ve got a bit of a reputation in our office. Nothing sleazy – the chance would be a fine thing – but for being hopeless with modern technology.

“Oh no, it’s her again,” I imagine staff in our systems department muttering when, for the millionth time, I fail to successfully log on to my computer.

Once its up and running I’m okay, but if I happen to press a random key by accident and end up with an unfamiliar screen, I panic and break out in a cold sweat. It’s a terrible thing to admit, but even after years of using computers, I’m still a novice.

My husband couldn’t believe it when, recently, I confessed to not knowing how to send an attachment by e-mail, and only a few days ago a friend showed me how to use Google Earth – but despite numerous efforts, I still can’t get to grips with it.

So it was with glee that I took up the opportunity to learn more about using a computer, through sampling an ongoing course in information technology run by Age Concern.

People over the ago of 50 attend the charity’s Sunbridge Road offices once a week for a free one-hour session, learning about the internet and e-mail.

“The majority of people are beginners. Some have computers at home, some don’t,” says Alan Magson, Age Concern Bradford’s project co-ordinator for IT for Seniors. “But we do say it is important to practise between lessons, whether at home, at a friend’s house or the local library.”

People are afraid of computers, says Alan, but once they realise there is no reason to be, and they see what the possibilities are, they become really excited.

“They get a great kick out of it, because they learn how to navigate the internet like their grandchildren, and send e-mails to friends and family,” he says “A lot of people are okay so long as they stay within their own comfort zone and do things a certain way. One of the biggest fears is the array of symbols – but once people know what they mean they are much more relaxed,” he adds.

We begin with ‘Mouserobics’, a series of online exercises that teach how to move the mouse, click buttons, use menus and fill out forms.

Alan runs through the various functions, how to hold the mouse and when to click to ‘turn’ pages. Lines of numbers appear, and I’m asked to click on certain ones. As more lines and numbers appear, it becomes more difficult, and a couple of times I hit the wrong number. “This will help you to become more accurate,” he says.

“Some people find it hard to co-ordinate hand movements with what they see on the screen – it is rather like rubbing your stomach while patting your head,” says Alan.

An online ‘typing tutor’ is also available, although, says Alan: “we don’t expect people to touch type, and with passwords it is hard to ensure that you have typed it correctly unless you use one finger.”

Alan runs through the four internet navigation basics – typing an address, using a link, the functions on the browser bar and Google.

I’m surprised by how little I know. “Stop’ tells the computer to stop loading that page,” he explains. “Refresh’ tells it to go back and bring up the page again, and ‘history’ is a record of every page that your computer visits – most are set for the previous three weeks. It is very useful as it enables you to recall something you may need again, or want to put on ‘favourites’.” I wasn’t aware of any of these useful functions.

Alan teaches with IT project assistant Stephen Gawlyk and about 40 internet and e-mail-savvy volunteers. Around 30 people attend the course each week. “We taught a 94-year-old who wanted to learn how to trace her family tree,” says Alan.

As he guides me through, Carol Jackson, 63, and her fiancee Roy Barraclough, 68, sit a few feet away with Stephen, who began teaching as a volunteer and is now a member of staff.

“A lot of people find it is easier than they expected,” he says. Carol and Roy agree. “It is really about being able to remember what we have learned,” says Roy, a keen photographer who would like to be able to store pictures on the computer.

Alan goes on to show me how to attach images on e-mail. “‘Attachments’ is the function most people want to learn,” he says. “So they can send photos to other people or save them.”

As with most things, I think to do it properly I’ll need to try it myself a few times. The Age Concern project is funded in the main by Bradford & Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust, with additional funding from UK Online Centres. Courses – which also run at the charity’s shops in Keighley and Shipley – are designed to carry on for as long as people need the tuition.

“Some reach a point where we cannot teach them any more or at which they have learned as much as they feel they need to know,” says Alan. “We go over things week after week until we are happy that people have mastered it.”

The training has been a great success, winning Bradford and District Age Concern the overall Outstanding Centre Award in last year’s UK Online Centres Awards. “We were thrilled to get that,” says Alan.

The half-hour session flies by and I definitely feel I have benefited. I don’t think I will feel so nervous now, if I accidentally hit the wrong key. “People are frightened that the slightest thing they do wrong will destroy the work they have done or even damage the computer,” says Alan. “But believe me, they take some destroying – and the programme always asks whether you are sure you want to delete.”

I take his word for it and make a pledge to approach the keyboard with confidence when I get back to work and test out my new skills.