Neighbourhood Watch is very pleased to announce that it has been chosen by British Telecom to be a strategic partner in raising awareness of the switch from the analogue telephone landline to BT’s new digital voice home phone service, powered by your broadband connection. Of course, many people already use a digital service. The switch from analogue to digital is now planned to be completed by January 2027 during which time BT is inviting customers to switch to its digital home phone service on a region-by-region basis.

Their partnership with NHW is aimed at organising meetings at the local community level and specifically community groups which may be more difficult to reach. Local meetings may take place in community halls, libraries or other community meeting venues where existing local groups may already meet. 

In partnership with BT, NHW volunteers will receive training and support to run local sessions to answer questions from local people on the practicalities of the switch which for many people will be as simple as connecting your home phone handset to a broadband router/hub rather than the socket on the wall. 

Volunteer NHW members involved in supporting local meetings will be reimbursed expenses. 

The Digital Voice Roll-out Programme is an important national initiative which offers NHW volunteers an opportunity to help support people in their local community as well as promote the role of NHW in those communities. BT have also committed to making a financial donation to each Force Area NHW Association in anticipation of their support in delivering the programme. 

If you feel that you would like to take part in this exciting partnership between NHW and BT in helping to support local meetings across Kent, do get in touch with me to find out more 

Emma Drozd | Regional Digital Voice Volunteer Coordinator - South East Region

emma.drozd@ourwatch.org.uk

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