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All TV channels in Whitehaven will only be broadcasting in digital from Wednesday 17 November.*

Digital switchover is a cause for concern for many thousands of lonely and housebound older people in the UK who rely on TV to help fend off loneliness and provide a daily link with the outside world.

Age Concern is worried that only one in four (26%) of eligible older people applied for the Government’s targeted help scheme in Whitehaven. The Whitehaven switchover has shown that long and overly complicated literature confused many older people.

Age Concern Northwest Cumbria has been working in partnership with Digital UK**  since 2006, to ensure that isolated and housebound older people receive the support they need for a smooth transition over to digital TV.

Gordon Lishman, Director General at Age Concern said: “Television is not a luxury. For thousands of isolated older people, the TV is one of their few remaining links with the outside world and an important defence against loneliness.”

Mary Bradley, Director at Age Concern Northwest Cumbria in Whitehaven said:

“It is disappointing that there has been such a low take up of the Government’s targeted help scheme in Whitehaven. Confusion over who is eligibile and what they get as part of the Government’s support package needs to be ironed out before digital goes national.

“Housebound and isolated older people must receive clear and straightforward information on the help available to them. We will also be urging friends, families and neighbours to give up time to help older people get digital television up and running.”

Age Concern and Digital UK have worked together in the Whitehaven area – which is the first area to switch over to digital TV. The charity has conducted 122 drop-in sessions and club visits to alert older people to the Government’s targeted help scheme. The all-in-one package offers a digital set-top box, installation and technical support to older and vulnerable people.

A dozen specially recruited “Digipal” volunteers have also helped to spread the message and offer information, advice and support to housebound and isolated older people targetted by Age Concern. 

Notes for Editors

• BBC 2 switched over to digital in Whitehaven on 17 October 2007. 
• Digital UK is the independent, non-profit organisation leading the process of digital TV switchover set up at the request of the Government. Digital UK’s role is to co-ordinate the technical roll-out of digital television across the UK to a timetable agreed by Government, and to communicate with the public about digital switchover. 
• Almost a third of older people who are entitled to Pension Credit have not applied for it. All those who claim Pension Credit would automatically be entitled to a free digital set-top box, installation and technical support. We are urging them to contact Age Concern for information, advice and benefits help: Age Concern’s Information line:  0800 00 99 66.
• For further information please contact:
  Mary Bradley, Director of Age Concern Northwest Cumbria
  Tel:  01946 66669
  Email:  Director@ageconcern-nwc.org.uk
• Mary Bradley will be available for interview.
• The Age Concern team has worked closely with other voluntary sector organisations, particularly the West Cumbria Society for the Blind, Cumbria Deaf Association, Copeland and Allerdale Disability Forums and local Credit Unions to reach all those who may be in need of help.

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