News Release

18th May 2010

Stornoway urged to lend a ‘Helping Hand’ for switchover to digital

The Switchover Help Scheme is calling on Stornoway residents to ensure older and disabled people in the community are receiving the help they need to make the switch to digital, with the launch of its ‘Helping Hand’ campaign today (Tuesday 18 May) at the An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway.

The Eitshal transmitter group, serving areas of Lewis, Wester Ross, north west Sutherland and parts of Harris and Skye will start to switch to digital on 7th July. The Skriaig  transmitter group –– serving North Uist, Benbecula, south Uist and parts of Barra will start to switch on 14th July. 

Through the Switchover Help Scheme, approximately 5000 people across Eitshal and Skriaig are eligible to receive help to convert one of their TV sets to digital. However, with less than two months until the transmitter serving Stornoway – Eitshal – starts switching to digital, the Help Scheme is now urging the people of Stornoway to lend a ‘Helping Hand’ to those older and disabled people who they know that may still need help.

Derek McCune of the Switchover Help Scheme, took the opportunity to meet with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Councillor Catriona Stewart and local people at An Lanntair to explain about the help that is available to eligible people through the Help Scheme over a cup of tea.

Derek said: “Switchover is coming and although many people have now converted their television set to digital, some older and disabled people will find it more difficult. So if you know a friend, relative or neighbour who you think will struggle and might be eligible – you can lend a ‘Helping Hand’ by taking just a few minutes out of your day to tell them about the Switchover Help Scheme over a nice cup of tea.”

Councillor Catriona Stewart, said: “The Switchover Help Scheme is a call to action to all residents to ensure older and disabled people in our community receive the help they need to make the switch to digital. My colleagues and I are very appreciative of all the efforts of Derek McCune from the Switchover Help Scheme to engage with all the communities at various events, providing invaluable advice ahead of the switchover.”

The BBC-run Help Scheme makes it easier for eligible older and disabled people 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 and where possible. They also receive a demonstration of how the equipment works and a year’s aftercare service. 

Equipment has been specifically chosen for ease of use and contact centre staff, 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.

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

• Aged 75 or over, or
• Have lived in a care home for six months or more, or
• Receive (or could get) disability living allowance, or attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement, or
• Are registered blind or partially sighted.

Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help, however, this service is free for eligible people who also get Pension Credit, Income Support or income based Job-seekers Allowance.

Those eligible for help have already been contacted by the Help Scheme but must reply by post or telephone to get the help they are entitled to.

To apply for help from the Switchover Help Scheme, or to find out if you, or someone else you know are eligible for help, call the free helpline number on 0800 40 87 654. Textphone users can call 0800 40 85 936. For more information, please visit helpscheme.co.uk or email info@helpscheme.co.uk.  To find out more about digital switchover, visit digitaluk.co.uk

Ends

Media Contacts:
Jenny McMahon/Roisin-Alana Di Giacomo
Weber Shandwick
T: 0131 556 6649/01463 716 739
M: 07770 886 925
E: jmcmahon@webershandwick.com/rdigiacomo@webershandwick.com

Notes to Editors:

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.

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.

Transmitter groups in the north of Scotland will switch to digital on the following dates: