News Release

26th July 2010

MORAY RESIDENTS URGED TO LEND A ‘HELPING HAND’ FOR SWITCHOVER TO DIGITAL

With less than two months to go until the switch to digital TV, the Switchover Help Scheme is calling on locals in the Moray region to lend a ‘Helping Hand’ and ensure that older and disabled people in the community are receiving the help they need.

The Switchover Help Scheme offers practical help to eligible older and disabled people to convert one of their TV sets to digital.

Today (Monday 26 July) the Switchover Help Scheme launched its Helping Hand campaign, at Elgin library, encouraging people to think if they know someone who may need help to switch. Representatives shared information with local residents over a cup of tea about the help available through the Scheme.

The Knockmore transmitter group, serving Morayshire, Strathspey and parts of Easter Ross, will start to switch to digital on 8th 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.”

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
• 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.