Age Concern Isle of Man has gained an additional venue for its Lifelong Learning Centres – the iMuseum - thanks to a partnership with Manx National Heritage. Located in Kingswood Grove, Douglas, Manx National Heritage’s new iMuseum is hosting Age Concern computer training sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 12.30pm for a three-month trial period. As with all sessions those at the iMuseum are overseen by Lifelong Learning Centre manager Mike Justice and training officer Barry Hodge. Manx National Heritage’s community outreach officer Katie King said: ‘The trial began on April 6 and has been very well received. As a digital resource providing access to an archive that will have almost 200 years of newspapers together with a growing collection of family history records the iMuseum complements the work of Age Concern in that many of its clients, having learned how to use computers at one of the centres, can apply those skills to research their family connections with Mike and Barry on hand to provide technical support. The iMuseum is also attracting some of the more experienced clients to the sessions and we are very pleased to be supporting Age Concern’s digital inclusion programme.’ Lifelong Learning Centre manager Mike Justice said: ‘We’re delighted Manx National Heritage is extending the use of the iMuseum to us as the number of clients attending our sessions is growing all the time. We’re averaging around 10 clients per session at the iMuseum, where they have an opportunity to search for long lost relatives in Manx newspapers and baptism records and uncover what, in many cases, have proved to be fascinating stories.’ Client Rose Herrera, who describes herself as ‘a grade one beginner’ said: ‘Mike and Barry have been very patient and really helpful, and now I’m able to read all kinds of newspapers online.’ Friends Dorothy Hart and Maureen Stewart, long time devotees of Age Concern’s computer training sessions, continue to put their new-found skills to good use; Dorothy researching her family history while Maureen, with the assistance of Mike Justice and Barry Hodge who set up an online diary for her, chronicling six years’ worth of holidays travelling the length of Britain in a motor home. And in nine weeks client Anne Green has advanced from ‘not even knowing how to switch on a computer’ to using Skype and emailing family and friends in Dublin and Plymouth. Age Concern Isle of Man Chief Executive George Quayle said: ‘We are very grateful to Manx National Heritage for making the iMuseum available to us for a trial period. With more and more services being delivered online it is essential we reach out to as many older people as possible and help them become computer literate so they can take full advantage of the benefits of information technology.’ Age Concern’s Lifelong Learning Centres provide free one-to-one computer training sessions for the over-50s, from beginners to more advanced computer users. Sessions are held in Douglas at the iMuseum on Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am to 12.30pm and at 19 Drinkwater Street on Mondays and Tuesdays 2 to 4.30pm; in Port Erin at New Southlands on Mondays 10am to 12.30pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays 2 to 4pm, and in Ramsey town hall on Tuesdays 10am to 12.30pm, and Fridays 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30 to 3.30pm. For more details, telephone 613044 or email mike.justice@ageconcerniom.com or visit www.ageconcerniom.com The iMuseum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm (7pm on Thursday evenings). Telephone (01624) 648000. Visit www.storyofmann.com for more information. To obtain full information about the collections, and to answer detailed research enquiries and family connections, you will still need to use the Reading Room in the Manx Museum. ENDS