Speech and Language Therapists, students and service users descended on the Senedd in Cardiff Bay yesterday (Tuesday 18 October) to deliver a giant banner to Assembly Members with messages from across Wales demonstrating that investment in speech therapy changes lives and saves the NHS money.
The Banerwr Project – the Welsh word for ‘standard bearer’ – is part of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) ongoing Giving Voice campaign and has seen a giant banner being created by therapists, children and adult services from the seven health board areas of Wales to champion the wide-reaching economic and social benefits of speech and language therapy services.
Dr Alison Stroud, Wales Policy Officer for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, said: “While Banerwr involved some inventive and fun events for the handovers around Wales, the message comes through loud and clear when you look at the stories behind each segment of the banner.
“Speech, language and communications problems can be disabling and cause enormous social, mental and economic hardship for sufferers and their families. Early intervention by speech and language therapists has been shown to unlock the potential of these people and save money for already stretched NHS services.”
The RCSLT campaign highlights that in Wales speech, language and communication disability are widespread, and that support must be readily accessible. Dr Stroud concluded by saying: “This project demonstrates that communication is not always spoken. We are helping people tell their story by giving them voice.”
The 30 metre banner – dubbed “Bayeux Tapestry meets Wacky Races” because of the unusual manner in which it has been passed around the country, tells personal stories of how therapy has unlocked the lives of thousands of people suffering from disabling speech, language and communications difficulties.
The banner has already travelled from Bridgend to Carmarthenshire by helicopter, Pembrokeshire to Powys by motorcycle, abseiled down the Elan Valley Dam, trekked up Snowdon, wrapped around the Aneurin Bevan Stones before being delivered by boat to the Senedd by speech therapy students.
