Digital TV county champions begin task

The Digital TV Switchover public information and awareness campaign is under way across the country.The 26 digital outreach champions appointed by community network, The Wheel and Irish Rural Link as part of the Digital Outreach programme initiated by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, are helping create greater awareness and understanding of the Digital Switchover.The 26 champions were selected following an application process which sought to identify people with a keen interest in helping inform more vulnerable people about the digital switchover.They gathered in Dublin for two days of training in March to learn about the nature and scope of the digital switchover national information and awareness campaign and what is expected of them.The outreach programme is committed to ensuring that the more vulnerable people in the country are not left behind when the analogue TV signal is switched off on Wednesday October 24 this year.Guidance on the Digital Switchover is available at www.goingdigital.ie, through LoCall 1890 940 980 (English language) and 1890 940 970 (Irish language).Information booklets are also available in post offices and Citizen Information Centres throughout the country.Clare Dully, the digital outreach champion for Westmeath, is currently contacting people involved in community organisations throughout the county who are interested in getting involved in the programme."This will take a huge community effort," said Claire. "We want to make sure that nobody in Westmeath is left behind, especially people who are more isolated where television is an important part of their contact with the outside world."I'd be delighted to talk to anyone around the county who would like to help: they do not need to have any technical expertise, they just need to be interested in helping others in their community to make the switch."Clare has experience in community organisations and activity in the area. She works for Helplink South, a non profit organisation with charitable status providing socially monitored alarms to the elderly, disabled or anyone of any age who may need the service."I've attended meetings with a range of organisations in the county, including the 1428 Club in Mullingar and Lacora Residents Association in Delvin," said Claire."They are planning events and starting to reach out to many of the target group in their areas, giving them leaflets and explaining what they need to do to make the switch successfully."We hope that many more will come on board so that those who would not otherwise make the switch can receive the assistance they need. Already the feedback has been really great, it's an exciting and really worthwhile effort."claredully@yahoo.ie