The CHATBACK Trust

In association with the University of the Third Age

CHATBACK was set up in 1986 by the present Director, Tom Holloway, to provide an electronic mail (email) facility for up to 100 schools in the UK and abroad. Most are special schools, all cater for children who have some mental or physical difficulty with communicating. It now has electronic links with children in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, USA, and even a special school in Novosibirsk in Siberia.

The project encourages young people to correspond with each other for social interaction and, where a curriculum is being followed, for work on classroom subjects. For more information about the Chatback staff, please click here.

Each month we run projects for schools around the world. For example:-

MEMORIES OF THE 1940s - notes from their grandparents on life from 50 years ago. This also includes a 'Panel of Elders' of many nations that you may put your questions to. For further information go to http://visitweb.com/memories

GRANNY'S KITCHEN -- in which we investigate the food preferences of today's children and exchange notes with a group of elderly Internet users from around the world. For more information, write to the moderator, Mez Packer.

VICTORIAN LIVES AND LETTERS -- in which Charles Dickens, the celebrated author, answers questions about his books and his early life in Victorian England.

A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW -- children are invited to write about the view from their window.

Some of the schools we have helped are:-

Cedar School, Southampton
Wellesbourne CE Junior and Infant School in Warwickshire
Clapham Terrace School, Speech and Language Unit in Warwickshire
Victoria School, Birmingham, UK
Welford and Wickham Primary School, Berkshire

We have also provided computers and a training room to a group of elderly and retired people of Royal Leamington Spa. This is the computer group of the Warwick District 'University of the Third Age'. With help from Warwick District Council and the Cabinet Office programme 'Better Government for Older People' they help to run the Leamington Elders Advice Point and their meeting/training day is every Wednesday morning. You can write to their Chairman, Robin Shepherd, for more information.

CHATBACK INTERNATIONAL via Internet

In association with St Johns University New York, we are also taking part in a research project. This is directed by Professor Bob Zenhausern of the Psychology Department of St Johns, and we are using the resources of St Johns University to establish the increase in linguistic competence and self-esteem of groups of children at 16 physical handicap schools in Birmingham, 4 London schools and a corresponding number of schools in the USA.

We would be delighted to hear from special schools from anywhere in the world who might want to join us via The Internet.

For more information please write to the Executive Director of Chatback International, Dr Bob Zenhausern, or the UK Director of Chatback, Tom Holloway, at these addresses:-


       Dr R Zenhausern                Tom Holloway
        Psychology Department           The Chatback Trust
        St Johns University             6 St Mary's Crescent
        SB 15, Marillac                 Royal Leamington Spa
        Jamaica, NY 11439               Warwickshire, CV31 1JL
        USA                             United Kingdom
        Phone:  718-990-6447            Phone: (+44) 1926 888333
        Fax:    718-990-6705            Fax:   (+44) 1926 771707

Updated 3rd July, 1999