Why you applied?

The Coreus Foundations core values align with our own and our project met your eligibility criteria, plus you have local knowledge of Southwest.

How has the grant made an impact?

Makaton is an internationally recognised communication programme, used in more than 40 countries worldwide. Most Makaton users are children and adults who need it as their main means of communication. But everyone else who shares their lives will also use Makaton, including families, carers, friends, and professionals such as teachers, speech and language therapists, social workers, playgroup staff, college lecturers, instructors, nurses and psychiatrists. However, it doesn't stop there. Makaton is rapidly spreading into the wider community, with requests for training to use signs and symbols from supermarket staff, youth groups, theatre groups, bus drivers, the police, museum staff, people working in sports and leisure, faith communities. It is even used on TV, with Mr Tumble and Magic Hands, making it more available to communities and teaching toddlers from an early age.

By training staff in the use of Makaton we will be able to increase the accessibility of these clubs to children with learning difficulties and will help promote inclusion. Many staff and volunteers working in childcare are employed part time and consequently work more than one job – this means by training these staff / volunteers, the benefits of their training will have far reaching benefits for many more children.