The Include Champions Group is a lived experience consultancy team, generating ideas, feedback and free accessible resources on important topics including the Mental Capacity Act and Inclusive Communication.
Between us, group members have real world experience in of learning disabilities, autism and other communication needs.
Our dedicated group members meet every week via Zoom, and there is always something important to discuss, analyse and provide feedback on.
The Champions produced an Easy Read to explain more about what the group does and why: We are the Champions
The group produces a series of FREE Easy Read resources. You will find them below and there are accompanying audio files on SoundCloud or via our blog page.
Include’s Stroll and Sign service combines inclusive social opportunities and speech therapy-based communication with gentle exercise in the natural world.
People with and without learning disabilities / autism, their support staff, family carers and the wider community are welcomed on short accessible walks which explore the natural environment, enhancing physical and mental wellbeing and promoting calm.
During the walks, we socialise and enjoy relaxed conversation; we also pause to be mindful, observe and discuss the natural world around us – teaching skills to support inclusive communication, including Makaton signing. We might enjoy a treasure hunt or create digital chat books, which people can use to help talk about their experience.
Your invite Would you like to join a Stroll and Sign session with us? Everyone is welcome, with or without a disability. Our aim is to increase inclusion in the local community beyond our services so we really welcome attendees from all walks of life (excuse the pun!) who are keen to benefit from nature, learn new skills and build a more welcoming community for all. It’s a really lovely relaxed thing to do on a Saturday. We meet once a month and go for a stroll somewhere green and beautiful in Surrey – sometimes people bring their dogs.
My name is Charlotte, and earlier in 2024 I was nominated for a Community Pride award for the volunteering I do at work and outside of work too.
As a result, I was asked to share my experiences with other civil servants. This blog for Include has been put together using the notes I made for the talk I gave to 4,000 people at work.
I volunteer with The Include Choir, a sing and sign choir for people with communication disabilities.
How it started
So, how did I end up doing that, well when my youngest child started high school, I suddenly found for the first time in many years, I had space, not just in a practical or physical way, but also in my head and thoughts. In my adult life I was missing a sense of belonging that seemed so easy to come by in childhood. I also had the realisation that even though I love my job, if I could do life again, I would like to explore a career in Speech and Language Therapy.
I researched volunteering in my community, which led me to complete a form on the Surrey County Council website. 2 days later a lady from the council phoned me and said they had found me an opportunity. I was to turn up at 6pm on a Tuesday at a local venue to help with a sing and sign choir. Alright I said.
Zero Experience!
Sometimes you just have to throw yourself in the deep end – I have no musical ability, I can’t sing, and have zero experience of assisting adults with learning disabilities, and just to top it off, at that point, I had never heard of the word Makaton.
Volunteering in Inclusive Communication
My volunteering opportunity was for the charity, Include.org – it was set up by a speech therapist who realised that just because people had communication needs, that should not limit their self-expression.
Inclusive Communication means recognising, respecting and using all forms of communication – not just the written and spoken word.
Lots of people find it very difficult to understand the spoken word alone. This includes the majority of people with a learning disability, dementia, and people who have had a stroke or a brain injury.
About the project I help to run
I help with the charity’s Include Choir project – and it is so much more than a choir. We have physical props, so if a member is non-verbal, they can hold one of our props, or use an instrument. We also use Makaton sign language for all the songs, they are projected up onto the wall with all the individual signs, so choir members are able to sign and sign, or just sign, whatever they feel comfortable with.
For those of you who don’t know Makaton its different from British sign language, Makaton does have elements of mime and it is much simpler and more descriptive for the users, so is a very good communication tool for those who have learning or communication disabilities.
Unexpected benefits
I have been volunteering with Include for 2 years, and I’d like to share the unexpected benefits of doing so.
Firstly, and most importantly, it is fun!! I am wanted, I am needed and I contribute. The sense of belonging and value this creates to me personally is indescribable.
It is incredibly liberating to be involved with a group of people who have no interest in your day job, your fashion sense, what you watched on telly last night, or if someone liked you on Facebook. The choir members require so very little from you, eye contact, a smile and occupying the space next to them whilst you belt out a tune on a tambourine makes them feel seen and heard.
Real impact – not just on the day
I have made loads of new friends, other volunteers, care workers and choir members. When I am at choir, that is the realist version of me.
Coming into work on a Wednesday, having been at choir on the Tuesday, I am happier, calmer and more positive.
On many occasions the choir members have brought me to tears, seeing them grow and develop in self-confidence, blossoming into their own very best potential is extremely moving.
I have noticed that over the last 2 years, my leadership style has changed, I am a much more compassionate empathetic leader, bringing with me all the knowledge of communication and how it impacts others into the workplace. I’ve always known, but now it is so apparent to me, that not all disabilities are revealed or visible, so when communicating with others, the most important first step is connection – then communicate.
Top Highlight
I have a few highlights over the last 2 years, my biggest one was when we performed with the Choir at Kew Gardens in the glass house for the Wedding Planner annual awards show. It was a black-tie event, and we totally smashed it, up on stage, singing and signing our hearts out – we got a standing ovation and raised so much money for our charity, a brilliant night.
