Volunteer of the Year offers free IT sessions

But one community-spirited Suffolk volunteer has been rewarded for helping others to embrace new technology – while one of those to benefit from his support has been named as an inspiring learner.

Kennedy Cheng, from Lxpert, has held weekly one-on-one sessions at the Age UK Suffolk shop in Upper Brook Street, Ipswich every Monday morning for the past three years.

His sessions, which offer advice and support on a range of IT challenges, are free.

However Mr Cheng has also raised more than £800 for the charity since the start of the classes.

He has now been named Volunteer of the Year at the Suffolk Adult Learners Awards while Stephen Smith, who attends the sessions, was named Inspirational Learner of the Year at the same event.

Photo: Left to right, Kennedy Cheng from Lxpert, Nicola Bradford trustee of Age UK Suffolk and Stephen Smith at the Suffolk Adult Learner Awards. Picture: AGE UK SUFFOLK

The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, September 13.

Jo Reeder, head of fundraising and marketing at Age UK Suffolk, said: “Embracing technology can be a huge barrier for many older people and can add to feelings of loneliness and isolation, particularly if they have family members who live further away.

“Offering these sessions, in a friendly, non-pressured environment, gives people the opportunity to discover a whole host of new skills that really can make a difference to how they live their day to day life.”

The charity also works in partnership with Realise Futures, to deliver tablet courses over a 10-week period in Ipswich, Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft – again working to give older people the tools to use to help them in day to day life.

For further information or to book a slot with Mr Cheng, call the Age UK Suffolk helpline on 01473 257039.

All sessions are 30 minutes in length.

For information about the 10-week tablet courses, call Tracey on 01473 298683.