News Release

1st March 2010

Libraries join forces with Switchover Help Scheme to help Orkney residents switch to digital TV

Libraries across Orkney have joined forces with the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme to help older and disabled people get to grips with digital TV switchover.

This week Orkney Library & Archives are being presented with a Help Scheme certificate to thank the library staff for their help in spreading the message about the Help Scheme to eligible older and disabled library users.  

A drop in session will be held at Kirkwall Library site on Friday 5 March at 2pm. This will give Orkney residents a chance to ask questions and receive face-to-face advice from Help Scheme experts.

When the switchover comes to STV North region in May 2010 most people will find it easy to make the switch. But some people may find the transition to digital more daunting than others.

That’s why, in the run-up to switchover Orkney Library & Archives and other voluntary organisations across STV North will be working with the Help Scheme to tell eligible older and disabled people about switchover and the practical help that will be available for them to make the change to digital on one of their TV sets.

The Keelylang Hill transmitter group serving the Orkney Islands will begin to switch on 12 May 2010.

Louise Graham, Orkney Library & Archives, Assistant Librarian, said: “Providing access to community information is a very important part of today’s public library service and we are delighted to help get this extremely important information out to people who need it.

“Along with drop in events at our libraries in Kirkwall and Stromness, we also use our mobile library service to deliver the Switchover Help Scheme message all over Orkney.”

Suzy Boardman, the Orkney Island’s regional project coordinator for the Help Scheme, said: “It’s essential that we work alongside local organisations like Orkney Library & Archives to help make sure that older disabled member of the community know that they will get help to make the switch to digital television.”

People are eligible for the scheme if:

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

What’s on offer?

The standard offer for eligible people in the Orkney Islands is for a Freeview set-top box installed on one TV. The equipment will give people access to around 15 channels including all of the public service channels.

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard offer of help. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support, income based jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance, it’s free.

All eligible people in the area can also choose from other digital options. These include freesat and Sky amongst others, some of which cost extra.

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government and has been specially designed around the needs of older and disabled people.

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

What do I need to do?

People need to respond to get the help. Completed information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme, but to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can also choose to call the Help Scheme free on 0800 408 7654.

In addition, any eligible person who needs help to apply can nominate someone else to complete their form for them.

Orkney Library & Archives will also be holding a Discovery Week on 4 – 10 March, this week focuses on encouraging library users and people who have never used the library service before, to find out more about what’s on offer including useful community information.

For more information, contact Kirkwall Library on: 01856 878 166, or visit their webpage on: www.orkneylibrary.org.uk

The Help Scheme drop in session will take place at Kirkwall Library, 44 Junction Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1AG, on Friday 5 March at 2pm.