When you meet a spider

Advice comes at us from all quarters, much of it unwelcome, irrelevant or with strings attached. The two websites we feature this week are both well-aimed at particular age groups and, having picked their targets, get down to business fast.

Real life

Age Concern has got really wizzy. Their website’s home page is a model of simplicity – news and featured topics in the middle of the page, and a straightforward menu on the left hand side, leading to information and advice, more news, chatty articles about the real life of older people, and so on.

The top feature when I looked was entitled "Keep warm: Winter guide". Unlike the stuff on some official websites, which express pious hopes about people’s welfare and generally patronise us all, Age Concern’s approach is purely practical. Eight sections cover everything from getting help with heating costs to making sure you don’t swap one problem, being cold, for another – burning the house down.

The fun stuff is also good. I enjoyed the article about whether grandparents or grandchildren were more squeamish when it came to dealing with a bee or a spider in your home. Arachnophobes like me might sympathise more with the kids.

Take a good look round: this is a big site with lots to see.

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Oldies online". Age Concern is under "Advice & practical help". Or you can select "Family & personal", and then "Retirement & older people". )

Like it is

The entry on the Gateway describes The Site as "no-holds-barred advice and help for 16-24 year olds". Now that’s the sort of "aren’t I cool and trendy?" tag you see attached to rather too many websites aimed at "yoof". Does this one justify our description?

As far as this greybeard can tell, it does. Sex, drugs, work and leisure – all are covered with admirable directness. There is none of that sniggering approach which leaves you confused about whether it’s smart or not to take drugs or try getting off with everyone you fancy at work. They point out the snags and leave the reader to make a decision. What more can a website do?

Actually, they do do a bit more. They have some lively discussion boards, which seem to me genuinely to carry forward the basic information on the site. I wouldn’t presume to advise younger people, but I would with a clear conscience point them towards The Site.

(From the Gateway to websites, select "Advice & help". The Site is a Key Link.)

Picture credit: d3f/morguefile.com