HEADPHONES AND HELP
We have 50 pairs of high quality headphones that are available for free to individual who feel that they could be getting more out of interactive online activity. Alongside the headphones we have produced a useful help sheet to help you navigate the settings of applications like Zoom, Teams and Hangouts, as well as changes you can make to your environment to make interacting online that little bit better.
Since the start of the lockdown we have been delivering 1:1 sessions over Zoom with our project ‘In My Own Time, Online’ to around 20 individuals across the county. Our observations, supported by our team of tutors, parents and carers, was that not everyone had access to adequate hardware or had the technical knowledge to get the most out of interactive online activity.
We are optimistic that physical services, including our own, will start to happen again soon but aware that digital alternatives will be the only services available to many for some time yet.
So we wanted to support our service users and anyone else accessing digital services, to have the best opportunity possible to get the most from their sessions and services. Thanks to the very generous support from the Norfolk Community Foundation we have been able to purchase 50 pairs of headphones to pass on. The headphones have been carefully chosen because of their quality and features (including an inbuilt mic), the JLab JBuddies are designed for ages 6-13, the Sennheiser 400S for people aged 13 and over.
We have also been able to produce a very useful Help Sheet, beautifully illustrated by Norwich-based illustrator Mia Dunton, which should help you get more from your online interaction. The Help Sheet can be downloaded in a variety of formats at the bottom of this page.
If a pair of headphones would improve the quality of online sessions for you or someone you work/live with, please just complete the contact form at the bottom of this page. We have deliberately avoided any sort of eligibility criteria but we ask that only those genuinely in need of the headphones get in touch.
The Sennheiser HD400s has a very comfortable headband with closed back meaning it is virtually impossible to create feedback. The inbuilt mic is exceptionally sensitive in picking up voice from up close or instruments that are further away.
The JLab JBuddies headphones are designed for children aged six and over, they are incredibly comfortable and have a volume limiter meaning no chance of unwanted loud audio and an inbuilt mic. They are made of very durable plastic with reinforced audio cable.
We have received a fantastic response to this campaign and are currently reviewing our stock of headphones. We are unable to confirm any new requests at this stage but ask you to continue to fill in the form with the understanding you will likely be on a waiting list for any unclaimed headphones. Huge thanks for your interest and support.
