Auditory Verbal UK was shortlisted for the Disability Charity of the Year at the 2017 Charity Awards which took place in London on 8^th June.

Auditory Verbal UK transforms the lives of deaf children by teaching them to listen, speak and develop the lifelong communication and social skills they need to enjoy the same opportunities in life as their hearing peers.

In the UK today, only 33% of deaf children achieve a good level of development in the Early Years’ Foundation Stage[1]. This really should not be the case.

At Auditory Verbal UK, 80% of children who spend at least two years on the early intervention programme achieve age-appropriate language and most attend mainstream schools.

The Charity Awards is Civil Society Media’s annual awards programme held to identify, recognise and reward organisations doing exceptional work in all areas of charitable activity.

The organisations that were shortlisted were judged against 10 hallmarks of excellence: leadership, people development, planning, innovation, enterprise, learning, effectiveness, diversity, accountability and sustainability.

The judging panel was made up of 12 individuals who have devoted enormous amounts of energy and dedication to the sector themselves, provide expert scrutiny.

Auditory Verbal UK’s Chief Executive, Anita Grover, said:

It is an honour to be shortlisted for disability charity of the year at this year’s Charity Awards. We are delighted to see our life-changing work with deaf children being recognised by a prestigious panel of judges. 

The winners were announced at the award ceremony which was hosted by BBC journalist Louise Minchin on Thursday 8^th June at the Pavillion in the grounds of the Tower of London.

AVUK’s Chief Executive Anita Grover, Chair of Trustees, Claire Campbell, and Patron, Janine Roebuck. AVUK had to demonstrate outcomes across 10 hallmarks so to be a finalist in the disability category is a great honour.

See the full shortlist here. 

[1] Source: Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results: 2014 to 2015, Department for Education, 2017, via NDCS