In less than two months time digital switchover takes place in Bristol, parts of Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. The Helping Hand campaign urges everyone to make sure older and disabled people in their area know about the help they can get from the Help Scheme to switch to digital TV.
At 9.00am on Tuesday 9 February, Maggie will launch the Helping Hand Campaign on the Promenade in Bristol city centre (opposite Bristol Hippodrome). Shoppers and passers-by will have the opportunity to add their handprint to a large-scale pledge board and their name or the name of the person they are going to help in the lead up to switchover.
Maggie says: “We’re appealing to the local community in Bristol to come and join us and add their handprint and pledge to our board on the day. Maybe you have already switched. Now it is time to think of those who still need help, particularly older and disabled people who might be leaving it to the last minute, or might not be sure what to do. Lend a Helping Hand by telling them about the Switchover Help Scheme.”
Help Scheme representatives will be on hand to tell people about the Help Scheme, which provides practical help for older or disabled people to switch one of their television sets to digital. Those eligible for the help have already been contacted by the Help Scheme but must reply by post or telephone call to get the help they are entitled to.
Caroline Byng, south west regional manager for the Switchover Help Scheme, says: “Even if you’ve had digital telly for years, you may have friends or neighbours who haven’t made the switch yet, and who may be confused about the process. We can all lend a helping hand by making sure that older and disabled members of our community know about the help they can get from the Help Scheme.”
Experts from the Help Scheme will be visiting shopping centres, community centres and libraries across the West region to provide advice on what assistance is available for people to switch to digital.
Helping Hand materials and more information on the Helping Hand campaign are available at Bristol Central Library, Bedminster Library, North Bristol Advice Centre and Weston Library (full details below).
To apply for help from the Switchover Help Scheme, or to find out if you 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 www.helpscheme.co.uk or e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk. To find out more about digital switchover, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk.
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