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News release
15th August 2008
Local residents invited to find out more about help to switch to digital
With just 16 weeks to go until the digital switchover in the Scottish Borders, TV viewers in Peebles are being given a chance to get expert advice about help available to older and disabled people to switch to digital.
Trained representatives from the Switchover Help Scheme will be on hand this Thursday (17th) at Burgh Hall in Peebles to make sure everyone gets the message about the Help Scheme in the run up to switchover in the Borders on November 6.
Visitors to the event will be able to drop in between 12-4pm to find out more about the help that is available for older and disabled people to convert one TV set to digital through the Switchover Help Scheme. Also present will be The Bridge, a council for voluntary services in the Scottish Borders, who will be able to offer switchover advice to people who are not eligible for the Help Scheme.
In the run up to switchover, the Help Scheme team will be travelling to towns across the Borders to tell eligible people about the Help Scheme. The team will next be stopping at the Cross Keys Hotel in Kelso on August 7, before moving to Volunteer Hall in Duns on August 14.
Nicola Mather, Switchover Help Scheme representative, said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for older and disabled people in the Borders to make the switch to digital television this November. These local events are an important way of getting the message to the people who may need a little extra help to switch to digital TV. This is a great opportunity for people to speak to the team to find out how to prepare and learn what help is available."
The Switchover Help Scheme has been designed to take the worry out of digital switchover for eligible older and disabled people. 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 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 to call for help while they're getting used to it.
Eligible people who also receive income benefits will get this help for free.
About 17,000 people in the Selkirk transmitter area are eligible for Help Scheme assistance. They are being mailed at their homes to invite them to apply for the help available from the Help Scheme and to choose from a range of digital equipment options. The Options Pack will set out the standard offer which is available for £40, or free to those also in receipt of certain income-related benefits, and a range of other ways that they can choose to go digital with the Help Scheme.
Everyone who sends back the Options Pack application 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 also choose to ring the Help Scheme free 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 under 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.
ENDS