News Release

28th May 2010

All Aboard! Switchover Help Scheme roadshow starts tour of Northern Highlands in Wick

This week, experts from the BBC- run Switchover Help Scheme will visit towns across the Northern Highlands to offer older and disabled residents advice about the practical help they can receive to switch to digital TV.

The Switchover Help Scheme Bus will start its tour in Wick on Friday 28 May and will visit towns and villages across the region between Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 16 June, reminding older and disabled people, who are  struggling with switchover, that help is still available.

Experts from the Switchover Help Scheme will be on hand to tell you how the Help Scheme can make switching to digital TV easier. The full schedule outlining where and when the Switchover Help Scheme Bus will be in the Northern Highlands can be found below.

The Switchover Help Scheme Bus will make its first stop in the area at Caberfeidh Court, Wellington Avenue, Pultney, Wick, where representatives from the Help Scheme will be on hand to share advice with you over a cup of tea.

Kathleen O’Hare of Cairn Housing, which runs Caberfeidh Court, said: “We’re pleased to welcome the Switchover Help Scheme to Wick.  The scheme provides an invaluable service to help eligible older and disabled people to make the switch to digital television.  While many people will have already converted their sets, it’s important to think about family, friends and neighbours in the local area who may find it more difficult.  We encourage people to come along to the visit the Switchover Help Scheme bus on Friday and talk to representatives about the help that is available.”

The Rumster Forest transmitter group, serving Caithness and North Sutherland, will start to switch to digital on 2 June. Hundreds of people in the area have already benefitted from the Help Scheme and most eligible people will manage the switchover with no problems. But for those of you who have not yet made the switch, or are finding it more difficult than you expected, help is still on offer.

Luke McCullough, National Manager for the Switchover Help Scheme in Scotland, said: “The Help Scheme writes directly to everyone who is eligible to offer them help. We are urging everyone who we have not yet helped but who has received an Information Pack to drop in and speak to our team face-to-face to find out more about the help available. There’ll also be an opportunity to try out digital equipment first hand, receive help filling out a Switchover Help Scheme application form and ask questions.”

People are eligible 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?

For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people will be offered;

• Easy-to-use equipment to convert one television set,
• Installation of that equipment if requested (a delivery only option is available),
• An aerial check and upgrade if necessary and where possible 
• A demonstration of how it works, and
• A twelve month aftercare service

The standard offer for eligible people in the STV North TV region is for a Freeview set-top box installed on one TV. Most households will be able to receive more than 40 Freeview channels via an aerial; around 15 of the most watched Freeview channels will be available throughout the region, 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 income-related employment and support allowance, the help is free.

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

As well as the Help Scheme events, eligible people are being asked to respond to their Information Packs as soon as possible. Or to make it even easier, eligible people can choose to apply by calling the Help Scheme free on 0800 408 7654 or instead they can nominate someone else to make their application for them.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:

Locations of the Switchover Help Scheme Bus:

• Friday 28th May - 2:00 pm  – 4pm - Caberfeidh Court, Wellington Avenue, Pultney,  Wick
• Tuesday 1st June - 10:00am to 12:00 noon - Car Park beside Jubilee recreation park, Portskerra
• Tuesday 1st June - 2:00pm to 4:00pm - Achingale Place  beside play park,  Watten
• Wednesday 2nd June - 10:00am to 12:00 noon - Car Park opposite Benloyal Hotel, Lyness
• Wednesday 2nd June - 2:00pm to 4:00pm - Village Square Car park, Tongue
• Tuesday 8th June  - 10:00am to 12:00 noon - Car Park opposite Bettyhill Hotel, Bettyhill
• Tuesday 8th June - 2:00pm to 4:00pm - Car Park opposite Melvich Hotel, Melvich
• Wednesday 9th June - 10:00am to 4:00pm - Market Place beside Council Service Point, Wick
• Thursday 10th June - 10:00am to 4:00pm - Council Car Park beside Co-op Store, Thurso
• Tuesday 15th June - 2:00pm to 4:00pm - Main Square opposite Bridge Hotel, Helmsdale
• Wednesday 16th June - 10:00am to 12:00 noon - Main Street opposite Post Office – Lybster
• Wednesday 16th June - 2:00pm to 4:00pm - Opposite Post Office, Dunbeath