News Release

1st September 2009

Help someone else to switch to digital TV in North Wales by “Passing it On!”

With only six weeks to go to switchover, the Switchover Help Scheme’s “Pass it On” campaign is urging residents to help someone else to switch to digital.

The “Pass it On” campaign aims to make sure every eligible older and disabled person in the area knows about the help they can get to keep their TV working when switchover starts on 21 October 2009.

The Llanddona transmitter serving north Wales will begin to switch to digital on 21 October, followed by Moel y Parc transmitter on 28 October and Long Mountain transmitter on 4 November 2009.

The North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is backing the campaign and asking everyone who has already switched to digital to reach out to those older and disabled people they know who may still need help, and encourage them to make contact with the Help Scheme.

Richard Fairhead, Senior Fire Safety Manager said: "We, at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, are continually working to ensure the safety of all of those who live, work and travel in north Wales. By working with the Help Scheme, we are able to reach those in our area who may be particularly in need of advice and guidance and would benefit from the Help Scheme.”

Around 30 events including, presentations, advice points and road show events are taking place across the region in the weeks ahead where people can pick up leaflets and bookmarks to help spread the word.

These include the following town centres: Prestatyn on 9 September, Caernarfon on 10 September, Bangor 11 September, Holyhead 12 September, Llangollen 15 September, Queensferry 16 September, Mold 17 September, Flint 18 September and Llandudno 19 September.

In the lead up to switchover, the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme is offering practical help to eligible older and disabled people to make the change to digital on one of their TV sets. Eligible people who have already converted one TV set without help from the Help Scheme can still apply to convert a second set.

People are eligible for help from the Switchover Help Scheme if they are:

• aged 75 or over,
• have lived in a care home for six months or more,
• get or could get, disability living allowance,
• attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement,
• or if they are registered blind or partially sighted.

For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people in the north Wales region are being offered:

• Easy-to-use Freeview equipment to convert one television set,
• Installation of that equipment,
• An aerial check and upgrade if necessary,
• A demonstration of how it works, and
• Someone to call for help while they are getting used to it.

The service is free for people who are eligible and also get pension credit, income support, income-based jobseekers allowance or employment and support allowance.

Equipment has been specifically chosen for ease of use, and contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people. Installers carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.

Eligible people have been posted a Help Scheme information pack and will be getting a reminder letter. They need to respond to get the help. Completed information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme, or, to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 903 to speak to an English speaking advisor, or 0800 40 85 905 for help in Welsh.

If you would like to find out more about the Help Scheme and who is eligible to apply, please log onto helpscheme.co.uk

 Click here to download large image

 Click here to download large image

--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

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, income-based jobseekers allowance or employment and support allowance.

More information is available by calling 0800 40 85 903 to speak to an English speaking advisor, or 0800 40 85 905 for help in Welsh, or through visiting helpscheme.co.uk

North Wales Fire and Rescue

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service offer free home fire safety checks for all residents in North Wales - they are completely free and available for residents of all ages. During a check, a member of the Service will come to your home, give fire safety hints and tips, help you to formulate a fire escape plan, and if necessary, fit new smoke alarms on every floor of your home. This service is totally free of charge. To register, please call our 24 hour hotline on 0800 1691234 or visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.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. 

eaga

eaga, a leading 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.