Age Concern aims to improve the lives of older people and make later life a fulfilling and rewarding experience.  Age Concern's mission to increase Digital Inclusion is to enable all older people in the UK to enjoy the benefits of digital technologies and, in turn, to live a more fulfilling and enjoyable life. 
Microsoft fully supports the need to get a greater number of older people online and has worked with Age Concern since 2000 on a joint programme of activity to tackle the digital divide and bring the benefits of IT to people regardless of age.

"Our partnership with Microsoft is very important to us. Over the last five years we have worked together to provide over twenty thousand internet taster sessions to older people in the UK. As we both continue to focus on Digital Inclusion and how we can work together to enable older people to lead happier and more fulfilled lives, we look forward to our partnership growing stronger and stronger"..”
Gordon Lishman
Director General
Age Concern

Silver Surfer Festival
This is an annual event which promotes the opportunities ICT provides for older people and encourages the uptake of ICT skills among them.  In addition is provides a great opportunity for older people to use the internet for the first time in a friendly environment. The event is timed to coincide with Adult Learners Week.  Microsoft works with Age Concern to run Inspiration and Information events for organisers and trainers throughout the week.  

Mini-Explorer Bus
Through the Unlimited Potential funding, Age Concern was able to launch a roving IT bus in May 2004.  The Mini-Explorer Bus enables older people in the South West region to experience the benefits of using IT and the Internet.  The project has so far trained over 1200 older people in ICT skills throughout the South West region.