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News release
09th June 2008
Publicity push for the Switchover Help Scheme in the Scottish Borders
Help for more than 15,000 older and disabled people to switch to digital TV is being highlighted across the Scottish Borders this week, to make sure everyone gets the message about the Switchover Help Scheme.
This week sees the campaign move up a gear with the launch of radio adverts, the first of several free regional events and special Help Scheme captions which started to appear on analogue TV this week (June 9).
And the Help Scheme and Digital UK will be joining forces for a special event at the Chambers Institute in Peebles on Friday 13 June at 11am.
Press adverts have already run across the Scottish Borders. The message is "Find out if you are eligible for the Switchover Help Scheme 0800 408 5901."
The Switchover Help Scheme has been designed to take the worry out of digital switchover for eligible older and disabled people. For a one-off payment of £40, they will get easy-to-use equipment to convert one television set, installation of that equipment, a demonstration of how it works and someone they can call for help while they're getting used to it.
People are eligible if they are aged 75 or over, registered blind or partially sighted or if they get, or could get, one of several disability benefits. Eligible people who also receive income benefits will get this help for free.
Later this month every eligible person in the Scottish Borders area covered by the Selkirk transmitter group will receive a letter and application pack from the Switchover Help Scheme - about 15,000 people.
This is the Options Pack which invites people to apply for the help available from the Help Scheme. It will set out the standard offer which is available for £40 or free, and a range of other ways that they can choose to go digital with the Help Scheme.
Everyone who sends back the Options Pack form will get their help in plenty of time for the Scottish Borders switchover on November 6. To make it even easier, eligible people can choose to ring the contact centre on 0800 408 5901 to apply instead, or they can nominate someone else to make their application for them. But they must do something to reply if they would like to take up the help.
The Help Scheme is run by the BBC through an agreement with the Government, and has been designed around the needs of older and disabled people. Equipment has been chosen to be easy to use, and contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people. Installers are vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.
Peter White, Chief Executive of the Help Scheme said: "It's our job to make it as easy as possible for older and disabled people to make the switch to digital television when they need to. Many people will find it simple to switch and lots of eligible people already have. But for those who need a little extra help, we're going to pull out all the stops to make sure that their switch to get their digital equipment as simple and easy as possible."
ENDS