Monthly theme: December 2011 Talk to the future Children with severe and complex communication difficulties will struggle for life, not just in 2011 More monthly themes (opens in new window)

Hello to the national year of communication 2011

Hello is the national year of communication - to help all children and young people fulfil their potential through communication.

The campaign is run by The Communication Trust, a coalition of over 35 leading voluntary sector organisations including BSA, in partnership with Jean Gross, the Government's Communication Champion.

Hello aims to make communication for all children and young people a priority in homes and schools across the UK so that they can live life to the full. The campaign is backed by the Department for Education and supported by BT.

In the UK today, over 1 million children and young people have some form of speech, language and communication need. This can affect them severely and for life.

There are monthly themes (see the green box) to help give a real focus to each month of the national year. These will be supported by events, resources and information.

Please visit www.hello.org.uk (opens in new window) for information on the campaign and to sign up for regular updates.

From BSA's Chief Executive Norbert Lieckfeldt:

BSA's aim has always been to raise awareness of stammering. Our members know that theirs is a condition that is not only often not recognised, but not understood even when it is.

Communication Trust CEO Anita Kerwin-Nye said at the launch of Hello that "people don't 'get' speech, language and communication needs, in the same way they 'get' autism, or dyslexia".

At the end of this year we hope that every parent 'gets' it - that they know what the problem could be and where to find help as soon as possible so that any problems can be nipped in the bud.

This is a huge step forward for our work, and that of our friends and colleagues in other charities. Securing this in a time of national austerity is an enormous achievement. We are looking forward to working with Government to stepping up our work for a world that understands stammering.

Update: 'Hello' is not ready to wave goodbye - published January 2012.