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News Release
10th March 2010
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service assists with digital switchover
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is pleased to announce a mutually beneficial initiative with the BBC run Switchover Help Scheme in the lead up to switchover to digital television in the West region.
The Switchover Help Scheme provides practical help and advice for eligible older and disabled people with the switchover to digital television.
The ‘Helping Hand’ campaign will enable both the Help Scheme and Fire & Rescue Service to hand out each other’s leaflets when making home visits. Engineers from the Help Scheme are distributing information about Home Fire Safety Visits and handing out referral forms directly to older and disabled people. In return, the Fire Service is distributing leaflets during Home Fire Safety Visits about the Switchover Help Scheme.
The initiative came about when Chard Station Commander Mike Cross was invited to attend the Chard Pensioners’ Forum at Chard Guildhall. A variety of agencies were invited to attend and give out information about what they can offer.
Mike said: “It was very well attended and we had a lot of interest from the public. The biggest benefit was networking with other organisations, finding out how they work and how we can help each other. We met teams from Digital UK and the Switchover Help Scheme at the Forum and it quickly became obvious that we could work together, as my fire-fighters were already coming across people confused by the switchover.”
Ed Jezard, Help Scheme Regional Networking Manager, says: “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. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue are doing exactly this and I would encourage everyone to look out for older and disabled people who might not be sure what to do.”
TV has already switched to digital in most of Devon and parts of Somerset. Thousands of homes in Somerset will begin the switchover to digital television on 24 March 2010 and complete the process on 7 April 2010.
To be eligible for help from the Switchover Help Scheme you must be:
- Aged 75 or over or
- Receive (or could receive) Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Mobility Supplement or
- Resided for 6 months or more in a care home or
- Registered blind/partially sighted.
Those eligible will be automatically contacted by the Help Scheme, all they need to do is let the scheme know if they want help.
Once the analogue signal is switched off, anyone not set-up to receive digital services could face a blank TV screen.
The Help Scheme is here to make the digital switchover worry free. Seven million people are eligible for help.
The Scheme provides eligible people with:
- Easy to use equipment.
- Home delivery & installation of the equipment by security-checked professionals.
- Aerial check & upgrade if required & possible.
- Access to a Helpline
- A 12 month aftercare service.
To find out more about 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.
Almost all televisions can be converted to digital, video and DVD recorders will also be affected by the digital switchover. Where there are shared (communal) aerials, such as in flats and residential homes, the landlord and property managers should arrange for these to be checked.
To find out more about digital switchover, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call Digital UK’s advice line on 08456 50 50 50.
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Contact Lindsay Mears, Press Officer on 01392 872296 or email lmears@dsfire.gov.uk