A brief history

SLCo, short for The Speech Language Communication Company, emerged as a new Scottish charity officially registered in January 2016. Previously, we operated under the name Afasic Scotland, as an independent branch of Afasic UK, serving the Scottish community for 18 years. 

Our charitable aims are guided by a dedicated board of trustees, some of whom are parents themselves, ensuring a strong connection to the community we serve. 

At SLCo, we actively engage with local parent networks, including the children and youth who are connected to our services. We are committed to making sure the voices of children are heard!

We draw expertise from a Professional Advisory Group composed of prominent figures in the fields of research and practice. Their insights inform the wide range of informational resources, guidance, and practical support that we provide through our services. 

SLCo recognises the unique and diverse speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) that many children and adults struggle with daily. 

We acknowledge that children and young people with communication support needs often find themselves unheard and overlooked, excluded and isolated. 

Our overarching goal is to ensure that families are recognised as the primary contributors to their children's potential. We work together with families to help equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective educators and caregivers. 

Through our expertise and evidence-based interventions, we try our best to enhance the lives of children, young people, parents, and caregivers alike. 

We remain committed to building upon past achievements, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and adapting to change. Our values are not just words; they are our guiding principles, and our families are our most treasured assets. They are the experts and form the heart of all our efforts. 

Our unwavering dedication to principles of social inclusion and children's rights underlies our promotional efforts, awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and training programmes. 

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GOVERNANCE

SLCo is parent-led and has an elected board of trustees 

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Each member brings lived experience to their trustee role either as a parent or carer or as an individual with a communication barrier. 

• The members bring a wide range of individual experience and expertise which helps shape essential components of the charity’s business needs.  

• They are responsible for the governance and oversight of the strategic direction of the charity.   

• The Board agrees the charity’s vision and values, sets the strategy and policies for its key activities and monitors its progress.  

• The Board is responsible for appointing the Executive Director and for the charity's overall professional, legal and financial management. 

• Board members are elected for three years in the first instance.