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Chatbox has become the tradename for what is essentially a sophisticated diary room.
Back in 2003, Susan Brighouse then working for Connexions Derbyshire and Peter Corke working for Derbyshire Dales District Council, borrowed an idea from the hit channel 4 show Big Brother as a means of engaging and consulting with young people.
In the village of Hathersage a Youth BzR was organised. At this event it was decided to set up a Big Brother style diary room. What was to set this diary room apart was the interviewer was to remain anonymous and would be hidden behind a screen. The interviewees would only see a camera and most importantly have a nice comfy seat to sit on – just like the Big Brother Diary Room itself.
The diary room was a great success as was the whole event.
A short film was made by Duncan McFarlane (Aquaman) of the day combining footage from the events and footage from the diary room. The DVD which was distributed around the partners and other organisations meant that the news about the diary room soon spread.
Over the next few years other Youth BzRs were organised and again the diary room was used. But also other organisations began to ask about using the diary room. These organisations included Derbyshire County Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Derbyshire Constabulary, College of the Peak, NFU and Dales Housing.
It was this repeated requests that meant that the idea evolved from being an experiment to a sophisticated means of research, but also a powerful way of providing feedback.
In March 2008, Susan and Duncan, considered the idea of taking the ideas and concepts out on the road and offering the service to other organisations not only in Derbyshire, but to organisations outside Derbyshire.
Background
Susan
1986-89 Consultation work with students representative in England, as part of National Union of Student’s Campaigns Officer job
1989 2001 Consulting with members and local groups as the Campaigns Officer fr the Uk wide charity - Child Poverty Action Groups.
2002 –2008 Coordination youth consultation projects in rural communities for Derbyshire rural community Council using technics such as live filming of young people, questionnaires, roving interviewing and electronic touch machine.
Qualifications:
Role in business:
Initiate sales and provide principal marketing strategies.
To carry out interviewing during consultation process.
Duncan
1986-1999 Trained and worked in and around the print industry
2001 to present became self employed with a view to working in the digital creative industries.
2003 began working with local authorities and agencies doing live filming and consultation work.
2004 – set up Aquaman Design to provide digital services in video, photography and print design.
On this website
We can provide you with a fully equiped diary room, carry out face to face interviews and produce it all onto a fully accessible DVD.
Chatbox costs less than you might think. We now include 15 DVD copies with prices starting at £495. Our enhanced services cost less than £1000 including filming.
We have experience of organising events. Read this section to see what we can do for you.
Read about the history of Chatbox and how it has evolved.
To minmise our impact on the environment we are minimising our printing. Visit our download page to view documents for wider distribution.
If you like what you see we'd love to hear from you. Drop us an email and we’ll get back to you.
Chatbox is a service provided by Aquaman Design.