We were there to let all the wedding industry leads know that people with disabilities fall in love like everyone else, and have ambitions of marriage – so not to forget them.
Final Word
By volunteering it gives you a chance to explore and lean into the good stuff – you have nothing to lose.
Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead
When I talk to people about Include, I always say how much it has made a huge, positive impact in my life and improved my quality of life, given me a purpose and that it is the BEST charity I have ever come across where EVERYONE is included, everyone is welcome.
I want the world to know that there is no place anywhere that makes you feel so included, safe, comfortable, happy and purposeful as Include does.
How it started
I first found out about Include by research. I moved back down to Surrey from Coventry, and wanted to find out if there were any Makaton groups nearby and that’s how I came across Include. I messaged Alix and it all went from there.
I wanted to get involved because I was very lonely and I enjoy Makaton so much, and use it a lot personally.
At first, I was very anxious, only because I always am when facing new places, people and situations BUT this didn’t last long! Soon I was comfortable and felt ‘included’ and part of an amazing community and surrounded by lovely, genuine people.
When I first went to Include, I started off just joining in the choir every Wednesday evening in Redhill.
Growing in confidence
It wasn’t long before I wanted to volunteer, make a difference and help others.
I also started to attend some of the Stroll and Sign walks on Saturdays, going to performances, and helping to design the new ‘Star of the month’ certificate and another certificate.
I am also now part of the Champions Group which I really enjoy and feel we all make a difference by working on and designing Easy Reads for people and giving examples and explaining things like ‘reasonable adjustments’ etc.
Since being part of Include, I have gained confidence, made friends and have something to really look forward to each week; helping others, having fun, being included and having a purpose.
Signs of Change
Although I already knew most Makaton signs before I came across include, I have gained more skills from The Include Choir and the Champions Group. These include improved speaking and listening skills, trusting people because I feel comfortable with the people I’m surrounded by and learnt a couple more skills on my computer.
The things I do with Include really help me day to day and help my support workers, family and others around me to understand and communicate with me, and others in a better or different ways.
When I struggle, I can become non-verbal, so for support workers and family to know basic Makaton signs is very important and helpful. I am now able to feel confident to teach them the important basic signs that are useful so that they can best support me.
I think it is important for people in all sorts of jobs to know basic Makaton e.g. hospital staff, doctors, teachers in schools, dentists and other professionals that might come across people who may use a different form of communication like Makaton.
We are all different…
My favourite quote is ‘we are all different, but all equal’ and I feel everyone at Include is treated equally no matter what their needs are and this makes me very proud to be a part of such an amazing group.
The next step in my Include story is to do volunteering more and make more of a difference, help people more, improve more skills and gain more confidence.
I have a goal and that is to do a solo Makaton song at Christmas, I hope I can get enough confidence in time.
Discovering Include is the BEST thing that’s happened and I am very grateful for all that everyone does to make it such a lovely, enjoyable group.
Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead
At Include, we work hard to ensure that communication needs or disabilities are not a barrier to access or inclusion in our projects.
We proactively make reasonable adjustments – and we keep listening and checking what else we can do to ensure people have equal access.
We admit that we can always improve in this area.
Probably most services, charities and businesses can do more to enable genuine equality of access. We don’t just mean how easy a building is to access if you have a mobility issue. But the whole experience – how people interact and communicate, how we experience an environment or service from a sensory point of view etc.
Focussing on improvements that help individuals and getting it right tends to enhance things for everyone, with or without an additional need.
As well as coproducing a FREE Easy Read on Reasonable Adjustments, our lived experience consultancy team The Include Champions are reviewing some of the things we do within Include and helping to fine-tune them.
By sharing this FREE Easy Read we hope more people with communication needs and disabilities will have better experiences when they go to work, interact with services or are customers in shops and restaurants.
Email
We recently talked about our emails.
We already use accessible fonts and Easy Read format – with a picture to reinforce each point.
But our members suggested that we use shorter and simpler links, and make the writing bigger.
Website
We’re becoming even more aware of the importance of colour contrast in terms of how easy, or not, it is to read and have started to use a new resource to check this: https://colourcontrast.cc
Furthermore, we are going to be working harder to make best use of alternative (Alt) Text to describe the images we use on our website and elsewhere. Thanks to Colin Grist from Few and Far for his free talk and tips on website accessibility.
Our website provides project information in a calendar format so members can check at any time what projects are running, where and when. One of our Champions, Hannah is encouraging everyone to use it – it means you don’t have to wait for the emails!
Visuals
Consultation and co-production are central to the way we do things, so naturally Include Choir members help to write lyrics and choose which songs we learn to sing and sign.
Visual and tactile prompts help people with communication needs. So, we make a physical list of song names with visuals using Velcro. Members choose from a whole table full of song options to decide which songs we perform at certain events.
Recently Hannah, one of our members has suggested that our song polls on Facebook also have an image to represent each song option to enhance understanding.
