Embracing Makaton to build an inclusive community

We’re excited to welcome Brierley Hill Library, part of Dudley Libraries, to the Makaton Aware initiative. Powered by GLL, a charitable social enterprise, Brierley Hill Library is committed to offering accessible services, free activities, and a welcoming and inclusive space for all.

Here Senior Library Assistant, Emma Dudley, tells us about how they have embraced Makaton to build an inclusive environment for their community.

“Libraries are important community spaces, and it’s essential that everyone feels welcome.”

At Brierley Hill Library, our mission goes beyond lending books; we aim to improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing across the community. By becoming a Makaton Aware venue, we’re taking another step towards breaking down communication barriers and ensuring that every visitor feels valued and included.

As Senior Library Assistant here at Brierley Hill, my journey with Makaton began during the Covid 19 lockdown. While offering online story sessions, I realised how important it was for everyone to be able to join in, regardless of their communication needs. My manager supported me to undertake Makaton training, and soon, I had completed Makaton signing Levels 1–4 and earned my Makaton Training License for MSFB.

Since then, some of our other staff members have also completed their Makaton Level 1 training, and we've integrated Makaton into our regular activities. From “Storytimes” to "Rattle and Rhyme" sessions, it's wonderful to see everyone participating and enjoying the experience of having a book read to them. We also offer Makaton-friendly class visits, making sure everyone enjoys their time at the library. The benefits we've seen are clear, which is why we've started using Makaton at our outreach events as well.

Becoming Makaton Aware

Not every member of our staff has completed Makaton training, but as a Makaton Aware venue, we are all dedicated to promoting accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful communication. We embrace the key Makaton Aware principles, which are:

• Embracing Understanding and Patience
• Allowing Time and Space for Communication
• Fostering Inclusivity
• Providing Staff Support
• Using Clear Signage

We have worked hard to ensure these guiding principles have been incorporated into the way we work as a team. We’ve made sure to display clear signage and symbols around the library, and we’re developing a Makaton map to help guide visitors. Additionally, we’ve created quieter areas with comfortable seating, and we’ve stocked our shelves with books that feature Makaton signs and symbols. We even use Makaton resources in our seasonal displays, like Pride Month and Halloween, to make them more accessible and engaging for everyone.

Positive changes in our community

The response from our visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. Using Makaton has allowed us to host class visits for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) groups. We’re also in discussions with SEND coordinators from across the borough about how we can continue to improve our services for these groups.

Our outreach events have been a particular success. It’s been wonderful to see people of all ages using Makaton signs as we lead rhymes and read stories. These sessions are growing in popularity, bringing more people into the library and fostering a real sense of community. The social aspect of our Makaton activities is as important as the communication itself—people are connecting, engaging, and having fun.

Looking ahead

Becoming Makaton Aware is just the beginning of our journey! More of our staff are starting their Makaton training, and we’re excited about the future. Our management team has been incredibly supportive, and together we’re committed to building a more inclusive and accessible space for everyone who visits Brierley Hill Library.

Through Makaton, we’ve learned that communication is not just about words—it’s about connection, understanding, and ensuring everyone has a voice. We’re proud to be part of the Makaton Places initiative and hope to inspire other businesses and community spaces to consider how small changes can make a big difference.

Click here to learn more about Makaton Aware

Published

27th September 2024

Our journey to inclusivity

We are delighted that Haworth Art Gallery and Museum has recently become Makaton Aware, a brilliant milestone in their commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all their visitors.

Here, Samantha De Simone, Senior Visitor Assistant, tells us about the steps they’ve taken to ensure that everyone, regardless of their communication needs, can fully engage with the museum’s offerings.

I originally come from Italy, where I have family members who often find it challenging to visit museums due to a lack of inclusive provisions. This personal experience fuels my passion for making Haworth Museum accessible to everyone. While many museums claim to be “fully accessible,” this often refers only to physical mobility. However, accessibility encompasses a much broader spectrum, and here at Haworth we are committed to addressing all aspects of it. Thanks to funding from Pennine Lancashire Museums and Schools, we’ve been able to become Makaton Aware and gain access to incredible resources—both digital and physical—that will support our journey towards being a truly inclusive museum.

