A Bournemouth charity is finalising its’ efforts to make sure that no elderly people are left ‘looking at a blank screen’ when the digital switchover comes next month.
Bournemouth Community Transport has been helping older people to prepare for the switchover by giving them information about it, and pointing them towards available support schemes and grants.
Since last August they have been spreading the information by releasing mail-outs, going on care home visits and by doing community presentations.
“The aim is to make sure there isn’t anybody watching a blank screen after it happens – that would be the worst case scenario,” says Alison Morrison, Deputy Community Transport Manager at BCT. “We want to make sure that there’s no-one that doesn’t know what’s going on.
“Bournemouth’s got an absolutely massive elderly population, so it’s been a huge project. But hopefully we’ve able to get the awareness out there.”
Special grants have been made available to older people who may need extra help with the switchover, including those who have been in a care homes for six months or more, are blind or partially sighted, or on benefits.
If they apply, they can have their new digital box installed for free.
All analogue channels will cease to broadcast next month, with BBC channels going off air on the 7th, and others on the 21st.
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