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UCL Speech Sciences Graduate is awarded Student Campaigner of the Year

1 November 2011

David Curtin (UCL Speech Sciences) was named as Student Campaigner of the Year at the annual awards ceremony for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

student campaigner of the year

David, who graduated from UCL with a BSc Speech Sciences in 2011, received his award for a number of initiatives to increase awareness of individuals with speech, language and communication needs. These included successfully lobbying the producers of BBC's 'Eastenders' to include an episode during which two characters have a conversation relating to a specific communication difficulty one of them suffers from, highlighting the effect this has on him and his caregiver.

His other initiatives in this area have included collaborating with an East London hospital to launch an awareness campaign, writing to government and the media and campaigning to increase awareness around London.

David explained: "The campaign is soon drawing to a close but I intend to continue campaigning at a local and national level. I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in such a worthwhile campaign and want to thank those people who have supported me such as my family and my colleagues, peers and staff at UCL."

"I feel very honoured to have helped raise awareness of the speech and language therapy profession and to have been given this prestigious award from RCSLT."

The RCSLT Honours and Giving Voice Awards took place at Westminster on 18 October. The Giving Voice Campaign was launched by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) to increase the public's awareness of people with speech, language and communication needs, along with the role of speech and language therapists working with such individuals and their families.

The award was presented by the Rt Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Image: David Curtin (far right) with his award and (from left to right) Kamini Gadhok (the professional director of RCSLT) John Bercow (RCSLT president) and Bryony Simpson (RCSLT Deputy Chair).


Related Links:

UCL Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences
Giving Voice 
Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists