Information for Funders
Company Aims and Objectives
"In health and social care settings, it's important to remember that not everyone uses words to communicate.
Many professionals feel uncomfortable when they have to interact with people whose communication style seems unusual, different or absent: for example, people with dementia, learning disability, mental health needs or sensory impairment. Poor communication can impact upon the ability of staff to help the people they are paid to support, practically and emotionally." Annette Roebuck - Director of Communicate 2U (taken from her book 'Rethinking communication in health and social care)
Tackling the issue & Timeline
Company Information
Communicate 2U staff are employed with a range of different skill sets and interests, including staff who are trained occupational therapists, and those experienced in education and the performing arts. Have a look at our Meet the Staff page.
We have three company directors, one employed as a member of staff and two unpaid Directors, they meet quarterly per year including an annual review of the company accounts.
Communicate 2U are a registered LTD company and social enterprise, based at Selly Oak Trust School in Birmingham and Cotteridge Church (our Community base) which is just a short bus ride away.
Our 'Communication Experts' are members of the company with lived experience of a learning disability, autism, and/ other additional needs.​
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Last year (2024) we had over 1000 students and professionals take part in our training sessions. 94% said they really enjoyed the session and 97% said they found the session very useful.
Current & Future Funding
​In the last 12 months we have been busier than ever, with more and more organisations seeing how communication training for their staff has been a crucial but often overlooked element for both front line staff and those in management.
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Our current funding comes from the Department for Work and Pensions in the form of a supported internship in which young people with learning disabilities can undertake for one year. We do charge organisations for our training but at present this tends to be a small contribution to the overall cost, and helps us to pay our most experienced adult cohort (Communication Experts) who otherwise would be giving up their time for free without the recognition of their hard work and commitment.
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This is a very exciting time for the company with many new organisations wanting to work with us and benefit from our training and expertise. We are looking to fund an additional full time equivalent Project Coordinator as part of our 'New Horizons Project' who will be responsible for organising and delivering the 'Communication Training' programme in collaboration with our experienced adult 'Communication Experts' and steering group, the majority of whom have learning disabilities and have completed an internship with the company in the past.
Useful Documents
New Horizons Project 2025
Company Finance
Policy
Equality & Diversity Statement
2023 - 2024 Feedback