4 August 2026
The Invest in SLT campaign is calling on the Government to prioritise investment in speech and language therapy and publish the long-awaited Speech and Language Therapy Action Plan
The Invest in SLT campaign has written to the newly appointed Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, reminding him of his pledge to work with the campaign, including Mikey’s Wish Foundation and the RCSLT, to improve access to speech and language therapy for people of all ages.
In its letter to the Prime Minister, the campaign is also calling on the Government to prioritise investment in speech and language therapy and publish the Speech and Language Therapy Action Plan which was first committed to by the then Minister of Care, Stephen Kinnock, in March 2025. The plan would address the issues at the heart of the Invest in SLT campaign, including increased investment in speech and language therapy services and improved workforce planning to ensure everyone who needs speech and language therapy can access it.
The letter follows the Government’s response to the letter Mikey and other members of the campaign handed in to 10 Downing Street in March. It highlights how improved access to speech and language therapy will help deliver the Government’s ambitions for education, health, employment, and prevention – and the life-changing impact speech and language therapy has across the life span.
It explains that timely intervention improves outcomes for children with conditions such as Childhood Apraxia of Speech, adults living with Primary Progressive Aphasia, and people with Cognitive Communication Disorder and other communication differences or difficulties. It also recognises the wider contribution of speech and language therapists in helping children become school ready, supporting the development of speech, language and communication skills, enabling adults to remain in work, and helping older people maintain their independence.
The campaign, which is supported by more than 50 organisations, also emphasises the important role speech and language therapists play in supporting families, training the wider workforce, and improving outcomes across local communities. The letter has also been copied to the Secretaries of State for Health and Social Care and Education, reflecting the vital role speech and language therapy plays across both health and education.
Alongside the Invest in SLT campaign, RCSLT is continuing to engage directly with ministers and officials across Government to ensure speech and language therapy is recognised as a core part of delivering the Government’s priorities. This includes ongoing discussions on the SEND reform, the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, and wider health and social care policy, including the Health Bill.
