Voluntary-sector consortium to lead national campaign to highlight children's speech and language

The Trust, which raises awareness about speech, language and communication issues for all those working with children and young people, was set up by Afasic, BT Better World Campaign, the Council for Disabled Children and I CAN.

The organisations involved are all experts in children’s speech, language and communication.
The appointment of a Communication Champion and ‘A National Year’ were key recommendations in the 2008 Bercow Report on improving services for children with SLCN (News, 10 July and 17 December 2008).

The review highlighted the difficulties faced by many parents of children with SLCN in finding the right information and support.

The Trust will work with Jean Gross, the Communication Champion, during ‘The National Year’ campaign.

Ms Gross said, ‘I’m delighted to be working with The Communication Trust on the National Year. The Trust’s members –  both the well-known larger children’s organisations and the smaller organisations representing particular types of speech, language and communication need - have a huge range of collective experience and expertise. There is a passionate commitment amongst the consortium members to improve the lives of children and families who struggle to communicate.’

Anita Kerwin-Nye, director of The Communication Trust, said, ‘Securing the National Year is a campaigning triumph for the voluntary sector. We have fought tirelessly for this step change in supporting children and young people with SLCN. This campaign will draw on the best evidence base to support the 1.2 million children in the UK, approximately 3 in every class, who struggle to communicate.

‘Our campaign will raise awareness of speech and language issues, provides all parents with basic information on children’s communication and signpost places of help and support. We will build on the Trust’s existing work and further support the children’s workforce working day-to-day with children and young people with SLCN. Every child should be able to communicate to the best of their potential and the Trust will recruit campaign partners that reflect the importance of speech, language and communication skills in school, in work, at home and in relationships.’

Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN Chief Executive, said, ‘I CAN, and indeed the third sector as a whole, has great cause for celebration today. As a founding member of The Communication Trust, I CAN are delighted and proud that the Trust is taking forward a national campaign to promote speech, language and communication development. This will help the Government’s newly appointed Communication Champion, Jean Gross, to achieve long overdue system change by supporting commissioners in health and children’s services.’

Further information

www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk