Digital TV is coming to London, so get ready for the switchover! Together with its sub-regional counterparts (South London CVS Network and East London CVS Network), WLN will be involved in the Digital Switchover for the London Region and work with the VCS of 11 London Boroughs.

The digital TV switchover means that the existing analogue TV signal will be switched off and replaced with a new, stronger digital TV signal. The London TV region will start to switch to digital from 4th April 2012, when the BBC2 analogue signal will be turned off and replaced with a digital signal. Two weeks after this date, on 18 April 2012, the remaining analogue signals – BBC1, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – will also be switched to digital.

What do I need to do?

If you have Freeview, Top Up TV or BT Vision, you will need to re-tune your digital TV or box or you will lose TV channels at switchover.

• If you have a satellite or cable service on all your sets, you will not need to re-tune.
• If you have 5 channels or fewer (i.e. analogue TV) you will need to convert your TV to digital or you will lose channels.
• If you’re 75 and over, or eligible disabled, call the Switchover Help Scheme on 0800 40 85 900- they can offer practical help to assist you with the switchover.

For more details on the digital switchover, call 08456 50 50 50 or visit www.digitaluk.co.uk.

Switchover inWest London

In supporting the digital switchover, WLN will work with CVS organisations from the 11 London Boroughs, as listed below.

• Outer West London: Ealing,Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow.
• InnerWest London: Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington, Brent, Wandsworth.
• Inner Central:Camden, Islington,Westminster.

Participating CVSs from the 11 Boroughs will deliver briefing sessions in their respective London Boroughs to work with their member voluntary & community organisations in cascading the switchover message. Each briefing session will involve a presentation about Digital TV and further literature for VCS organisations to help people understand the process. We know that some people may be worried about the switch to digital TV and that they will turn to local voluntary & community organisations that they know and trust for information and advice on the switchover. These briefing sessions will help you explain the switchover to others and ensure we do what we can as a VCS to ensure we reach as many people as possible. There is also extra support for certain groups of people who can access the Help Scheme (details below). Anyone else seeking advice on the switchover can contact Digital UK, the not for profit company leading theUK’s switchover to digital TV  (details below).

How can the VCS help?

We would like VCOs to ensure the switchover is communicated to everybody, particularly hard to reach and vulnerable groups. You can also hold your own events or activities to help explain this message and we can assist you with these by providing free literature, materials or even personnel if necessary. In addition, if your VCO works with the core target groups listed below, you can also apply to the Small Grants Scheme to fund events, activities or other initiatives that help explain digital switchover and the Help Scheme.

The core target groups are:

• Older people
• People who are socially isolated
• People with sensory, mobility or dexterity impairments
• People who have mental health conditions
• People whose first language is not English
• People with learning difficulties.

Small Grants Scheme

WLN will administer grants of up to £500 for VCOs to help fund events, activities and initiatives that get information about switchover and the Help Scheme to as many people as possible. Click here to apply .

Briefing Events

WLN will also hold a series of briefing sessions for VCS organisations in the month of Novemer.  For information about these events, click here.

DigitalUK

Digital UKis the not for profit company that is leading the UK’s switchover to digital TV. Digital UKoffers support for people who need more information about switchover. You can contact them by phone on 08456 50 50 50 or there is lots of information available on their website at www.digitaluk.co.uk.

Switchover Help Scheme

The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC, under an agreement with the Government to help older and disabled people make the switch to digital TV. Every eligible person will be offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to digital in the run-up to switchover in each region. To find out more about the Help Scheme and whether you are eligible, visit www.helpscheme.co.uk or call 0800 40 85 900.

Contact

To find out more about digital TV, organise your own event, order leaflets and promotional materials or if you require further information about the Small Grants Scheme, feel free to contact either Antony Bewick-Smith (antony@ealingcvs.org.uk / 0208 280 2232) or Fuad Uddin (fuad@westlondonnetwork.org.uk / 0208 280 2287).

Other Materials

We have also uploaded translated material for the digital switchover have been developed for the top 20 languages spoken in London, which can be found here. These are available to order from your local CVS or West London Network.