Canterbury is hoping to become the first city in the UK to adopt a system of communication used by celebrities like CBeebies star Mr Tumble to help those with language and learning disabilities.

Using signs and symbols, Makaton is practised by people with communication difficulties and their family, friends, carers, teachers and health professionals.

First developed in the 1970s, it differs from sign language, which is specifically designed for the deaf or those with hearing difficulties.

The ambition is to make Canterbury the first official Makaton-friendly city and an initial meeting has been held at St Nicholas School in the city which is leading the project.

Those involved in the initiative include representatives from The Makaton Charity, Kent Police, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Kent and Kent Autistic Trust.

Kent Community Health Foundation Trust speech and language therapists from the children’s therapies and learning disability teams also attended, as did the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Colin Spooner.

Anna Weinel, clinical lead speech and language therapist withfrom the South Kent Coast and Thanet Learning Disability Team, said: “Difficulty communicating is a frustrating and isolating experience.

“When children and adults with communication difficulties need our services, we want to be able to effectively communicate so we can provide the best support. I am proud that KCHFT has given its backing to this exciting initiative.”

Now other organisations based in Canterbury are being encouraged to register with the scheme.

They pay a small fee and then attend a Makaton taster session where they are taught a basic vocabulary of 20 signs and symbols and an additional 10 signs that are relevant to their organisation, which could be a shop, a café, school, library or college.

Organisations will be given a Makaton-friendly pack and a place on the national Makaton-friendly map on the charity’s website.

It will help families and carers of people with communication difficulties to find Makaton-friendly places and organisations.

An official launch is due to take place mid-June where St Nicholas School and Canterbury Christ Church University are to be awarded with their Makaton-friendly status awards, the first two organisations to have successfully joined the scheme.

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