SWITCHOVER IS COMING AND HELP IS AT HAND

The Manuden and Berden Area can receive TV signals from either Sudbury or Crystal Palace transmitters. In July last year the Sudbury transmitter switched off its analogue signal and April this year is the turn of Crystal Palace. For those that dealt with the change to digital television last year, the switch of Crystal Palace has no effect but those still receiving an analogue signal will now need to take action.

For older and disabled viewers who may find making the switch difficult, the Switchover Help Scheme is at hand to provide practical help and assistance to turn one TV set to digital.

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help. This includes easy to use equipment to switch one TV, an approved installer, aerial upgrade if needed and a 12 month aftercare service, including a free helpline.

The service is also free for people who are eligible and who also receive pension credit income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance.

We can help you convert your TV to digital if you:

• Are aged 75 or over, or
• Have lived in a care home for six months or more, or
• Get (or could get)
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or
  • Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, or
  • Mobility Supplement, or
• Are registered blind or partially sighted

If you are eligible, the Help Scheme will write to you directly and in plenty of time to ask if you want our help. All you need to do is respond to our letter by sending back a completed reply form or to make things even easier you can call the Help Scheme free to respond. The Switchover Help Scheme has already helped hundreds of thousands of people make the switch to digital.

Run by the BBC through an agreement with the Government, the Help Scheme has been designed around the needs of older and disabled people. Equipment has been chosen to be easy to use, and contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people. All installers are vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.

Eligible people in our local area have been identified and should have received a letter to explain the switchover programme, and the people must respond to get help. There will be 2 further reminders. Many of the eligible people will be fortunate to have relatives, friends or neighbours to assist them with their response. However, some are not so fortunate, and the concern is that these people are amongst those least likely to understand the process.

To ensure that they do not get omitted, a community support programme has been established to reach these people. The support team consists of a number of volunteers, each covering a number of villages in their locality, and it is the objective of these volunteers to get the message across to the eligible people by engaging with organisations and services that are most likely to interface with them, such as Parish Councils, GP’s, Pharmacists, Libraries, Day Centres and Community Transport.

If you feel that you know of people that are most in need and who may not be aware of the switch over or where to go to get help, then please contact:
Alan Stoyell – designated support volunteer for Manuden & Berden
Telephone: 01279 816452
Email: [email protected]

For further information on the Switchover Help Scheme visit helpscheme.co.uk or call 0800 40 85 900.
Textphone users can call 0800 40 85 936.