Tapping into technology helps bring residents closer to friends and family
RESIDENTS at another of Muir’s Sheltered Housing schemes are set to key into the online world following a successful £9,000 funding bid.
The scheme at Fusilier Court in Bury will celebrate its 40th anniversary later this year, and residents are determined to get online and learn new digital skills ahead of the occasion.
They submitted a bid for funding after other Muir sheltered housing schemes were successful with similar bids.
And they were delighted to receive more than £8,900 enabling them to buy some laptops, obtain Wi-Fi and get the training they need to kick start their internet experience.
Scheme manager, Sian Kilcoyne said: “This is great news for the residents at Fusilier Court.
“They are very keen to get going and have already enjoyed a taster session of some of the things they will be able to do online.
“The residents often amaze me and they are quickly looking to use the internet to save money on insurance premiums and to use Skype so they can contact family and friends more easily.
“The son of one resident lives in Texas and is a missionary spending time in South Africa.
“The internet will enable them to contact each other much more easily so it is already having a big impact on residents here.”
Full training sessions are soon to begin and is being provided by We Are Digital Ltd.
The initiative follows in the wake of similar projects at other Muir sheltered schemes during recent months.
Meanwhile, the residents, who recently completed a sponsored walk in aid of Dementia sufferers, are preparing to celebrate the scheme’s 40th anniversary in November.
Fusilier Court occupies the site of the former Wellington Barracks which once served at the home of the Lancashire Fusiliers.
During its 1688-1968 existence, the regiment became steeped in military history, with 19 of its infantrymen being awarded Britain’s highest military decoration, the Victoria Cross, which included ‘six before breakfast’ during the First World War’s Gallipoli campaign.
The Muir scheme at Fusilier Court Fusilier provides accommodation for elderly residents, single or couples, 60 years or over (or 55 years and over if in receipt of disability living allowance), which aims to promote independent living, good health and provide support to vulnerable residents to encourage them to be socially included and provide them with a safe environment and home for life.