Gloria plea for helping hand in switchover

Gloria joined members of the Helping Hand choir at Belfast City Hall where members of the public were encouraged to place a purple hand on a giant pledge board in support of the campaign.

She said: “Switchover is coming soon and the Help Scheme wants to make sure that no one is left behind. 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 Switchover Help Scheme and simply tell eligible people they know about the help available, help them fill out an application form or simply assist them in calling the Help Scheme so that they can get the help they are entitled to.

People are eligible for help if they are aged 75 or over, have lived in a care home for six months or more, get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility supplement or are registered blind or partially sighted.

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the help, which includes easy-to-use equipment to covert one set, an approved installer to supply and install the necessary equipment and a 12 month aftercare service including a free helpline.

The service is free for people who are eligible and also on certain income related benefits.

For the same price of £40 or free, people in Northern Ireland can also choose a Freeview HD box which can receive TG4, RTE One and RTE Two, subject to coverage in their area.