Aire Valley Homes joins The National Year of Communication ‘Hello’ Campaign
Aire Valley Homes is the first Social Landlord in Leeds to sign up to the Hello campaign to promote the National Year of Communication 2011.
The Hello campaign aims to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills, and to make communication a priority for all children and young people in homes, settings and schools across the UK.
In the UK over 1 million children and young, that’s 2 or 3 children in every classroom, have some form of persistent speech, language and communication difficulty. This can affect them early, severely and for life; however, if these difficulties are resolved by the age of 5 and a half, these children are likely to pass as many exams, and achieve as many qualifications, as a child with no history of speech, language or communication difficulties.
In areas of poverty, over 50% of children are starting school with delayed communication skills; many of these children can catch up with the right support. Two-thirds of 7-14 year olds with serious behavioural problems have a language impairment, and at least 60% of young people in young offender institutions have communication difficulties.
A study by the London School of Economics, estimated that the cost to the economy of educational underachievement is a staggering £18 billion every year.
The key messages of the campaign are:
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Being able to talk and listen is important;
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Learning to talk doesn’t happen by accident;
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Children need adults to nurture their communication;
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Communication is a skill that can always be developed and improved;
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Approximately 1 million children in the UK struggle to learn to talk;
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Poor language puts children at risk of literacy, behavioural and social difficulties;
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The more adults know and understand about language and how it develops, the better position they are in to help;
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The earlier children are found to have difficulties, the better; and
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Many communication improvements can be easy to achieve
Aire Valley Homes is committed to supporting the Hello campaign, firstly by arranging awareness training sessions for staff who are involved with tenants. These sessions will enable Aire Valley Homes staff to support and sign-post parents to children centres, provide information, and will empower staff to make referrals to Family Outreach Workers.
Jason Kirk, Head of Housing Management and Governance at Aire Valley Homes said “We are committed to support and promote the Hello campaign as we realise how good communication skills can make such a difference to the lives of children and young people”.
Children’s Services in Leeds have committed to this campaign as good communication skills are crucial to the outcomes for our children’s futures.
A spokeswoman, on behalf of the Hello campaign, commented “Aire Valley Homes are giving us a fabulous opportunity to take that message into people’s homes, and into the heart of the community”.
For more information about the campaign, and for free resources, see the Hello campaign website at www.hello.org.uk, or look at www.thefamilyhubleeds.org.uk for details of local events and activities.