Community organisations in North and East Cork are gearing up to assist people who may be older, live in more isolated areas and who may live alone to make the switch to digital television.
The analogue signal for receiving TV will be switched off on 24th October and viewers who use an aerial will need to check if they need to upgrade their TV equipment so they will continue to receive TV after that date. To promote this, a new Community Outreach programme is targeting people who are less likely to make the change in time.
Veronica Gubbins is the Digital Outreach Champion for North and East Cork, working with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd., who are co-ordinating the Programme with co-operation from South East Cork Area development (SECAD). She is looking to involve a wide range of organisations in the area to help create greater awareness and understanding of the Digital Switchover in local communities across the east of the county. Volunteers from these organisations will identify people who might have difficulty making the switch and will assist them to do so.
Veronica said “We need people to get involved in every parish in the county, volunteers in organisations who already know the people in their own communities that may need some help and are in a position to reach them. We’re going to work hard right up to 24th October deadline, relying on the deeply ingrained Irish tradition of caring for our neighbours. This programme is based on providing simple and clear information to the target group, giving them practical help without having to get technical. We need to make sure that nobody gets left behind in North Cork”.
If you’re interested in getting involved or would like further information, contact Veronica Gubbins at 025/33411 or veronica@avondhublackwater.com
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd 