About SLCo
The Speech Language Communication Company (also known as SLCo) emerged as a new charity registered in Scotland in January 2016. Formerly we were known as Afasic Scotland, an independent branch of the UK-wide charity, Afasic UK, operating across Scotland for 18 years.
SLCo is overseen by a board of trustees which embraces parent-led involvement and direction.
We help run a number of locality based parent networks including the young people who use our services which influences and drives the direction of the charity’s work.
A Professional Advisory Group which includes some of the leading names in current research and practice informs the range of information resources, guidance and practical support we offer through our services.
SLCo understands the unique and individual speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) which many children, and adults, struggle to overcome.
SLCo recognises that children and young people with communication support needs are often overlooked and their voices unheard.
SLCo aims to make sure that families are valued as the key contributors to children achieving their potential and that they are as equipped as possible in order to be effective educators and carers for their children.
We use our expertise and range of evidence-based interventions to help improve the lives of children and young people, their parents and their carers.
We will continue to build on the successes of the past, keep learning and be adaptive to change. Our values are important to us and the families we support our are our assets. They are the experts and are at the heart of all that we do.
Our commitment to the principles of social inclusion and the rights of the child are firmly grounded in our promotion, awareness raising, education and training programmes.
What we do
Our service model is based on self efficacy. We want to support and enable families to do more by helping themselves, which in turn helps transform lives within families and wider communities. By empowering parents to become more effective advocates for themselves and their children, we help create more effective home learning environments in which children can boost their language skills, grow and thrive. Building meaningful relationships with children and their parents and carers, we create space to tailor our support to the needs of the family.
Through a blend of 1:1 support, group sessions, online platforms and local activity, we offer a flexible and dynamic approach which is ‘designed for families by families’.
” My health visitor told me she thought there was nothing to worry about. M son wasn’t speaking the way all the books said he should, he seemed frustrated and gradually became more isolated. Playing on his own but not able to speak to his brother and sister. She left me exercises to do. I did my best with them but I didn’t see much difference. It seemed to get worse. He looked at me. I looked at him. I recognised the frightened look in his eyes. The next time she came, she said she’d make a referral. To whom and for what I wasn’t sure. I needed someone to listen when I needed to talk, not wait for weeks until I could get an appointment; I wasn’t willing to wait until my child was 5 years old to see if his speech caught up with his peers! I was frantic trying to find help, speak to someone I could trust; to help me understand what was wrong and work with me at my own pace and understand that I was worried about my child. I didn’t find that until I found SLCO. And I am so thankful. It’s great to pick up the phone and talk to someone who knows our situation and understands how my family works and how my child is – his language difficulties, his emotional difficulties and his social difficulties. Being able to get support in my own home made such a difference. It’s not only about my child’s speech, it’s all the other things that affect him and everyone else in the family. Getting the support from our family coach has been the most help to me and my son. She’s helped him build his language skills and his confidence has increased so much. We now use a few apps at home which fits right into the day without too much planning around other commitments. He’s a different child, he’s talking more and smiles a lot and I’m a better, and less stressed mum. SLCO has really been such a lifeline for our family and we maintain contact. Just knowing you’ve got a back up when you need it, that helps. “ Irene, Tayside
” My son and I usually go to the family days that the parent network in Edinburgh runs..we were at a recent one at The Royal Observatory.. it was great. The events are always great fun and it’s good to get a chance to meet other parents you wouldn’t normally see. Share things we know and things that help at home or school and just be with people who understand how much of a challenge it is to parent children who don’t communicate very well or get a chance to go out much as they’re so vulnerable. Nobody knows what it’s like unless you’ve experienced it. We can all go together too, my husband, daughter as well. Which is great as it takes the pressure off sometimes just to be out as a family. That doesn’t normally happen, in or house anyway!” Louise, Edinburgh
SLCo works with many local and national partner agencies especially those working with children and families that need extra support , we network through relationships with local authorities, Third Sector forums, and our volunteers and communication ambassadors are active within local communities.
Our aims
Develop speech and language
Our biggest aim is to make sure that every child can access quality speech and language support whenever they need it.
Promote social inclusion
And children’s rights. It’s really important to us that children and their families are informed and included, and that their voices are heard.
Support families
Children, parents, carers, siblings and grandparents alike. We aim to help build confidence, provide opportunities and develop key skills.
Governance
Our organisation is led by a board of trustees. Their range of business and professional skills help shape essential components of the charity’s business needs. Below you’ll find more about the role of the trustees.
Framework
- The Board establishes the framework for SLCo
- Creates and updates the mission and vision statements
- Defines what benefits SLCo will provide to whom and what it will cost
To deliver them
- Determines how performance will be measured
Direction
- The Board sets the direction for SLCo
- Sets goals and approves and monitors the Strategic Plan
- Develops policies, including the policies that govern how the board will operate
Accountability
- The Board is responsible for the behaviour and performance of board members and the executive
- Establishes the code of ethics for the board and Executive Director, including policies and conflict of interest, and sets the tone and values for the organisation’s behaviour
- Establishes the outcomes the Executive Director is assigned to achieve
- Monitors financial and operational performance. Evaluates the Executive Director based on achievement of outcomes and compliance with predefined requirements
- Serves as the source of appeal within the organisation
- Selects an accountant to examine the charity’s financial status and receives the report
Good Will and Support
- The Board represents SLCo to the outside world and provides support to the Executive Director
- Supports the organisation by overseeing the Fundraising Strategy
- Serves as the organisation’s ambassador to other agencies, funders and potential funders and the general community
- Helps to attracts donors, supporters, press awareness, and new board members
Statement of the Board
- SLCo believes that all of its funds should be used to support the voice of a child
- SLCo values its donors and will not send donation requests
- Salary policy – SLCo conducts a job evaluation exercise which determines fair and transparent remuneration for its staff. SLCo operates a pay policy whereby the highest-paid employee never earns more than 3 times the lowest-paid employee. That equates to a 3:1 wage ratio.