We also have a photo board at the choir sessions – this is for people to add themselves (sign in – without needing a pen) as they arrive and so everyone can see from the photos who is there that day.
Recently we have had feedback to say that we should make the signing in board a bit more organised so that volunteers are shown in a board along with an idea of their role that day.
Objects
Hattie the hat stand is never far from our Choir Directors! There is a very good reason for that. We have Hattie because it carries all our props or objects of reference. We use physical props because some people find objects helpful to enhance understanding – because communication is more than signs or words.
Champion Beth feels the props are good as we have some visually impaired members – props can enhance their experience too. Member Philip loves the hat stand and Josh reminds us to include Hattie in some of our photos!
Location
Many of the adjustments we make are not to do with literal access ramps (often the first thing that comes to mind when people consider disability access). That said, when we run projects like our Stroll and Sign wellbeing walks, or perform as a choir in new locations we always risk assess beforehand.
An important element of that is assessing accessibility and working out what adjustments we may need to make. For example, regarding lighting in a car park, suitability for wheelchair users or access to a stage. And if we need to, we do feedback to venues about any issues to try to improve things.
If you would like some guidance on inclusive communication, or access to a lived experience focus group to look at this topic for your organisation please get in touch: info@include.org
Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead
It is Volunteers’ Week 1 – 7 June and we’re delighted to share a blog from our fabulous Volunteer Kim who joined us this year…
Thank you Kim for all you do for Include. You’re kind, hard working, brilliant at thinking on your feet and you make people feel included.
“My name is Kim, I’m turning 40 this year and I’m a single mum to 3 wonderful kids aged 17, 11 and 7.
Many years ago, I saw a sing and sign choir on the TV, and I found it so exciting and inspiring that I decided one day, when the time was right, I was going to be involved in something similar.
Then just a few months ago I came across Include.org on Facebook and decided to see if I could be involved somehow. My two main passions are music and inclusivity so Include was perfect for me.
My first impression when I came along to choir was that everyone was so welcoming and friendly and were all so happy to be there. It was incredibly well organised with a professional set up.
There is a role for everyone at Include, from refreshments, tech support, meet and greeting, one to one support, to setting up, handing out props and instruments, tidying up or just generally joining in and having fun. You can learn so many roles and skills.
The thing that has surprised me most about Include is that it is so much more than a choir. They put on social events, quiz nights, Stroll and Sign (wellbeing walks) and much more.
Not only that but they are true advocates for inclusivity and change. Attending NHS conferences and talking in public about making reasonable adjustments for adults with communication difficulties. They really inspire me to help bring that change!
When I tell people about the work I do with Include, it makes me feel excited to share the amazing work they do and I’m proud to be a part of it.
I love talking with the members and sharing experiences – I’m happy to say they have become my friends.
My favourite experience so far was with a member who was incredibly shy and nervous of me when we met on my first day. They didn’t want to talk or sign with me at all. But slowly over a few weeks they got to know me more and one evening came over to me on their own to say hello! My perseverance had paid off and they were now comfortable with me. Since then, we chat at every choir and have fun. I’m so happy to have made that connection.
One massive perk of volunteering with Include is the amount of Makaton you pick up along the way.
Learning signs of the week and joining in with choir, using the pictures of the signs on the projector to join in the songs. I’ve even used the Makaton signs that I’ve learned outside of Include, for example helping a lady order a coffee in McDonalds. The server was struggling to understand her speech and Makaton, but I recognised the sign for coffee and was able to help.
I love the fact that Include offers Makaton training and qualifications to their volunteers free of charge, as a thank you for everything. This means everyone can be a huge part of inclusive communication at Include and beyond.
My favourite song to see the members perform is ‘Let’s go fly a kite!’
The joy you can feel in the room when everyone is on their feet, swaying along, signing and singing at the top of their lungs, kite props flying above their heads, huge smiles on everyone’s faces. It really is wonderful to experience; they raise the roof!”
The choir welcomes people with and without learning disabilities or autism. It is a fun-loving friendly place to make friends and practice communication skills (for support staff too).
We all know that joining a choir has loads of benefits – but there are even more reasons to join The Include Choir:
You will feel fantastic!
You will make new friends
You will learn Makaton signing and more (super useful for support staff)
You will make our community more inclusive
… sometimes we have cake ; )
Events and Rehearsals
The choir performs regularly in Surrey and the South East.
Communication Corner
Include is starting a new service. ‘Communication Corner’ is a space where you can ask one of our Speech Therapists, Charly about communication, and any difficulties you and / or someone you support might be having.
Charly will give you some quick tips and advice. She might suggest some more focused Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) support in another setting.
You will find Communication Corner at our Epsom Include Choir sessions on the last Tuesday of the month, and at Redhill Include Choir sessions on the last Wednesday of the month.
Charly Harris, one of Speech and Language Therapists
Online Services
The Redhill Include Choir also runs live on Zoom for anyone who can’t get there in person.
Include Choir Online is a closed Facebook group with live broadcasts from our Choir Directors at 8pm on Sunday evenings. These short Sing, Sign and Smile sessions help boost your mood and practice your singing and signing.
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