News Release

7th September 2009

Eleanor Burnham backs Switchover Help Scheme’s Pass it On campaign

With only weeks to go to switchover, Eleanor Burnham is urging residents to help someone else to switch to digital.

Eleanor is backing the Switchover Help Scheme’s ‘Pass it On’ campaign 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, Moel y Parc and Long Mountain transmitters mostly serving North Wales will begin to switch to digital on 21 October 2009, followed by 28 October and 4 November 2009.

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 have been posted a Help Scheme information pack and will be getting a reminder letter. However, Eleanor is urging everyone who has already switched to digital to reach out to the older and disabled people they know who may still need help who have not yet made contact with the Help Scheme.

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales said: “I have met with the digital switchover team to raise my constituents’ concerns about the switchover and am pleased that the Help Scheme is working hard to ensure that people are able to access information. I would urge people to ring the Helpline number or contact my Constituency office on 01978 366154 with any questions they may have.”

Around 30 “Pass it On” events including presentations, drop in events are taking place across the region in the weeks ahead where people can pick up leaflets and bookmarks to help spread the word.

The Help Scheme makes it easy for eligible older and disabled to switch to digital TV. It offers each eligible household help to switch one TV set to digital, including equipment, installation and an aerial check and upgrade if necessary. They also get a demonstration of how the equipment works and aftercare.

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.

Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help. The service is free for eligible people who also get pension credit, income-support, income based jobseekers allowance or employment and support allowance.

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.

In the run-up to switchover in each region, every eligible person will receive a Switchover Help Scheme letter and information pack explaining the options for switching to digital.
People 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 also apply by calling the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 900. In addition, any eligible person who needs help to apply can nominate someone else to complete their form for them.

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

--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

Images available on request

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 calling0800 40 85 900 or through visiting 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. 

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.