Switchover TV role for Maggie Philbin

She was out and about in Briggate urging everyone to make sure older and disabled people in their area know about the help they can get from the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme in time for switchover in September.

She encouraged dozens of shoppers and city centre workers to add their hand print to the Help Scheme pledge board.

This pledges them to say they will pass the Help Scheme’s details on to at least one eligible person they know.

Ms Philbin said: “Switchover is coming soon. Give a Helping Hand and remind older and disabled people in your area about the Switchover Help Scheme.

“You never know, you may be the one person that they trust to give them good advice.”

The Helping Hand campaign urges people to pledge their support for the scheme and tell eligible people about the help available, help them fill out an application form or to call the Help Scheme so that they can get the help they are entitled to.

Jeremy Buxton, regional manager for the scheme, was also at the launch. He said: “Digital switchover is happening in Leeds this September and even if you’re ready, you may have friends or neighbours who may be confused about what to do.

“The Switchover Help Scheme offers practical support to help older and disabled people convert one of their TV sets to digital.

“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.”

One of those confused people was Bob Hardy, 83, of Huddersfield. His wife Margaret, 67, said: “We received a document through the post about all this – the trouble was we were that confused we didn’t even know whether our TVs are analogue or digital.

“I never watch it to be honest. My husband signed up for help but my son told me it was a waste of time as the TV was already digital so there would be nothing for the ‘repair’ man to do.”

Helping hand events are being held across the region where people can find out more about the Help Scheme and pledge their support.

Anyone interested in doing this should visit: helpscheme.co.uk/yorkshire/events.

The Help Scheme has written to every eligible person in Yorkshire with the offer of help. To get the help they are entitled to people may reply by returning their form or call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 900.

People are eligible for help if they are aged 75-plus, have lived in a care home for six months or more, are blind partially sighted and receive a disability living allowance/mobility supplement or attendance allowance.