M&S clicks with care home residents in new Plan A programme

British high street stalwart Marks & Spencer (M&S) has joined forces with Abbeyfield, a charity helping older people, to create a new volunteering initiative called ‘A Cup of IT’.

Designed to help care home residents to enjoy the social benefits of going online, A Cup of IT will see 70 IT experts from M&S and its suppliers mentor 200 residents from 24 Abbeyfield care homes next month.

The volunteers will help residents research old stories, relive favourite sporting moments, reconnect with friends and families and view images of memorable places from their past using platforms like Google Maps, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

To promote digital inclusion once the volunteers have left, re-furbished laptops and WiFi access cards will be donated to Abbeyfield by M&S.

Darrell Stein, director of IT at Marks & Spencer commented: “We want care home residents to enjoy the social, economic and physical benefits of using online services in the same way that it has become second nature to most of us. Our people are volunteering and using their expertise to make a difference in their local communities and leave a lasting legacy for older people that improves quality of life.”

Paul Allen, ceo for Abbeyfield, added: “The world the internet opens is a thrilling and exciting one although the opportunities it offers to older people are often overlooked. It is fantastic that such a well known and respected company as Marks & Spencer has recognised that and been willing to join us in opening up the world of the internet to so many of the older people who choose to live with us.“