Main Content
News Release
8th October 2008
Eyemouth event offers older and disabled digital switchover help
With less than one month to go until the digital switchover in the
Scottish Borders, TV viewers in Eyemouth 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 on Wednesday 15 October at Eyemouth Community Centre in Albert
Road, to make sure everyone gets the help they need in the run up to
switchover in the Borders on November 6.
Visitors to the event will be able to drop in between 10.30am to
1.30pm 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. Digital UK will also be on hand to offer switchover advice
to people who are not eligible for the Help Scheme.
Sumera Bashir, local 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 events are an important way of getting the message to the people
who may need a little extra help to switch and to enable them to get
their questions answered.
"We are urging people to contact us before the end of October
because that is the latest date we can be certain to be able to convert
their TVs by 6 November."
The Switchover Help Scheme has been designed to make the switch to
digital as simple as possible 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.
Around 19,000 people in the Selkirk transmitter area are eligible
for Help Scheme assistance, and will have been sent information to
their home inviting them to apply for the help available from the Help
Scheme and to choose from a range of digital equipment options.
The Options Pack sets 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.
To make it even easier, eligible people can also choose to ring the
Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 901 to apply instead, or they can
nominate someone else to make their application for them.
Importantly people need to let the Help Scheme know if they need
help, but we would also like to hear from them if they are already
prepared for switchover and don't need support.
The final switchover in the Scottish Borders will take place on November 20.
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.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
| Media Contacts: |
| Diane Green |
| PR and Communications Manager - Switchover Help Scheme |
| T: 0191 245 8847 |
| M: 07951478832 |
| E: diane.green@eaga.com |
| Sarah Fairfax |
| Communications Executive - Switchover Help Scheme |
| T: 0191 245 8834 |
| M: 07730424407 |
| E: sarah.fairfax@eaga.com |
Switchover Help Scheme
The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC through an agreement
with the Government to help older and disabled people make the change
to digital.
In the run-up to switchover in each region, every eligible person
will be offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to
digital. People are eligible if they are aged 75 years or more, or if
they are registered blind or partially sighted. Also eligible are
people who get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance
allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance.
Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help. The
service is free for people who are eligible and also get pension
credit, income support or income-based jobseekers allowance.
More information is available by calling 0800 40 85 902. or through visiting www.helpscheme.co.uk
Digital television switchover is the
process of converting the UK's terrestrial television system to
digital. Between now and 2012, analogue channels will be switched off
region by region and replaced with free-to-air digital TV and radio
services (Freeview). Switchover will extend Freeview coverage to the
whole of the UK and free up airwaves for new services such as
ultra-fast wireless broadband and mobile television.
Regional published timetable for Border 2008/09
Selkirk will start on 6 November and be complete on 20 November 2008.
Caldbeck - (serving Cumbria and south west Scotland will start on 24 June and be complete on 22 July 2009.
Digital UK
Digital UK is the independent, not-for-profit organisation
established in 2005 to implement digital switchover. It is jointly
owned and funded by the public-service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel
4, Five, S4C and Teletext) and the digital multiplex operators.
eaga
eaga, the provider of residential energy efficiency and outsourcing
services, has been selected by the BBC as the Help Scheme service
provider to deliver the help available under the scheme from the ITV
Border region onwards.