Community

Charity warns older people to be wary during digital switchover

Published

2 years ago

April 4, 2024

AS the telephone industry upgrades from analogue to digital landlines, Age Cymru is warning older people to be wary of rogue traders trying to take advantage of the switchover.

The change will see calls made over a broadband line instead of the old analogue network, which is becoming increasingly unreliable.

The charity says for most customers, all aspects of the switchover will be free of charge with no home installation work required. If customers require additional support with set up, they will be contacted by their telephone provider.

Age Cymru therefore warns that if somebody offers to carry out work relating to the switchover, in return for some form of payment, it’s likely to be a scam that should be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

People can also check with their telephone provider about what work is or isn’t taking place in their area. However, if anyone feels threatened or in any danger from a rogue trader they should call the police as soon as possible.

Age Cymru’s chief executive Victoria Lloyd says “It’s such a shame that we must warn older people to be on their guard in relation to the digital switchover as this is something that should improve people’s experiences of phone services.

“We’ve been told that lines will be clearer, which will help those who are hard of hearing. There’ll be a facility to enable three party lines which will help people to have mini group chats with friends and family and thereby help reduce loneliness. And there’ll be increased protection against unwanted marketing or nuisance calls.

“However, given our experience of how rogue traders work we want to forearm older people so they can avoid potentially expensive and emotionally damaging scams and instead take full advantage of the new phone services without any unnecessary fears.”

Understanding the digital switchover process

BT, the biggest supplier of landlines in Wales, is holding dozens of events across the country to advise customers face-to-face about the switch. Other phone providers may also be organising similar events.

Age Cymru understands that for most customers, digital switchover will simply involve connecting your home phone handset to a router rather than the phone socket on the wall. And for BT customers, if you don’t have the correct router, they will send you one completely free of charge.

At this stage, BT will be writing to all their customers to make them aware of the changes, and following up with those who are ready and eligible to make the switch. BT will not be switching customers who may have difficulty making the change just yet and will give these customers additional support when the time comes.

If you think you’ll have a problem with the transition, think you are vulnerable, or use a healthcare alarm connected to your landline, please contact your phone provider and tell them.

And if anyone uses a personal healthcare alarm, they should also check with their suppliers that they have everything they need prior to the switchover.

BT customers who are ready and eligible to make the switch will be contacted four weeks before making the move to ensure they have everything they need.

While BT are by far the biggest provider of telephone services in Wales, this is an industry-wide change and other telephone providers are managing their own switchover process so contact your provider to understand how the change will affect you.

How big is the issue of scamming in Wales?

According to the Wales Against Scams Partnership (WASP) older victims of scams in the UK lose an average of £1,200 over their lifetimes.

WASP also cites Action Fraud data showing that they receive around 15,000 cases of fraud from Wales each year. However, Action Fraud believes that the reported figure is just the tip of the iceberg and that the actual number of scams undertaken, or attempted, is seven times bigger.

And according to recent BBC research it is estimated that the UK is losing £2,300 per minute to scam activity.

Community

Protest planned outside police station calling for Chief Constable’s removal

Published

6 hours ago

May 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Campaigners accuse Dyfed-Powys Police of failing to safeguard children in Carmarthenshire

A PROTEST calling for the removal of Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis is due to take place outside Llanelli Police Station this weekend.

The demonstration, organised by campaign group Predator Awareness and activist Zack Griffiths, is scheduled for Saturday (May 23) at 11:00am.

Promotional material shared online claims the protest is being held because the current Chief Constable has “failed to safeguard the children of Carmarthenshire”.

Campaigners are urging members of the public to gather outside Llanelli Police Station under the slogan: “No more silence. No more excuses. Protect our children.”

The specific concerns behind the protest have not been fully outlined publicly, although organisers have linked it to wider safeguarding concerns.

When approached by The Herald, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers were aware of the planned demonstration.

***Protest planned: Campaigners are calling for the removal of Dyfed-Powys Police Chief Constable Dr Richard Lewis (Pic: supplied).***

A police spokesperson said: “We are aware of plans for a protest in Llanelli this weekend.

“We will always seek to facilitate lawful peaceful protest while balancing it with the rights of others, keeping the public safe, and preventing crime and disorder — and we encourage anyone organising a protest to contact us so we can work together to ensure any demonstrations are done safely and with respect for the wider community.”

The protest is expected to take place outside Llanelli Police Station on Saturday morning.

Community

Funding from wind farm helps expand community electric car scheme

Published

7 hours ago

May 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH communities have benefited from more than £3.3m in renewable energy funding during 2025, according to a new report by RWE.

The company’s 2025 Community Fund report says its renewable energy projects invested £5.7m into community funds across the UK, including more than £3.3m in Wales.

Among the projects supported is the Dolen Teifi community electric car share scheme, which received help from the Brechfa Onshore Wind Farm Fund.

The scheme provides affordable shared access to electric vehicles for more than 400 registered users in a remote rural area, helping people reach education, healthcare and other essential services.

It also reduces transport costs and carbon emissions, while a team of volunteer drivers supports disabled and vulnerable residents.

RWE’s funding initially supported the salary of a part-time volunteer coordinator and helped provide a six-seater accessible electric vehicle.

The project has since secured lottery and government funding, allowing it to expand across West Wales with a fleet of more than 12 vehicles and hundreds of volunteer drivers.

In North Wales, a three-year funding package from RWE’s Clocaenog Onshore Wind Farm Fund has helped support the South Denbighshire Community Partnership, which works across the rural Ederynion area.

The partnership provides services including Meals on Wheels, community transport, prescription delivery, parent and toddler groups, and exercise classes.

Margaret, chief executive of SDCP, said: “We are delighted to be in receipt of funding from Clocaenog Wind Farm Fund.

“We know the positive impact that the services we are able to provide with it has on our service users and communities. Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to provide those services.”

Katy Woodington, of RWE, said: “Our community funds are all about putting local people in control, with a key feature being an independent community panel made up of local residents, who play a central role in shaping priorities and deciding how funding is allocated.

“With over £78.5m committed to community projects over the lifetime of our Welsh operating renewable generation portfolio, it will be really exciting to see what communities can achieve.

“RWE remains committed to putting communities at the centre of the energy transition, ensuring a brighter, more equitable future, one small project at a time.”

RWE says first-generation wind farms have invested more than £24.9m into Welsh communities neighbouring their sites.

Over their lifetime, wind farms operated by RWE Renewables are expected to invest more than £78.5m into Welsh communities.

Community

Lydstep Haven swimming warning lifted after sewerage repairs

Published

18 hours ago

May 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

BATHERS have been told they can return to the water at Lydstep Haven after warnings linked to a pollution incident were lifted.

Pembrokeshire County Council had advised people not to swim at the beach after an “abnormal situation” was declared earlier this month over concerns about bathing water quality.

Natural Resources Wales has now confirmed that the status has been lifted following repair works to a private sewerage system.

Water samples taken in the days after the repairs indicated that the bathing water was no longer being affected.

Signage warning people not to swim will now be removed by the council.

An NRW spokesperson said: “The ‘abnormal situation’ status at Lydstep Haven beach in Pembrokeshire has been lifted by Natural Resources Wales.

“The lifting of this status means that Pembrokeshire County Council is no longer advising people not to swim at Lydstep Haven.

“The private operator has carried out repair works to their sewerage system and results from several water samples taken indicate the bathing water is no longer being impacted.

“NRW is continuing its investigation into any possible regulatory breaches.”