ACE IT is an Edinburgh-based charity providing IT coaching to the over 50’s. We offer one-to-one training in our city centre office space. Our aim is to provide a friendly and relaxed learning environment. We train volunteers who have an IT background to help older people understand and software. Help with Apple and Android devices is on offer as well as more specific assistance with issues relating to programmes and apps such as Windows 10 and Skype. We also help learners with tasks such as organising photos, adding email attachments and navigating the basic functions of smart phones, tablets, cameras and e-readers.
Alongside the training programme we also manage ‘Moose in the Hoose’ - an IT outreach project based in five care homes in Edinburgh. The project uses specially trained volunteers to help residents keep in touch with family and friends through access to the Internet, email, Skype and many other computer/iPad based activities.
Both projects enable older people to connect with friends and family, organise travel and social activities and access goods and services. Our goal is to reach out to as many people as possible in an attempt to address issues surrounding social isolation and loneliness.
We offer weekly one-to-one training sessions in the ACE IT office base in Nicolson Square. We also host occasional workshops with themes such as internet security and awareness of the latest online scams. What makes the ACE IT computer training sessions so successful with clients is the friendly, relaxed atmosphere where overcoming the fear factor and realising the fun that can be achieved from the computer is seen to be one of the key objectives.
In our Moose in the Hoose project, volunteers make two hourly, weekly visits to each of the care homes and help residents to find out how new technology can help them keep them in touch and stimulated in a range of different ways.
