If you love food but find computers a recipe for disaster, a group of local Rotarians has cooked up a solution.
The three former professionals are giving up their time every week to help people in the Boothstown area get to grips with technology from iPads to laptops.
And as part of Salford’s Food and Drink festival which runs from Friday September 18 to Sunday October 4 they’re adding a new twist to one of their free help sessions.
On Wednesday September 30 their drop in session will focus on using the internet and different apps to eat well, learn new recipes and even find the perfect bottle of wine.
Former teacher Peter Irwin, of Worsley Rotary Club, said he came up with the idea of technology sessions after helping a neighbour set up a new iPad.
“She was given one as a present but her son lives away so I helped her set it all up, showed her how to surf the web and helped her save £200 on her car insurance by using comparison sites,” said Peter.
“I thought many other people might be in the same position so we got in touch with Salford City Council’s Digital Champions campaign and they helped us set up the free drop in sessions.
“We’ve helped one gentleman take photos and share them, do online shopping, set up an email account and use voice recognition software to surf the web so the need is out there. We don’t mind how many times people come – we just want to help them learn how to use new technology simply.”
Peter and fellow Worsley Rotarians Mike Collier, previously a senior telecommunications manager and Jeff Barnes, a former company director in the construction industry, hope their food and drink taster session will prove a tasty delight.
“We’ll help people surf the net by looking for recipes, checking out healthy eating websites and looking at some of the apps available. There’s one where you point the iPad at a bottle of wine, take a photo of it and then the app gives you a wine review and tells you where to buy it at the best price,” said Peter.
Worsley Rotary Club’s IT support sessions run from 1pm to 3pm every Wednesday at Boothstown library, Stansfield Road, Boothstown.
Everyone is welcome to drop in or contact Peter_Irwin@btinternet.com for more information.
And, as part of the Salford Food and Drink Festival, there’s a chance for people to use their new techology skills and win a bottle of champagne for the best restaurant review.
Attached photo shows left to right Mike Benjamin, Digital Champions, Salford City Council, Hilda Shuttleworth, Peter Irwin, Steve Hattrick (seated), Jeff Barnes, Mike Collier and Maureen Collinge.
