England World Cup legend surprises Foundation Walking Football.

Bristol City Robins Foundation welcomed the England World Cup winner, Sir Geoff Hurst to a walking football session and digital skills workshop.

Sir Geoff Hurst is inspiring his generation to tackle technology head-on and learn to make the most of the digital world. 

The 82-year-old teamed up with BT Group and AbilityNet charity to surprise Bristol City's Walking Football FC with a digital skills session at Ashton Gate and a friendly kickabout at Imperial Sports Ground on Tuesday, April 30th.

Run by an AbilityNet trainer and supported by BT Group volunteers, Sir Geoff participated in the session, showcasing how technology can enhance teamwork and streamline organisational tasks. 

Research shows nearly one in four (23%) people aged over 65 having confronted a scam caller in the past.

Sir Geoff said: “You can understand why a lot of people of my generation are fed-up with being talked down to about technology.

“We need to learn digital skills in a way that’s empowering, not belittling. That’s why this session from BT Group and AbilityNet with Bristol City FC’s Walking Football team around online scams was so valuable. I still receive scam emails almost every day, which can be worrying, and I know many older people feel the same.

“I use tech on a daily basis - it makes life so much easier - but I don’t need to know about TikTok dances or the latest trends. Like a lot of people my age, I need it for the basics.” 

When trying to learn new tech from someone, nearly a quarter of over 65s have felt worried about appearing stupid. The same number reported having their confidence knocked by the person getting frustrated or impatient with them.

The Robins Foundation Walking Football participant, Jo Dennis, 68 says she's hit a plateau with her digital skills and doesn't want to be a nuisance when asking for help.

Jos said: "Keeping up with technology can be daunting and I've often struggled with knowing where to turn to for help. 

“The digital skills session we attended with BT Group and AbilityNet was hugely valuable.  Not only did I learn how to protect myself online, I also discovered how helpful it is to learn as a team and to share our experiences. It made me realise I'm not alone in wanting to improve my tech skills.”