using 'Computers Don't Bite' and 'WebWise'. The initial demand was overwhelming – it took the volunteers about six months to fit into sessions all those who phoned up in the first couple of weeks after the launch (through Radio Newcastle) and there is still a steady takeup. This has now grown to a team of seven volunteers who provide twelve weekly sessions plus the cyberCHATclub afternoon when people can practice and extend their skills as well as share troubleshooting tips. An outreach programme is now being developed with the help of New Opportunities Fund/ICT funding and volunteers will soon be taking their expertise out to day centres, sheltered housing and other community venues. Wider involvement in lifelong learning has come through a different route – contact with two local colleges through having a community worker and activities organiser based on their premises. Over the past three years taster sessions have been held at one college in a variety of subjects including drama, textiles, flower arranging and IT, a ten week print-based course has been held at the other, and in July-August 2000 a Summer School took place at one of the colleges. This offered courses one day a week for six weeks in mixed textile techniques, IT, photography and use of the gym. In conjunction with one of the colleges we have also designed a new course for people who just want to use their computers at home (rather than for employment purposes). Called 'Computers for Living' it covers file management, word processing, desk top publishing, email and the internet. Physical activity and involvement in arts projects also involves learning. Tai Chi is particularly popular. Requiring a great deal of learning to remember the sequences, it is not only good for physical health but increases concentration and self-confidence. Similarly, chair yoga, movement to music, line dancing and swimming sessions all involve learning new skills and generate the confidence to move on to other new learning situations. Arts projects provide an opportunity for creative expression which many older people have never had before. Currently a 'Year of the Artist' dance, music and video project is running in a residential home and a visual arts and creative writing project will be starting soon in a day centre.

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