The Makaton Charity

With so much going on you might imagine that the organisation behind Makaton, The Makaton Charity, is a big concern with lots of staff and big offices. In fact, this fast moving operation is run mostly from people's homes under the guidance of the unpaid Director, Margaret Walker. She started the whole initiative and has subsidised it with her own time, offices in her house, and demands on all her family for help and support.

The National Training Office is located in Camberley near Guildford. There is an amazing network of secretaries, a bookkeeper, despatch officer, illustrators, music, sign and symbols advisers all working from their own homes in this growing concern. Around the world this network of nearly 1000 Makaton Tutors/ Representatives and growing number of Peer Tutors offers support, training and advice.

The Makaton Charity is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and Wales. Registered Offices: Farrer and Co Ltd, 66 Lincolns Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LH. Company Registration Number 06280108. Registered Charity Number 1119819.

The Makaton Charity provides

Training

A wide variety of training courses and one day workshops catering for the needs of users, carers and professionals. Customised training is also available for public sector workers and agencies.

Network of approved tutors

A national and international network of approved Makaton tutors who can provide training, and offer advice and guidance on using Makaton on a local or regional basis.

Resource materials

Teaching guidelines, videos of signs, books of symbols and signs, record sheets, pictures, songs, games, pre school, school and adult-based resource materials, research information, information leaflets, databases etc .

Translation service

Service providers and users can request advice and a translation service is available to translate any type of public information, in-house guidelines, individual programme plans, documents, leaflets, etc, into Makaton symbols and signs to increase user access.

Database help and advice

A help line is available to customers who have purchased Makaton with WWS2000 or any of the Makaton Database sets.

Sign and symbol advice

The Makaton Charity has experienced sign and symbol advisors who can offer help and advice about the use of signs and symbols.

Makaton quality mark

In response to the significant increase in information being translated with Makaton symbols and signs, a Makaton quality mark is awarded to translated materials and products that have been approved by The Makaton Charity and which meet criteria set to a high standard of translation.

Makaton centre of excellence award

The Makaton Charity makes this award to establishments and services where the Makaton programme has been realistically and comprehensively implemented to the best possible level to suit users' needs.

If you are interested in any of the above products or services, please email info@makaton.org