In 2023, our small visitor team participated in training focused on various aspects of front-of-house operations in a museum. For those unfamiliar, "front of house" refers to any public-facing area within the museum, from the reception and shop to the overall visitor experience. This training was an eye-opener, helping us identify areas for improvement and explore how our team, of fewer than ten staff and volunteers, could make meaningful changes.

We’ve already made significant strides in enhancing accessibility within our museum. We created a family room equipped with sensory baskets and activities, and at reception, we offer bags filled with tools to explore the museum, along with engaging trails. Each exhibition room is furnished with seating, easels, and paper for mindful drawing. Additionally, we’ve signed up for schemes such as the Safe Space Alliance and the Breastfeeding Friendly scheme, ensuring that our museum is a welcoming environment for all.

Our recent focus has been on making sure our museum is accessible to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), particularly in terms of communication. Among the many communication methods used by SEND families is Makaton, a communication programme that uses speech, signs and symbols to support communication.

To begin our journey with Makaton, we involved our staff in creating short videos for our social media channels, featuring them signing themes related to the museum. We covered various aspects, including our shop, children's activities, weddings, and our family room. This initiative was our way of showing the community our commitment to learning and improving accessibility. The response from the public has been overwhelmingly positive, and our staff have been enthusiastic about getting involved.

Following this, we introduced a Summer Trail for children, featuring double-sided clues—with drawings on one side and Makaton signs on the other. These small steps reflect the dedication of our team and made a significant impact for our visitors.

Looking ahead, we plan to integrate Makaton further into various aspects of the museum, including our school visits, where we hope to offer it as an option for schools.

This transformation won’t happen overnight, but we are committed to empowering our entire team to feel comfortable with Makaton. We will continue to demonstrate our commitment, willingness to learn, and desire to improve our visitors' experiences. The more we learn about accessibility, the more we realize there is still so much to do, but we are wholeheartedly committed to this journey.

Click here to learn more about Makaton Aware

Published

24th September 2024

Learning Makaton to make moving easier for everyone

We were really excited to hear that John Mason International Movers had taken a significant step towards making their services more inclusive by learning Makaton.

Below, the team at John Mason International Movers shares their experience and the positive impact Makaton has had on their work.

At John Mason International Movers we’ve always believed that moving should be a positive experience for everyone. However, we realised that for some of our customers, especially those with communication difficulties, the process could feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why we decided to learn Makaton.

Our first steps with Makaton

Our journey with Makaton started when we began thinking about how we could better support all of our customers. We knew that moving can be a stressful time, and we wanted to do everything we could to make it easier for those who might find it hard to express their needs. Learning Makaton seemed like a natural step for us.

Our team members, from front-line staff to our dedicated Move Managers, embraced this opportunity with enthusiasm. They recognised that by learning Makaton, they could break down barriers and provide a more personalised service.

The training was both challenging and rewarding. We learned to use simple signs and symbols alongside speech, which helps people who might struggle with verbal communication. It wasn’t just about learning a new skill; it was about understanding and connecting with our customers in a more meaningful way.

What we’ve learned

One of the things that stood out during our training was how much it changed the way we approach our work. For example, when we met a family who used Makaton, we were able to communicate with their child in a way that made them feel comfortable and included. Seeing the relief and happiness on their faces was incredibly rewarding for us.

It’s these small moments that have made us realise the true value of learning Makaton. It’s not just about making our job easier—it’s about making our customers feel at ease during a time that can be quite stressful.

The impact

The impact of our Makaton training has been profound. Not only has it enhanced our ability to communicate with customers who use Makaton, but it has also fostered a greater sense of empathy and awareness among our team. We've received positive feedback from customers who appreciate the effort we've made to accommodate their needs, and our staff feels more confident in their ability to provide inclusive, compassionate service.

Moving forward together

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, but we know there’s always more to learn. We’re committed to continuing our journey with Makaton and finding new ways to make our services as accessible as possible.

We’ve learned that communication is about much more than just words—it’s about connection, understanding, and making sure everyone feels heard. By sharing our experience, we hope to encourage others in our industry to think about how they can make their own services more inclusive.

Published

24th September 2024