In the academic year 2003-4, 13,955people aged 50+ were in further or higher education. This is 5% of the total number of students.
(Standard tables on Higher Education & Further Education in Scotland 2003-04)
People over 60 make up 4.1% (612) of the Open University’s student population in Scotland. One student is 88 years of age.
(The Open University in Scotland)
By April 2003, 41% of people in Great Britain between the ages of 55 and 64 had used the Internet. 16% of those over the age of 65 had used it.
(Internet Access, National Statistics Office July 2003 www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/int0703.pdf)
Although younger people are more likely to use the internet, research has shown that ‘silver surfers’ use it far more often – 43% of older internet users use it everyday, compared to 28% of 16-24 year olds.
‘Silver surfers’ (aged 55 plus) are the most likely to purchase food or drink online. Almost 1 in 5 (17%) buy their groceries or wine this way, compared to just 3% of 16-24 year olds.
(Internet Research from the Royal Bank of Scotland, June 2003)
The 1997 ‘National Survey of Volunteering’ showed that 45% of those between 65 and 74 had volunteered (compared with 34% in 1991) and 35% of those over 75 had volunteered (compared with 25% in the previous survey).
(Institute for Volunteering Research: Age Discrimination & Volunteering www.ivv.org.uk/age.htm)
Older people are often more likely to feel more involved in their community. 7% of those aged 65+ feel that they are involved ‘a great deal’ with their community as opposed to 5% of those aged between 25 and 44. 21% of those aged 65+ feel that they are involved ‘a fair amount’ with their community as opposed to 19% of those aged between 25 and 44.
Older people are far more likely to be involved in caring for a friend or a neighbour than any other age group. 43% will be assisting a friend or neighbour. This compares to 11% of those aged between 25 and 44.
( all above from Scotland’s People: Annual Report 2003/04 www.scotland.gov.uk)