It is with deep regret that we share the news that Auditory Verbal UK (AVUK) is scheduled to be placed into liquidation on Friday 8 May, with no operations or services expected to be provided by the Charity beyond this date. 

Like many charities, AVUK has been operating in an increasingly challenging and turbulent environment for some time. Over recent months, despite strong progress pursing our strategy and continued delivery of high quality, life changing support, the financial pressures facing the charity have intensified to a point where it is no longer possible for us to operate sustainably. 

We understand that the speed of this closure may come as a shock. This has been an incredibly difficult decision, taken with the greatest care for the families, professionals and supporters who have placed their trust in AVUK over the years. 

We are working hard and at pace with trusted partners to seek to secure alternative provisions so families can continue to access support from professionals trained in Auditory Verbal therapy and that professionals can continue their training in the Auditory Verbal therapy approach. 

For more than 20 years, AVUK has been working alongside families, professionals and partners to increase access to, as well as awareness and understanding of, Auditory Verbal therapy. We have supported thousands of children to learn to listen and talk with Auditory Verbal therapy, trained hundreds of professionals, and, alongside partners, raised awareness of the vital importance of early, effective support for all deaf children to develop language and communication, whether their families wish to use spoken language, sign language or both. This work has been made possible by the extraordinary generosity of individuals, families, trusts, foundations and partners who believe deeply in our mission, and we are hugely grateful. 

We have campaigned hard and engaged with UK governments to make the case for long-term, public investment so that Auditory Verbal therapy could be delivered by trained professionals within publicly funded services, giving all families with young deaf children the opportunity to access this support. While significant progress has been made, our clear and consistent asks for sustained government support have not been met and access via public services remains very limited. 

We are profoundly grateful to everyone who has been part of AVUK's journey - the families who inspired us, the professionals and partners we worked alongside, our dedicated staff, trustees and volunteers, and the donors and funders whose kindness made our work possible. 

Although AVUK is being wound-up, we are hugely proud to have been part of the collective determination to see a world where all deaf children have the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers. We are proud to have helped challenge outdated perceptions and raise expectations of what deaf children can do and achieve. We hope the progress made will continue to shape a future where all deaf children have access to the early, effective support needed to thrive at school and beyond. 

We're sure you will have lots of questions and we are sorry that due to the insolvency process, we are very limited in terms of the detail we can share with you at this point. 

In these highly regrettable circumstances, it may be that AVUK owes you funds. As such, you will receive formal notification from S&W Partners who are the proposed liquidators and currently engaged as professional advisors to the Board of AVUK.

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Questions and answers 

How are you holding my data?  

We take your data protection seriously. Your personal data will continue to be handled securely and in line with data protection law.  

Families currently on our programme:  

Is my appointment going ahead next week (w/c 4 May)?  

Yes. At the moment therapy sessions are continuing as normal wherever possible up to and including Thursday 7 May. If there are any changes to your appointment, we will contact you directly.  

  

Can I download my most recent Take Home Messages and video?  

Yes. Your SharePoint link will remain active until 8 May, so you can download anything you need before then.  

  

If I am a creditor / in credit with you, how do I prove what services I have paid for but not received?  

We will be contacting you individually about this in the coming days.   

 

Professionals currently on our training:  

Will training be going ahead next week (w/c 4 May)?  

Yes. Training is continuing as planned next week up to and including Thursday 7 May. If anything changes that affects you, we will contact you directly.  

  

Can I download my training materials from SharePoint?  

Yes. Your SharePoint link will remain active until 8 May.   

  

 Can you sign my AG Bell forms?  

 Yes. Please send them to us no later than Wednesday 6 May.  

  

Can I get hold of my certificates, F1 forms and other paperwork from you?  

Yes. We will contact you early next week with your updated CEUs, signed F1 forms and any other relevant paperwork.  

  

My training was due to start in April – will it still go ahead?  

Unfortunately, we’re sorry to say that this training will no longer be going ahead. 

 

Donors to AVUK: 

I donate monthly/quarterly/annually by direct debit or standing order to AVUK, what will happen now? 

Please contact your bank to cancel any regular payments you make to AVUK. On your bank statement, your Direct Debit may appear as being processed by either Stripe, GoCardless or CAF/CAF Bank Ltd if you donate via Charities Aid Foundation. Please note, the reference or description for your Direct Debit may vary depending on your bank. If you experience any difficulty in cancelling your regular payment, please contact the payment provider directly.  

Go Cardless - there are two ways you can cancel your Direct Debit via GoCardless: 

1.Contact your bank — ask them to cancel the Direct Debit instruction associated to the organisation. Provide them with: 

• The charity’s name: Auditory Verbal UK 

• The amount and frequency (e.g. £10 monthly) of the recurring donation 

• The Direct Debit reference (if shown on your bank statement) 

• Your account details (so the bank can locate and cancel the mandate) 

2. Contact GoCardless - you can contact them via their customer support form. Provide them with: 

• A request: “Please cancel my recurring donation – I authorise you to stop future payments via GoCardless” 

• Your full name (as used when you set up the Direct Debit). 

• The Direct Debit or customer reference (if you have it). 

• The date when you set up the recurring donation (or approximate month/year). 

• The amount and frequency (e.g. £10 monthly) of the recurring donation. 

• Include that the charity’s name is Auditory Verbal UK. 

 

I donate regularly/on an ad hoc basis through CAF or Payroll Giving / GAYE (Give As You Earn), what will happen now? 

Please contact CAF directly on 03000 123 456 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, except on English bank holidays) to change your mandate. If you would like to end Payroll Giving or GAYE, please contact your employer directly. 

 

I donated recently, where did my money go? 

Your donation has gone directly towards supporting Auditory Verbal UK’s charitable work, including the delivery of services for deaf children and their families. We are incredibly grateful for your support, which has helped us continue this work during a challenging period. 

 

Please do not send any further cheques or cash to the Auditory Verbal UK offices.