The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Backs The King's Speech

RCSLT is rooting for Oscar success for The King’s Speech, the film which tells the story of how one of its founding members, Lionel Logue helped King George VI overcome his stammer. 

This lead to the King becoming the first Royal Patron of the College of Speech Therapists in 1948, which was continued by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and most recently by current Patron, HRH The Countess of Wessex.

The launch of the film comes at a critical time for Speech and Language therapy in the UK, with a recent survey of RCSLT members revealing that 84.4 per cent of therapists are being asked to reduce the scope of their services, with cuts to services of between five and thirty per cent in many areas. 

To help address this, the RCSLT has launched Giving Voice, a campaign that aims to demonstrate how speech and language therapy makes a difference to people with speech, language and communication needs, their families, and the wider society.

The campaign has already generated the support of: Shadow Home Secretary, Rt.Hon Ed Balls MP; the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP; actor and singer Gareth Gates; former stunt motorcyclist Eddie Kidd; and Mark Logue, grandson of the Lionel Logue. 

Alongside this, Matrix Evidence has also released a report which reveals that speech and language therapy delivers an estimated net benefit to the UK economy of £765 million.

Kamini Gadhok, chief executive of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists said: "The King’s Speech puts a timely spotlight on speech and language therapy, demonstrating how it helps people to overcome their problems with speech, language or swallowing and achieve their potential in life.

"The Giving Voice campaign will tell many more stories, like that told in the King’s Speech, of how speech and language therapy transforms lives - from Julie, who has rebuilt her life after losing her voice following a stroke, to James who has learnt to speak again following a head injury, as well as people like Gareth Gates and Ed Balls, who have become highly successful having overcome their speech and language difficulties."