By Alison Smith BBC News education reporter

Chris Wertheim enjoys the freedom the internet brings

Chris Wertheim struggled at school.

Dyslexia meant he did not learn to read and write until the age of 25, when he decided to teach himself using children's books.

Now, at the age of 67, he has also learnt to research and communicate using the internet - taught by a teenager.

He has picked up his IT skills with the Sixty Plus Intergenerational Computer Project in Kensington and Chelsea in London, which this week will be awarded the Opening Doors to Adult Learners Award, as part of Adult Learners' Week.

The project finds teenagers to act as IT teachers for older people who cannot attend classes and want to learn in their own home.

Sixty Plus project worker Francesca Raphaely says matching up younger and older generations had been a successful model in past projects.

"We realised that computers have many benefits for older or isolated people, and those who know the most about them are the young.

"It's a two-way process. For the kids it's refreshing as they're in the driving seat for once instead of being taught and tested themselves."

Medication reminder

Chris also suffers from Behcet's Disease, an illness causing overactivity of the immune system and unwanted breakouts of inflammation affecting any part of the body, including the brain.

His memory can be severely impaired, which makes group work difficult, and he needs a wheelchair to get around.

For older people like Chris whose experiences at school were mainly negative, structured learning in class is an unattractive option.

"I tried a class but I could spend hours there getting nowhere. One-to-one learning is the best way for me."

He says he has literally found a new world. He can now communicate with other sufferers and says it is important for him to be able to do research.

"You know sometimes older people think: 'I just won't bother taking that medication today.'

"If you go on the internet you can remind yourself what it was for!"

"And my world was shrinking," he said. "I can no longer go out using Tubes and buses on my own. The internet opens up the world."

For Cerys Glen, 17, from St Paul's Girls School, mentoring Chris has increased her own personal skills.

She joined the project out of a desire to increase her own confidence and meet new people.

She spends about an hour a week with Chris, taking him through new skills on the internet and writing up reference notes for him.

Young volunteers say they benefit from mentoring older people

"It's got me in touch with people of all age ranges and I find it easier to talk to new people," she said.

Chris praises her "positive, vibrant attitude" and her patience.

"I've noticed her confidence increase as mine has - she is gaining something positive through putting something in."

Administrative burden

The Intergenerational IT project has to compete with other educational provision for funding from the local education authority, which provides around one third of its money, and the Task Force Trust.

"We are concerned about funding," project worker Francesca Raphaely said.

"The borough is always under pressure to tighten up use of resources."

This means a heavy administrative burden on the team as course reviews, lesson plans and quality assurance are all necessary to demonstrate value to the community and the efficiency of the project.

The Opening Doors Award will be collected this Thursday by her and other volunteers.

Recognition from the National Institute of Continuing Adult Education might mean even more demand for places.