Hi All

Just a note to mention that there are two information days with regard to the forthcoming Digital Switchover being held in Wick and Thurso tomorrow Friday 9th October. Thurso 9-12pm in Caithness Horizons and Wick 2-5pm Pulteneytown Parish Church in Argyle Square. The open day is aimed primarily towards groups who may struggle with the Switchover and agencies who offer day to day help. Some information from Digital Switchover website:

"The majority of people find it relatively simple to switch to digital TV. In fact, most people already have it in their homes. But for some older or disabled people, getting digital TV is a challenge.
The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC, under an agreement with the Government to help older and disabled people make the change to digital TV.
Everyone who is eligible will be offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to digital in the run-up to switchover in their region.
Who is eligible?

  • People who are aged 75 years old or over
  • People who are registered blind or partially sighted
  • People who get (or could get) Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance; Mobility Supplement; or Disability Living Allowance
  • People who have lived in a care home for six months or more
Up to seven million people in the UK are eligible to receive help from the Switchover Help Scheme.
What help will people receive?


For £40, eligible older and disabled people will be offered:
  • Easy-to-use equipment that suits their needs
  • Installation of the equipment if they choose
  • Fitting a new dish or aerial where possible, if it is needed to make the equipment work
  • A demonstration and someone they can call for help while they are getting used to thingsThis equipment and help is free if people get pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
    Other options are also available at an extra cost and these details are included in the information booklet sent by the Help Scheme to all eligible people.
    Everyone who is eligible will be contacted by post up to three times prior to switchover and offered practical help to convert one TV to digital. People need to respond to get the help.
    The Help Scheme will contact eligible individuals directly using information from the Department of Work and Pensions and local authorities (from the blind and partially sighted registers). The legal powers for this are contained in the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007.
    The Help Scheme will approach those local authorities who maintain registers of blind and partially sighted individuals, asking for permission to access the registers around nine months before the start of each regional switchover. Local authorities should make sure that these registers are up to date to avoid blind and partially sighted people who are under 75 and not in receipt of disability benefits losing out."

    All are welcome to attend the events, and refreshments will be provided