Jersey Heritage has become the latest beneficiary of JT’s Community Giving scheme. JT has donated two tablet devices to the organisation’s Education team, enabling school children and visitors to La Hougue Bie who experience physical or social, emotional, or mental health (SEMH) challenges to explore the historic site through immersive virtual tours. This initiative helps to ensure the educational experience of this significant prehistoric site is accessible to everyone regardless of their individual needs.
The virtual tour includes the site’s Neolithic passage grave, an important part of La Hougue Bie that some visitors find difficult to access physically. By offering a digital alternative Jersey Heritage has not only enhanced accessibility and inclusion to learning but also social participation. It means that when children are back at school everyone can participate in classroom discussions, and no one is left out of conversations about their shared experience.
Jon Brennan, Head of Education at Jersey Heritage, explained the importance of the donation: ‘The entrance to the ancient passage grave is a low, dark stone structure, which can present either physical, emotional or psychological challenges for some children. Engaging with the digital tour means those students unable to enter the space can still benefit from the knowledge and experience of exploring the tomb. This makes a trip to La Hougue Bie fully inclusive and puts all the students on a level playing field with their learning. For members of the community, it means they can experience everything that La Hougue Bie has to offer, even if they haven’t physically entered the passage grave.’
Around 40 school groups, including most primary schools and some secondary schools, visit the historic site every year as part of their studies. On average there are two students in each class who struggle with physical or SEMH issues and are unable to enter the passage which affects their educational experience of this Heritage site. The tablets will now ensure equal access to the learning experience.
Pip Carpenter, Head of Consumer Markets and Community Partnerships at JT, said: ‘It’s always inspiring to see how digital technology can open doors – quite literally in this case – to experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. By supporting Jersey Heritage, we’re helping to bring our island’s rich history to life in new and inclusive ways. Tools like virtual tours don’t just replicate the experience, they enhance it, offering new perspectives and deeper engagement. It’s really exciting to see how innovation can make the past more present for everyone.’
The tablets are available to all visitors free of charge on request at the ticket desk at La Hougue Bie, ensuring that everyone can access the site and appreciate the importance of La Hougue Bie and its role in the island’s rich history.