University News Last updated 25 March
A campaign for more sustainable funding for Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) in the UK has been shortlisted at the Advancing Healthcare Awards 2025.
#InvestInSLT is in the ‘Award for Campaigning with Power and Impact’ category, after a petition from Birmingham City University (BCU) expert by experience Mikey Akers kickstarted the wider campaign.
The petition gained more than 10,000 signatures in just 16 days, and was debated in Parliament in January 2025.
As a result, the Minister for Health and Social Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, met with Mikey as well as campaigner and broadcaster Chris Kamara, and BCU Senior Lecturer Gillian Rudd on Monday, 24 March 2025.
The Minister committed to setting up a working group to create an action plan around SLT provision and its workforce.
“I’m delighted to see the #InvestinSLT campaign has been shortlisted for these awards,” said Rudd, Senior Lecturer in SLT at BCU. “I wanted to express my gratitude to everyone involved in making this recognition happen.
“This has been a grassroots movement, focusing on the voices of those with communication and swallowing needs from the very beginning.
“Working with Mikey and the RCSLT, we’ve created a space for important conversations on the ‘postcode lottery’ system for access to SLT and the need for improve services across the country.”
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has been supporting Mikey and BCU with this campaign, and is calling on policymakers to become communication-inclusive and support more investment.
RCSLT’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs Derek Munn said: “We are proud to partner with Mikey Akers in his outstanding advocacy, putting people with lived experience at the heart of campaigning for the speech and language therapy they need.”
The Advancing Healthcare Awards have been taking place for 20 years, recognising the work of health professionals and scientists as well as leading innovative healthcare practices across the UK.
The awards ceremony will be held on 23 May 2025 in London.
Photo: L-R Saqib Bhatti, MP for Meriden; Chris Kamara; Gillian Rudd; Steve Jamieson, CEO of RCSLT; Louisa Akers; Mikey Akers, and Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister for Health and Social Care