News Release

19th July 2010

Aberdeen residents urged to lend a 'helping hand' for switchover to digital 

With less than two months to go until Aberdeen City and Shire switches to digital TV, the Switchover Help Scheme is calling on local residents to lend a ‘Helping Hand’ and ensure older and disabled people in their community are receiving the practical help they need to make the switch.

Today (Monday 19 July) representatives from the Switchover Help Scheme teamed up with The Older People’s Sign Posters Project to launch its ‘Helping Hand’ campaign at the Central Library, Rosemount Viaduct, in Aberdeen.

The organisations met with local residents to share information over a cup of tea about the help that is available to eligible older and disabled people to convert one of the TV sets to digital and encourage them to think if they know someone who may need help.
The Durris transmitter group, serving Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, will start to switch to digital on 1st September.

Colin Scott, regional project co-ordinator for the Switchover Help Scheme, said: “Even if you are ready for switchover, we encourage you to think about older and disabled people in your community who may find it more difficult to make the switch. You can lend a helping hand by telling them about the Switchover Help Scheme, which will give them practical help to convert one TV set in their home to digital. We are very grateful for the support we have received from The Older People’s Sign Posters Project to help share information about the Help Scheme with residents in Aberdeen today.”

The Older People’s Sign Posters Project, in partnership with Aberdeen City Council, Age Concern/Help the Aged, Cash in Your Pocket and Voluntary Services Aberdeen, works with older people to encourage them to take up benefits and services that can improve their health and well being.

Dennis Moore from Aberdeen’s Sign Posters Project, said: “Switchover is coming and the ‘Helping Hand’ campaign is a call to action for everyone to ensure that older and disabled people in our community receive the help they need. The Sign Posters Project is about using local connections to share vital information about services that could help to improve the quality of peoples’ lives, so we are only too happy to help the Switchover Help Scheme spread their message over a friendly cup of tea.”

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, including 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.

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